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Madison fiddled with her coat as she walked up the sidewalk to the Matthews' house. Amy had called her to come and see the baby now that he was all settled. She couldn't refuse.
As she approached the door, she noticed that Eric's car was in the driveway, and couldn't help but smile. She had been trying to "accidentally" run in to him at school, and in general. Madison was sad she didn't get to see him everyday, and now had to find brand new ways to spend time with him. The sound of his loud voice carried through the relatively thin door. It seemed he was in a heated discussion with his parents. Shocker.
"Everybody that I know has somebody that they want to dedicate their life to," Eric's voice echoed.
"Hello hello," Madison interrupted, knocking on the door as she swung it open.
Alan and Amy smiled at her while Eric stared blankly. Was he mad that she interrupted his speech?
"Madison! Come on in," Amy greeted, "We were just discussing Eric's latest idea."
"It's not just an idea Mom! I am going to adopt Tommy!" Eric defended.
Adopt? That was pretty serious for a guy who lived on his parents' couch.
"Eric, even if we agreed to this, they won't let you adopt him," Alan argued, "You can't support him, you can't give him a home."
Madison begun to shrug off her bulky jacket to make herself at home. She was a little uncomfortable, as it seemed she always showed up in the middle of arguments.
"You are a great big brother, be that," Amy reasoned, "That's what he needs from you."
"No, you know what Tommy needs? Tommy needs me, that's what he needs," Eric said sternly, "And I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that he's got me. Cause that's what's best for him, that's what's best for me."
There was a pause as Eric let his words sink in. He rose from the couch slowly and seriously.
"Now I'm going to go call St. Mary's and have them put Tommy on hold, or, you know, layaway or whatever," Eric finished.
Amy and Alan both watched him walk into the kitchen with less than pleased expressions.
"Why are our children so crazy?" Amy sighed, holding her face in her hands, "Please don't be crazy, please be normal."
As Amy bent down to tickle Josh, Madison suddenly remembered what she was actually there for, and approached the bassinet. Little Josh was wiggling in his blanket, smiling up at the pair of women.
"They may be crazy, but they have good hearts," Alan pointed out, leaning over to see Josh from his place on the couch, "Have a good heart, like your brother."
Amy straightened up from her hunched over position and turned to face her husband. Madison was trying not to seem like she was listening, and began to speak quietly to Josh. She wasn't quite sure what she was saying, or if Josh could even hear or understand her, but it seemed to do the trick of keeping her out of the way.
