Chapter 4
Connor
Idon't know what came over me, but hearing the word daddy from her mouth made me hard as nails, and this need to make her feel the same way took over.
We pay for the items and then load them into the car before heading to the diner next door to grab some food.
It’s then that I run into the last person I expect to see in Helena, Axel from Whiskey River.
"Axel, what are you doing in town?" I ask as we walk up to their table.
"Hey, man. We are just getting a few things for the cabin," he says.
"And who is this little one?" His wife Emelie says, peeking into the carrier at Faith.
"Well, long story short, this is Maddie and my daughter Faith.” Turning to Maddie, I tell her, “Axel has taken me hunting a few times over on Whiskey Mountain."
I envy Axel and Emelie. They live off the grid in a cabin in the mountains and are completely self-sufficient, except when Emelie gets some project in her head to decorate the place.
"It was nice meeting you. Enjoy your lunch. I'm ready to head back to the cabin, as this is too much people time for me." Emelie smiles, and I know by the look on Axel's face that he shares the sentiment.
As they leave, we look to grab a table, and Maddie leads us to a booth by the window. I stand there, unsure of what to do with Faith and her carrier. While I don't want to set her on the ground, setting her on the table seems wrong, too.
A quick peek in the carrier confirms Faith is still asleep, and there is no way in hell I'm waking that kid up. I'd like to enjoy my lunch with Maddie.
"Here, put her in like this." Maddie takes the carrier and turns it sideways, and it slips right into the booth, allowing me plenty of room to sit and watch over her as she sleeps.
Maddie takes the diaper bag and slips into the other side of the booth, settling in.
"I never would have thought of that. What would I do if you weren't here?" I say, thinking out loud.
"One of the moms would have jumped in gladly. She gives a pointed look at the diners around us where a few women with kids are watching. "You are a dad trying to take care of a little one. If you are alone and need help, just ask a mom; they will be thrilled to help you."
Letting that sink in, I realize I don't want some random mom helping me. I want Maddie, and that thought is a bit unsettling.
The waitress comes over, and since I've been here before, I order for us without thinking.
I know Maddie's favorite foods, fried chicken with an extra biscuit, and mashed potatoes drowning in gravy.
Then I get myself the meatloaf and mac and cheese that I know she will also eat, before looking back at her.
She is wide-eyed and staring at me in shock.
"What?" I ask, shifting in my seat, thinking I did something wrong.
"You just ordered the perfect meal for me without blinking an eye," she whispers.
"I know you, Maddie. It may have been a while since we’ve been in the same state, but I know you. I'd have ordered you some sweet tea, but this isn't the south, and you'd be disappointed when they just mix in a sweetener packet and bring it to you."
She shakes her head, but takes a moment to respond like she is thinking of her words carefully.
"No one has ordered for me before, much less gotten it right, down to the extra biscuit and extra gravy."
"Well, I plan to show you how you should be treated. Maddie, I'm going to ruin you from all men because of the thought of you with someone else..." I stop myself. What the heck am I saying? She is looking at me with so much hope in her eyes, but I have to slow down.
"Just thinking of someone treating you like crap kills me," I add, not fully saying what I want to say, but hoping she reads enough between the lines.
Conversation over lunch is easy as we fall into just being us. We talk about my sister coming over, and then I update Maddie a bit on my sister, who's very career-driven. They haven't seen each other since before Maddie left for Tennessee.
Once home, she takes control of setting up the baby's room. While she’s doing that, I move the furniture out, move my desk to my room, and the bookcases to Maddie's room. Finally, I start rearranging the books.
Then it hits me. I no longer think of my guest room as a guest room. Instead, it's Maddie's room. As I stand there setting the books on the shelf and looking around, I guess I always thought of it as her room because it's decorated for her, even if I never really intentionally did it that way.
We spend the next several hours putting together furniture that the baby needs.
A crib, a rocking chair, and a dresser with a changing table on top are assembled in Faith’s room.
Maddie has done several loads of laundry; washing everything before it ends up in the baby's room, and has taken over decorating everything in pinks and grays.
The rest will have to wait until tomorrow because we have to get ready for dinner was my sister. But standing here looking over what used to be my office and seeing how much it's been transformed, I know it's all thanks to Maddie.
Without a second thought, I lean in and my lips are on hers. She freezes for only a moment before melting into me. Her lips are soft with a hint of citrus, and I'm instantly addicted. She wraps her arms around my waist as I tangle my hands in her hair.
She wipes all thoughts from my mind with this kiss. All thoughts but one.
Mine.