So, I have had this idea for a really long time. I'm so excited to finally get going on it. I hope you guys like it. I don't want to give anything away so no quick summary. Hopefully any blanks that form will be filled in as the story progresses. With that, enjoy!!!!!
Angel of Mine
A Joe FF
CHAPTER 1
I remember I thought you looked like an angel
wrapped in pink so soft and warm.
You've had me wrapped around your finger
since the day you were born.
- Tim McGraw, My Little Girl
February 2008
“Ooof,” I mumbled, tripping over a cabbage patch doll that had been lying in the door way. I picked up the doll and set her on the couch as I headed to the kitchen.
“Noelle, honey, is that you?” my mom, Renee Peters called out.
“Yeah, it’s me.” I said as I walked into the kitchen. “My class was cancelled today.”
“Oh, well that’s a pleasant surprise.” She smiled at me.
“Yeah, and I thought since I now have a entire afternoon free, that I’d take Maddy out for a little quality time just her and I.” I said and turned to the kitchen table, where seated in a booster seat was a 3 year old girl with the brightest blue eyes and straight light blond hair. “Does that sound like fun Maddy?”
“Yeah!” the little girl yelped in excitement.
“So easy to please,” I chuckled to my mom. I ran upstairs and grabbed a jacket for Maddy and then came back down. My mom had already helped her out of her booster seat and had her shoes on, little purple converse shoes shoes.
“Are you ready Mads?” I knelt down and helped her into her jacket.
“Uh huh. I weady.” She said back. I scooped her in to my arms and swung my purse over my shoulder.
“Alright, we shouldn’t be more than an hour or two.” I turned to my mom.
“Oh take your time. I know this doesn’t happen very often these days, so, please, enjoy it. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.” My mom kissed us both on the cheek. I smiled back.
“Bye, mom,” I turned and left with Maddy. After strapping her into her car seat, I hopped into the driver’s seat of my little white Toyota Corolla and pulled out of the driveway of our cute little 4 bedroom house. I flipped the radio station until I got to Radio Disney, knowing it would be kid-friendly enough for Maddy. I let out a chuckle as the melody to a familiar song filled the car.
“You’re the light that makes my darkness disappear, When you look me in the eyes…..”
I glanced at the rear view mirror and smiled softly. Maddy was swaying to the song. She loved the Jonas Brothers. I liked them too. I wasn’t a crazy psycho fan or anything, but I did enjoy their music and didn’t mind that Maddy did also. I continued driving, letting my head bob along with the beat of the songs. 20 minutes later we were out of the car walking around in the downtown shopping center. Maddy clutched my had securely while we walked, her head moving side to side. She loved being outdoors.
“Want to get some ice cream?” I peered down at her with a smile.
“Yes! Yes!” she jumped up and down excitedly.
“Okay, lets go then,” I laughed. We continued walking past a few more shops until we reached a Pinkberry. We walked in and stood in line.
“Don’t let go of my hand, okay Madison?” I looked down at her.
“Okay,” she answered softly.
We waited until it was our turn to be helped.
“Hi, welcome to Pinkberry. What can I get for you today,” the girl at the counter asked us.
“Hmmm,” I glanced at the toppings for a moment, “We’ll have a regular size original with strawberries, mango, and fruity pebbles.”
“Okay. Your total comes to $3.65” the same girl told me. With my free hand I dug into my purse for my wallet. In all the shuffling of getting out the money and handing it to the counter girl, my keys fell out with a clunk.
“Ooooh!”I gasped softly and bent down to pick them up. Putting them safely back into my purse I stepped over to the other side of the counter to wait for our order. It was ready a moment later, and, with the cup of frozen yogurt in hand, I guided Maddy back outside to one of the patio tables. She scrambled into a chair and waited for me to get situated and hand her a spoon. Once I handed to her she wasted no time in helping herself to a heaping spoonful. I followed suit and took a bite myself.
“Yummy, huh?” I asked, wiping my mouth with a napkin.
“Uh huh,” Maddy nodded smiling a big smile with a frozen yogurt mustache. In one instant her face went from a huge grin to a giant ‘o’. She had been holding a spoonful of frozen yogurt and it fell right onto her lap.
“Uh oh,” I shook my head, not all that surprised. “Come on, lets go clean you up.”
I took her by the hand and walked back inside. We made our way to the restroom where I got some paper towels damp so I could wipe up the frozen yogurt that had gotten onto her pants.
“Well, that will do, for now.” I said a few minutes later, as I threw the used paper towels in the wastebasket. We headed back outside to where we were sitting so we could finish our frozen yogurt. I looked around at the many people who walked by, mostly talking on cell phones or texting. I couldn’t help thinking that I would have been one of those people if it weren’t for Maddy. I would be more grateful for that then she would ever know.
“Do you know how special you are to me, Maddy?” I turned back to her. I let out a gasp. She was nowhere in sight. “Maddy?”
I stood up and looked around.
“Madison? Where are you?” I said slowly growing frantic. I walked to the entrance and poked my head inside. There was no sign of her inside. I looked around the rest of the outdoor tables.
“Oh where could she have gone,” I muttered to myself. “Madison? MADISON RENEE this isn’t funny!”
I walked over to the main walkway and looked to my right. No sigh of her that way. When I looked to my left, I let out a huge sigh of relief. I saw her being carried in my direction in the arms of a young man with slightly wavy, dark brown hair, accompanied by two other young men with mops of brown curly hair. My sigh of relief turned into a small gasp of surprise as they grew closer and I recognized who the trio was. As they approached me, the one holding Maddy set her to her feet. She came running to me.
“Mommy!” she squealed as she ran into my arms.
