Too Sappy For Maddie

I leaned my head against the car seat as I watched Brennan drive. He had driven all the way back to Apple Grove, claiming that I needed all the rest I could get. I appreciated it more than I would ever be able to say, but it also made me understand Maddie’s frustrations with Joey. She wanted to be independent, but Joey was a helicopter partner. He always had his eyes on her in some way, which was exactly how Brennan was acting. Not that I minded too much. Well, at the moment anyway. I’d probably feel differently in a few days.

As he pulled up in front of a strange house, I sighed. I knew it was Arlo’s. He told me he wanted to stop on the way. I just hadn’t expected to feel so upset at the prospect of being away from him for even an hour. Which was another thing I now understood about Maddie. Being in love sucked as much as it didn’t. Arlo walked out onto the porch as Brennan got out of the car. He came around to my door to help me out, immediately draping his arm over my shoulders. Arlo’s face lit up as Brennan led me around the car, where he kissed me softly before opening the driver’s door for me.

“I’ll be over in about an hour, my love. Be safe on your way there, okay?” He murmured softly.

I nodded as I leaned against his chest for a moment. “I will. Hurry up, okay?”

He tipped my face up so that I was looking into his eyes. “You’re not the only one that's anxious right now, Leah. I promise to get there as soon as I can, okay?”

“Okay.”

“I love you.”

I melted a little as happiness filled my heart. I didn’t think that I would ever get used to hearing him say that to me. “I love you too, Brennan.”

I hesitantly got into the car before waving at Arlo and backing out. I watched Brennan in the rearview mirror until I couldn’t see him anymore. It took everything in me not to turn around, but I didn’t want to smother him. As I pulled up to Maddie’s house, she came out onto the porch with Josiah in her arms and a huge smile on her face, which fell as I got out of the car.

“Are you really alone?” She asked.

“Yes. I—”

“Leah, I’m so sorry. He really is a fool. Do you want me to punch him in the throat? I will. You know I will.”

I burst out laughing as I shook my head. “You don’t need to punch him. He’ll be here soon,” I told her as I walked by. “SUGAR?”

Moments later, all of the dogs were running down the hall toward me. I giggled as Sugar practically leapt into my arms. I knelt on the floor, petting her enthusiastically as I crooned to her about how much I missed her.

“Okay, enough! Spill, girl. What happened?” Maddie inquired excitedly.

“He told me he loved me.”

“OH! MY! GOD!” She screeched. “DID HE REALLY?!”

I beamed at her, nodding. “He did. He’s been telling me every hour. I am loving it.”

She grinned down at Josiah. “You might get to grow up knowing your Uncle Brennan after all.”

I leaned over to kiss his forehead. “Mommy is just kidding, sweetheart. She wouldn’t have really done something to your Uncle Brennan.”

“Pfft. Don’t lie to him, Leah. We both know I would!”

“Where’s Joey?” I giggled.

“He took Jocelyn to the doctor. I was napping, and he didn’t wake me up. I’m a little annoyed,” she said, still grinning.

“Oh, yes, that is the face of annoyance,” I laughed, gesturing to her face. “Speaking of annoyance, I wanted to ask you something.”

“What’s up?” She asked as she handed me Josiah so she could make us tea.

“I wanted to know if you would be my maid of honor. Well, one of them. Miriela will be my other one.”

“How is Miriela doing? Every time I talk to Nathan, he sounds so defeated. I’m worried about him. He’s so in love with her,” Maddie said.

“I know he is. She’s doing okay. She’s struggling.”

Maddie nodded in understanding. “Which is to be expected. He told me you got her to leave the house.”

I stared at her. “When did you talk to him?”

“This morning. He was so upset. He said that now you have left, Miriela has shut down again, not talking to anyone.”

I sighed. “Can I borrow your phone?”

“Yeah, but where’s yours?” She inquired.

“I left it for Miriela so she could contact me.”

“Ah. Here you go.”

I texted my phone, asking for Miriela to call me on video. I knew that Nathan had my phone and would call me as soon as possible. Maddie’s phone rang, making me jump. I glanced down at it and saw a picture of me requesting a video call. I hated to admit it, but I was a little surprised he called me so fast. When I answered it, Nathan’s face appeared before he angled the phone so I could see Miriela.

