Bless the Broken Road that Lead Me Straight to You

Chapter 22

When Jay finally stepped outside and walked up to the passenger's seat window, he found a sleeping Erin inside. Even with the bruises on her face, she looked so peaceful in the glow of the car light and he almost didn't want to wake her. After a moment of staring at her sleeping form, he finally tapped on the window gently, hoping not to scare her. Her eyes gently fluttered open, and she slowly registered where she was. She stretched out her neck and arms, before leaning over to pull the keys out of the ignition. She turned off the overhead lights and opened the car door.

"Hey," she said, her voice still full of sleep, as she stepped out of the car. "How'd it go?"

He wasn't actually sure. He still felt a little uneasy about the whole conversation. "As well as could be expected, I guess." That was true enough, he supposed. "They're eager to see you." That was definitely true, at least.

"Good," she sighed. She gazed at him dreamily, her eyes still adjusting to being outside in the dark. Then she slipped her hand into his, intertwining her small fingers gently between his larger ones. "I'm eager to see them, too."

They walked towards the two-story brick house together in a comfortable silence. This time when Jay stood outside the door, the nerves that had been stubbornly present each other time were now gone. With Erin's hand still pressed in his, he didn't even bother to knock. Instead, he turned the knob on the door and slowly pushed it open.

Maddie must have heard them as they slowly came up the stairs outside the house, because she was already racing down the hallway towards them when they walked inside. Even in their current state, exhausted and bruised, even though this wasn't even his house, it didn't matter. He still loved how Maddie rushed to greet him at the door. But instead of jumping into his arms, she yelled "ERIN!", and ran right past him. With that, his smile grew even wider.

Maddie was about to fling herself into Erin's arms when Grace stopped her. "You have to be careful with her," she said. The words and tone clearly displayed her years of experience, and she blushed as she said it, as if she was fully aware that this was nothing to be proud of.

Maddie stepped back, listening to Grace's advice. Even though they were the same age, Maddie seemed to heed Grace's words like they were one of an older sister. "Sorry," she said, as she smiled. She wasn't offended in the least. "I was just excited."

Erin bent down and opened her arms, welcoming them both over to her. "It's okay," she said, "I'm okay."

Okay - ish, Jay thought, and added, "Just be gentle."

Grace looked at Jay for confirmation, and he nodded. Maddie took her cues from Grace, and both girls carefully hugged Erin. After a few precious moments, they both leaned away, each searching Erin's face and completely taking in all the bumps and bruises for the first time. "Are you sure you're okay?" Maddie whispered to her. Maddie gently touched her fingers to the bandage on her jaw, careful not to apply any pressure. "You don't look okay."

"Yeah, Mads," she replied, and she meant it. Her arms wrapped around the two girls with Jay standing beside her. She may not have been okay before, but she was definitely okay now. "I'm good."

Maddie smiled, unable to hide her delight that Erin used her extra special nickname. Usually, only her dad called her Mads. Ms. Annie didn't at school, and neither did any of her friends. One time her grandparents had tried to call her Mads, but after a few times, she told them to stop. It had made her feel a little uneasy and she didn't like it. Like her grandparents were trying to take away from the extra special bond she had with her daddy. Because that name was special, and it was just for her and her daddy. Because Mads was Dad's girl.