Madison's Journey

Part 17: Christen's POV

When we arrive back after the game Madi rushes inside. "What is that about?" Tobin questions.

"I have no idea. She brought back the wrong amount of change and I think that really upset her."

"Ya, I hear. She said she checked, how could she get it wrong if she checked? Do you think that she was lying?" Tobin asks hesitantly as if scares to even suggest such a thing.

"No, I don't. I think something else might be going on." Next thing we know Madi is flying back down the stairs and stops right in front of me with her hand out and a couple of bills clenched in it. "S-s-sorr-r-ry-y."

"What? No Madi, you don't have to pay me back, it's ok?" I tell her. 'I told her that she didn't have to worry about it. That it was ok. What is she doing?'

"B-but-t I-I m-mess-sed-d up-p up. F-fift-teen-n." I let out a sigh. 'This kid isn't going to let up is she?'

"Yes you did, but it didn't hurt anyone so there really is no harm done. I'm not going to take your money. You don't have to pay me back for any of it ok?" She shakes her head and tries to give the money to me once again. "You're not going to let me not take it are you?" She shakes her head and holds it out to me again. I take the money from her and tell her, "If you ever need any you just come ask me and you can have it back ok?"

She continues to shake her head, "Y-your-r's-s."

After sending her off with the list to go pack I pull out the money that Madi gave me to put in a safe place for when I can give it back to her. 'There's only six dollars here. She said fifteen. Did she grab the wrong ones in her rush to get them? Does she not know how money works? Can she not add? Can she not read the bills?'

I shake the thoughts from my mind for now and jump on my computer to check my email before dinner. It isn't long after that Tobin bursts into the room and goes straight to the closet.

"Come on in kid, I want you to pick one." She yells over her shoulder.

Madi walks in and meets her over by the closet. She pulls out two suitcases, "Do you think you need the bigger one or the smaller one?" Madi takes a second before taking the smaller of the two.

"Is there anything else you need? Anything that was on the list that you don't have?" Madi shakes her head. "Ok then go ahead and finish packing." She nods to Tobin before rushing out of the room.

"She was going to put her stuff in a trash bag," Tobin explains. "She said that her one bag was full so she was going to put the rest of it in a trash bag."

"Wow, that's that's..."

"Sad I know. I just couldn't let her do that so I may have given her one of my suitcases."

I let out a laugh, "I know Tobs, I saw. And you did the right thing. Just this once I'll spare a little space in one of mine for your stuff ok."

She laughs too, "Ya that sounds good." She turns to head back out of the room before I call her in once again.

"Oh, there's one more thing. Remember when we got home and she gave me that money to 'pay me back'? And she said that it was fifteen?"

"Ya I remember. What about it?"

"She only gave me six"

"She probably just grabbed the wrong thing in her hurry and panic."

"That's what I thought too, but what if it's more than that?"

"Then what do you think it is?"

"I'm not sure yet, but I have a few theories. I think I just need more information. I'm going to take another look at her file before bed."

"Sounds good. I'll help you go through it if you want."

"That sounds like a plan." I get up and kiss her. "Let's head down and get working on dinner. We still have packing to do as well."

Tobin and I head downstairs to get started on dinner. "We have the stuff to do cheese potato casserole and I kind of what to use the potatoes before we leave, does that sound good to you."

"Sounds good to me. I'll start on the potatoes and you do the cheese."

"Perfect."

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*Beep Beep*

"I'm going to get Madi, do you want to plate this up?"

"Of course I will. Do I have to wait to start eating?" She asks with a cheeky smile.

"Do I really need to answer that?"

"Alright so no?"

"Tobin."

"Alright alright, but you better hurry. I can't wait forever." I just roll my eyes at her before heading up the stairs.

I only knock once on the main door before just making my way to the closet. I knock a couple of times with no answer before prying the door open slowly and gently. I look down at the sleeping child in front of me. "What secrets are you holding kid? We only want to help." I sigh and lean down to wake the sleeping child.

She jolts awake at the slightest touch. "It's ok Mads. You're ok. Do you know where you are?" She nods her head.

"H-hous-se."

"Good, that's really good. Diners ready. Why don't you come down to eat? Then you can get back to sleep ok?" She nods and stands following me back to the table. Tobin has three plates dished out and a glass of water set in front of Madi's plate. We all sit down and once again she waits for us to start eating before taking her own first bit.

There is a grimace of disgust on her face for just a moment before she hides it by taking another bite. I wasn't going to say anything about it, but Tobin seemed to have a different thought on it.

"Is there something wrong kid?" Her head shoots up and she immediately shakes her head. She even takes another bite as if to prove that everything was ok, but once again she could not hide the grimace on her face. "Are you sure? It's ok if there is."

"N-no no it-t's g-good-d."

"But?"

She shakes her head, "N-no b-but-t. It-t's g-good." She puts her head back down and continues eating. She helps clear the table when we finish.

"Alright, why don't you go up and get ready for bed? We'll be in in a few minutes to check on you." She nods and starts heading upstairs slowly.

"What do you think that it was about it that she didn't like?" Tobin asks me.

"I don't know, but if we're right about her texture issues it could be that. It could also be the taste, maybe she just didn't like it."

"Then why wouldn't she just tell us that?"

"Because she isn't used to anyone being there for her. We just need to show her that she will always be welcome and safe here no matter what happens."

"And how do we do that?"

"With time and attention to what she needs because she's not going to tell us herself."

A/N: Please vote and comment to let me know what you think. I'm always looking for new ideas to add so also let me know if there is anything that you would like to see.