“Thank you, Nathan, but if you would kindly leave so I can talk to Miri privately.”

“Phoenix, I—” He cut off his obviously irritated response as he handed the phone to Miriela. He tucked her hair behind her ear before kissing her cheek. “I will be in the kitchen making us dinner. When you’re done, come eat, okay?”

She nodded. “Yes, Nathan.”

He shot me another irritated look before leaving the room. I smiled at Miriela.

“So, how are you doing, Miriela?” I asked.

“I’m okay,” she whispered.

“What have you been up to?”

“Taking care of Sylvester.”

I tilted my head as I eyed her. “How is he doing?”

“He is good. He scratched Nathan.” Her eyes moved over the top of the phone. “Do you think he will make me take Sylvester back to the shelter?”

I shook my head. “No, Miri. Is that why you have been quiet?”

She nodded. “I’m afraid to upset him,” she confided worriedly.

“Don’t be. There is nothing you can do that would make him hurt you or punish you. He really cares about you, Miri. I know why you are so afraid, but you can work through it. Listen to me: when we get off the phone, I want you to go into the kitchen and tell him that you're worried that he is going to make you return Sylvester. See what he says.”

She immediately shook her head. “I can’t. It will make him mad.”

“No, Miri, it won’t. It will make him happy. He wants you to communicate with him. He wants to know how you feel. He wants you to trust him.”

“It’s hard,” she whispered. “Until you came to the house, I still felt like I was alone.”

“I know, Miri. Maddie and R. H. M. trust him, and I trust them. Let him help you. I know it’s going to be a long, difficult road, but he can guide you. Lean on him like you lean on me. He won’t let you down,” I told her.

“And what if I let him down? What if I disobey? What if—”

“Breathe, Miri. It’s going to be okay. In and out. Good, girl. And again.” I kept guiding her through breathing until the panic faded from her face before smiling at her. “Do you feel better?”

“A little.”

“After you talk to him, if you are worried, go outside and look at the clouds. It will help you relax. Or you can call me.”

“I don’t know if I can…”

“Yes, you can, Miri. You are strong. You are fierce. And you will make it through this. You are safe, Miri. No one is going to hurt you there.”

She let out a shaky breath. “I’ll try.”

I smiled brightly at her. “I’m so proud of you, Miri.”

“Are you?”

I nodded. “Go eat, Miri. And talk to him. Call me back on this number if you need to talk.”

“Okay.”

“I love you, sister!”

Her lips lifted up in a small smile before it left her face. “I love you too, sis.”

She hung up, and I set the phone down, sighing. “I hate them, Maddie. All of them. I wish I could burn all of them up. These women were tortured in every way possible. No matter how much she works on it, I’m worried that she will never be the Miriela that I met in school again.”

Maddie handed me a mug. “Even if she’s not, she’s still your best friend.”

“Yes, and I will do everything I can to help her.”

“That’s all you can do.”

“Yeah, I suppose it is. Anyway, do you think I can go with Joey to work tomorrow? I want to speak to Laurel about being a bridesmaid.”

Maddie heaved a huge dramatic sigh that was negated by the happiness in her eyes. “You will have to call her. She’s resigned, and I couldn’t be happier for her.”

“She quit? Why?”

“She went home to Mason.”

“Oh my God! That’s awesome. I am happy for her.”

Maddie smiled widely at me. “Me too.”

She looked over my shoulder before rolling her eyes as her smile got bigger. “Hello, Brennan.”
“Hey, Maddie,” he greeted her as he wrapped his arm around my waist. “And hello to you too, my love.”

I leaned back against him, relaxing. “Hey, Brennan.”

He kissed my cheek before taking Josiah from me so I could drink my tea. “I missed you.”

Maddie rolled her eyes again, but I could tell she was thrilled for us.

“I missed you too. How was your talk with Arlo? Did you say everything that you wanted to?”

“I did. But I realized something while I was with him.”

“And what’s that?” I asked.

“That I love you too much to not be able to look at you any time I wanted to.”

I giggled while Maddie pretended to gag. “Shut up, Maddie! You and Joey are worse.”

“Not even close,” she retorted.

I smiled as I turned to Brennan, my gaze softening as I looked into his eyes. “I love you too.”