31. Braydon
It”s been two weeks since Madison and i’s first official date in six years. I don”t think that I have stopped smiling since that night.
The weather has been a lot nicer lately, which means the guys have needed more help on pouring concrete. it hasn”t been leaving me with much time for anything else. Madison has come over a few times to watch Iris on nights that I have to work late. but it has felt like we are two ships passing in the night. we haven”t got to spend a lot of time together, but I have a surprised planned for next weekend that she has no idea about. Sarah is still pretty pissed at me for ignoring her call, but she can get over it. My whole life doesn”t revolve around music, but it does revolve around my girls. my girls. I will never get tired of hearing that. ill eventually get back to Sarah, but right now I am trying to soak up every moment that I can.
“Daddy, can I get a chocolate chip muffin for Maddie too?” Iris tugs on my hand and pulls me out of my own head.
“Of course, sweetheart.”
I lift Iris into my arms. I am practically dead on my feet and could definitely use a few more hours of sleep. but I will have to settle for a large amount of caffeine instead. Today is Iris and I’s weekly father daughter trip to the bookstore, and I wouldn”t miss this ever. Especially since Madison is coming with us today. this will hopefully be the first of many adventures for the three of us.
After we collect our goodies, we walk over to the bookstore. Madison”s Jeep is already parked in front, and I feel an army of butterflies in my stomach.
“Maddie!” Iris lets go of my hand and runs over to where Madison is waiting for us.
“Good to know that I have been replaced.”
“Is that coffee for me?” Madison makes grabby hands at the iced lavender latte in my hand. before she scoops Iris into her arms.
“We also got you a muffin,” Iris tells Madison.
“You did? Thank you!”
Madison sets Iris back on the sidewalk, and I hand her the coffee and muffin. I give Madison a quick kiss, just as Iris turns to grab her muffin.
“Ew. daddy!”
“Sorry, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, ew, Bray!” Madison exclaims, biting back a laugh.
“Shall we go inside now ladies?”
I open the door and gesture for Iris and Madison to go inside. Iris slips her tiny hand into Madison”s free hand, and they walk inside together. my heart surges with love for the two most important people in my life.
“Hey, Mrs. Cooper. This is Maddie. She”s Daddy”s friend.”
“Oh, I know she is, sweetie.” Mrs. Cooper gives me a suggestive wink.
Iris runs off to the children”s section, and Madison immediately heads for the romance section.
I walk up to the counter where Mrs. Cooper sits reading a romance novel. She sets it aside and looks up at me from her chair.
“You are taking good care of my girls?”
“Yes ma”am. I am trying my best.”
“That”s all I can ask of you.”
I nod and head in the direction of the romance section. I spot Madison fairly easily. She already has a stack of books precariously stacked in her arms.
“Here I got them.”
“You sure?”
“Positive, Boots.”
She switches the stack from her arms to mine, before she goes back to browsing the shelves. I can”t help but smile at her. she is so clueless about the surprised that I have planned for next weekend. at the thought of the surprise, I imediently feel the weight of the ring box in my pocket. it is the same ring from high school, but I made a few adjustments. i picked it up from the jeweler this morning, and if I didn”t already have plans, I would propose to her right here right now.
“Daddy, can I get two books this time?” Iris asks, running in my direction. I shake my head to clear my thoughts and look down at my daughter.
She is actually holding five books, but I decide to not correct her right now. We will work on counting a little later. I take the books from her and balance them on top of the pile already in my arms. Iris skips back off to the other side of the store. Turning back around to Madison, who I see has three more books in her hands.
“I am not going to be able to afford bringing you two in here once a week.”
“You aren”t paying for mine. And I am sure Iris’s books aren”t that expensive.”
I am paying for Madison”s books whether she likes it or not, but I am not going to argue about it in the middle of the bookstore. Both girls browse for another fifteen minutes, each accumulating three more books. I quickly sneak off to pay while Madison is reading a book to Iris.
“This all for you, Braydon?”
“I think I have just bought out your whole store. So, yes this will be all.”
Mrs. Cooper laughs, as she starts to ring up the stack of books. The girls even snuck in some bookmarks. Almost three hundred dollars later we are headed out of the bookstore. Iris has eight books in a cute little tote bag that she talked me into letting her get. Madison has ten books, I don”t know how many bookmarks, and two tote bags.
That settles it, I am officially a simp. But I don”t mind. I will gladly spend the rest of my life being a simp for these two girls. and I will cherish every minute of it.