17. Braydon
Ican’t believe I am letting Madison watch my sick daughter while I take a nap. But I’m desperate, so I try not to think about it. I change out of my jeans into an old pair of sweatpants and crawl into my bed. I try not to think about the fact that I really should wash all my bedding, but if I am going to get sick, it is too late. I pull my comforter over my head and close my eyes. It doesn’t take very long for me to fall into a dreamless sleep.
“Daddy.” I roll over and check the time on my phone. It’s been two hours since I fell asleep.
“Daddy.” I hear again. I throw my feet over the side of the bed. I hear footsteps on the stairs, and that’s when I remember that Madison is here.
“Hi, sweetie. I know you don’t know me, but I am friends with your dad.” I sit on the edge of my bed and listen to Madison. Iris has never met a stranger, which in some circumstances is really scary, but in this case, I am ok with it.
“Would you like something to eat?”
“Yes,” Iris’s small raspy voice responds.
I hear Madison walk back down the hallway, I am assuming with Iris’s hand in her own hand. I listen to Madison’s footsteps retreat down the stairs before I get out of bed. I throw a worn sweatshirt over my t-shirt and tiptoe downstairs.
“Do you want me to make you some soup? Or a peanut butter and jelly?”
“Soup.”
“Do you want me to make you some chicken noodle soup?”
“Yeah.”
Neither one of them have noticed me yet, so I stand in the doorway and watch as Madison looks through my cabinets and fridge.
“Well, your dad doesn’t keep things too stocked now, does he?”
Iris nods her head, her wild blonde curls bouncing around her face.
“Hey, I have been taking care of a sick toddler. I haven’t really had time to leave the house.” I step over the threshold into the kitchen. Madison jumps and puts a hand over her heart.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Daddy!” Iris hops off the barstool and runs over to me. I reach down my arms and scoop her up. She lays her head on my shoulder, and she drapes her little arms around my neck.
“Did you sleep ok, sweetheart?” She nods against my shoulder, and I place a gentle kiss on top of her head.
“I will go pick up some soup in town, as long as you are ok to stay here with Iris.”
“Sure.” Madison reaches out to take Iris from me.
“Hey, I am going to go get some of that soup that you really like. I just need you to stay here with my friend, ok?” Iris nods and removes her arms from around my neck so I can give her to Madison.
“We are going to be fine,” Madison reassures me, as if she can sense my reluctance.
I hesitantly step out of the kitchen and grab my keys on the way out the door. The chilly air hits me, and I take a deep breath. It feels good to be breathing in fresh air. I feel like I haven’t been outside in months. I normally try to avoid going into town unless I have a show, but Iris is my exception. I park in front of Saw”s. Soup technically isn’t on the menu, but Iris has Sawyer wrapped around her tiny, little finger. Just like almost everyone else in this town. The little bell above the door rings when I open it.
“Hey, Braydon.” Sawyer greets me from behind the counter. “What can I get for you? The usual?”
“Yes. In the biggest cup you have. I am also going to need a peppermint latte, and some chicken noodle soup.”
“Iris sick?” I run my hand down my face and let out a tired sigh.
“What do you think?” I pull my wallet from my back pocket.
“It’s on me today.”
I tuck my wallet back into my pocket, too exhausted to argue.
“Thanks, Sawyer.”
“I will have them start on your coffees. It will take me a minute to get your soup ready.”
“Take your time.” I slide into a booth by the window. I can’t believe the first love of my life is sitting at home with the little girl who has stolen my heart. I could get used to this thought, but I can’t let my guard down. Madison is probably just being nice.
“Here you go.” Sawyer sets down a brown paper bag and two huge to-go cups of coffee.
“That was fast.” I inhale the scent of the fresh soup, and my stomach growls in appreciation.
“Well, I always keep some soup on hand for these kinds of emergencies. There is also three grilled cheeses in there for y’all.”
“Thanks, Sawyer. I really appreciate this, and so will Iris.”
“I hope she feels better.”
I pick up the bag and the two coffees and head back home to my girls. I open the front door, and Taylor Swift is blaring from a Bluetooth speaker in my kitchen. Madison is swaying back and forth to “How You Get the Girl” with Iris in her arms. She is singing softly in Iris”s ear. I stand and watch for a moment, not wanting to interrupt them. Madison spins around the kitchen, and I feel a smile spread across my face. She spins in the opposite direction and finally notices me standing in the doorway. She stops swaying, and our eyes lock over Iris”s head. I want to close the distance between us and kiss my girls. And it takes all of my will power to instead shatter this moment and not kiss Madison.
“I brought food. And caffeine.” I hold up the bag and the two coffees.
“You are my hero.” The smile on my face grows at Madison’s words. I set the food down on the counter and hold out Madison’s coffee to her. I take Iris from her, and Madison wraps her hands around the still warm cup of coffee.
“Sawyer made us grilled cheese too.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“Daddy, did you bring me soup?” Iris looks up at me. She still looks tired, but she is definitely getting better.
“I did, sweetheart.” I set her down on the barstool and pull the food out of the bag. Madison grabs some bowls from my cabinet and spoons from the drawer. I divvy out the soup and hand Madison a wrapped grilled cheese, taking a bite out of my own. Iris eats her soup in peace, which is a good sign considering that she hasn’t eaten very much the last couple of days.
“Mm. This is the best grilled cheese I have ever had,” Madison says around a bite of the sandwich.
“Sawyer is a miracle worker when it comes to food.”
“I think that is an understatement.”
We finish our lunch in a comfortable silence. Iris finishes last, and when she does she pushes her bowl away.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Can your friend stay and watch a movie with us?”
“Well, you would have to ask her?”
Iris nods her head thoughtfully.
“What’s your friend”s name?”
“Madison, but you can call me Maddie.” Madison responds before I get a chance.
“Maddie, can you stay and watch a movie with us?”
“Well, that depends. What movie are we going to watch?” Iris looks at her empty bowl thinking. Iris looks up at me with a smile on her face before she answers Madison.
“The Little Mermaid.”
“Then yes, I will stay and watch The Little Mermaid with you, as long as it is ok with your dad.”
Iris looks at me for permission.
“I guess she can stay.”
Iris squeals with excitement before she runs into the living room to turn on the TV.
“You really don’t have to stay. I am sure you have more important things to do,” I say, tearing my eyes away from Iris”s empty seat and looking at Madison.
“Yeah, I do have something more important to do today...”
The smile on my face falls.
“To watch The Little Mermaid with the cutest little girl in the world.”