Chapter 11 #4
Grumpy turned his back on Jackson just as a loud crack emanated around the room, followed by an agonizing cry. Another man, this one younger and beefier, came charging into the living room as Grumpy’s vision landed on Mads again.
Kelly had her arms around her, cradling Maddie as a mother might. Tears streamed down Maddie’s cheeks. Fuck, this was not the first impression Grumpy wanted her to have of him after so long, but then again, she should know who he’d become. Better now than later.
“You fucker! You broke my arm! I’m going to have you arrested! I’m—”
“Gag him or toss him out,” Grumpy ordered over his shoulder. “I don’t give a fuck.”
Based on the sounds behind him, Jackson was taking the prick out a backdoor. Which was good, because Grumpy never wanted that man near his daughter again. Not even in passing as he was being tossed on his ass on the front lawn.
The other man, the beefier one, stood frozen for a second before turning his attention to Maddie in Kelly’s arms. The front door was still open behind them. “Madison, are you okay?”
She nodded, though tears still streamed down her cheeks. “Yes. I’m so sorry about this, Erik. I never meant to hurt either of you.”
Erik swallowed hard, his eyes flicking between Maddie and Grumpy. “Yeah,” he said breathlessly. “Um, who are these people?”
Maddie pointed to Grumpy. “This is my dad, Jesse Bell. I, uh,” her eyes darted behind Grumpy and then to Kelly. Both women stood roughly the same height, around five-five. “I don’t know who everyone else is.”
“My name’s Kelly. Do you remember seeing me at the hospital when you came up to visit?”
The expression on Maddie’s young face said the memory was not a pleasant one. “Yes, but we never got the chance to be introduced.” She snuffled guiltily, “And now I’m crying on your shoulder.”
Kelly hugged her tighter. “Don’t worry about it.”
Maddie fell into the hug for another second and then turned her full attention onto Grumpy. Her blue eyes started watering again. “Dad… I…”
Though Grumpy was a man of few words, he’d never been short of them. The last time he’d seen her, she’d been twelve. Now he stood before his adult daughter who’d grown into a strikingly beautiful woman, and he had no idea what to say. Instead, he wordlessly opened his arms to her.
Maddie ran to him, bolting across the distance with little grace, and threw herself into his arms.
Grumpy almost tumbled down.
“Gentle!” Kelly cautioned.
“Harder,” Grumpy countered, not caring about the pain in the slightest.
He buried his face in Maddie’s hair. She smelled of citrus and bubble gum, and it was like the past ten years faded away.
The last time he’d seen her, he’d been dropping her off to school before heading into work at the base.
She hadn’t been home when he’d gotten there, anticipating dinner with his girls and instead was accused of adultery.
He couldn’t even remember the last thing he’d said to Maddie that day.
Probably something mundane, like “have a good day” or “make good choices”.
He should have told her he loved her. He should have told her that he would be there for her no matter what.
An unknown amount of time passed. Grumpy heard a door close, someone—he assumed Erik—said he’d be going now, and there was the typical traffic outside. Eventually, though, his legs and back started to give out.
Kelly must have noticed too, because she approached them. “Why don’t we get you seated on the couch?”
Maddie finally lifted her head, though she didn’t let go of Grumpy. “No, I can’t stay here. Colton might come back, and—”
“It’ll be the last thing he does if he comes near you again,” Grumpy warned, not giving a damn how dark his voice had turned.
Maddie’s blue eyes widened as she stared up at him. Finally, she said, “This still isn’t my house. I don’t belong here anymore anyway. Plus, I’m pretty sure I just got fired.”
Which made Mr. Broken Arm Colton Briggs, Maddie’s boss and, he assumed, boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend, if Grumpy had any say in the matter.
“I need to get my things and then we can go. I just…” She glanced down. “I’m not sure how much I can bring now, but I really don’t want to come back.”
Jackson stepped into Grumpy’s line of sight. “Grab anything you need and I’ll take care of it, ma’am.”
Maddie blinked in surprise, either at the offer or the title. Or both. “Um, thanks. I…” She stepped back, releasing Grumpy from her hold. “This is just so surreal and surprising. I still can’t believe you’re here,” she said up to Grumpy. “And that you forgave me.”
Grumpy had no idea what it was she thought he had to forgive her for, but he also knew that was a topic for another time. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner. Now, what do you need help with pack…ing…?”
His voice trailed off as Maddie stepped further back from him. With his vision struggles and nerve damage, not to mention the compression wraps concealing her body shape to his touch, Grumpy saw what the others likely had already seen and known.
His Maddie had a very prominent baby bump. His daughter was pregnant. He wasn’t just a father. He was about to become a grandfather.