Tide of Tenderness (OBX)

Chapter 11

The sun peeked through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. The house felt lighter, filled with a sense of relief after the long, tense days of worry. Madi, now fully recovered from her fever, slept peacefully in her crib, her little face calm and relaxed. The last few days had been rough for everyone, but they had made it through, stronger as a family.

John B stirred in bed, his hand reaching out instinctively to the empty space where Sarah had been. She must've gotten up early to check on Madi, he thought, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He could hear faint giggles from the other room, the sound pulling a smile onto his face as he slowly got out of bed.

He wandered toward the nursery, his heart warming at the sight before him. Sarah was kneeling on the floor with Madi, who was sitting up, surrounded by a sea of plushies, her favorite teddy bear clutched tightly in her arms. Madi's bright eyes sparkled with excitement, her tiny hands waving in the air as she babbled happily, a stark contrast to the days when she had been lethargic and fussy.

"Good morning, girls," John B said, leaning against the doorframe.

Madi immediately turned her head at the sound of her dad's voice. She beamed at him, lifting her arms as if asking to be picked up.

"Da-da!" she babbled, her words slurring together in that adorable baby way that always melted his heart.

"Well, look who's feeling all better," John B said, crossing the room to scoop Madi into his arms. He kissed the top of her head, breathing in the familiar scent of baby powder and sweetness. "You had us worried, you know that, right?"

Madi's response was a happy gurgle as she grabbed a fistful of his shirt, her pacifier hanging loosely from the string attached to her onesie. She gave him a sloppy grin, thumb finding its way into her mouth as she rested her head against his shoulder.

Sarah stood up, stretching her arms with a sigh. "She's been up for a while now, full of energy. It's like the fever never happened."

"She's tough, just like her mom," John B said, flashing Sarah a warm smile.

Sarah laughed softly, though there was still a trace of exhaustion in her eyes. The last few nights had taken a toll on both of them, but seeing Madi so full of life again made it all worth it.

"I thought we could take her to the beach today," Sarah suggested. "Get some fresh air and let her play a bit. She's been cooped up inside for too long."

John B nodded in agreement. "That sounds perfect. It'll be nice to have a normal day again."

By mid-morning, the three of them were packed up and headed toward the beach. The salty breeze hit their faces as they walked along the familiar path leading to the shore, Madi perched comfortably in John B's arms, her chubby fingers playing with the strap of his backpack.

When they reached the beach, it was quiet, with only a few locals scattered around, enjoying the early calm before the tourists started rolling in. John B set Madi down on the blanket Sarah had laid out, her tiny feet sinking into the sand. Madi's eyes widened as she wiggled her toes in the grainy surface, clearly fascinated by the new texture.

"Look, Madi," Sarah said, pointing out toward the ocean. "That's the water. You wanna go see it?"

Madi looked up at her, her eyes wide with curiosity but also a hint of caution. She grabbed her plushie, clutching it close to her chest as she observed the waves rolling in and out. The sound of the water crashing against the shore was calming, but to Madi, it was unfamiliar, and unfamiliar things often made her hesitate.

"Come on, let's go slowly," John B said gently, sensing her reluctance. He reached for her hand, guiding her toward the shoreline.

As they neared the water, Madi's grip on his hand tightened, her other hand holding her ears like she sometimes did when overwhelmed. John B crouched down to her level, his voice soft and encouraging. "It's okay, Mads. It's just the ocean. It makes funny sounds, but it's safe. Daddy's here."

Sarah stood behind them, watching with a smile as John B patiently coaxed Madi closer to the water. She admired his tenderness, the way he always seemed to know exactly what Madi needed. It wasn't easy being parents so young, but they were learning as they went, finding their rhythm together.

After a few moments of hesitation, Madi slowly let go of her ears, her thumb still in her mouth but her eyes glued to the water. John B gently dipped her toes into the shallow waves, and a little giggle escaped her. The sensation of the cool water against her skin must've surprised her, but in a good way.

"There you go!" John B said, grinning. "See? It's fun, isn't it?"

Madi giggled again, this time more enthusiastically, as she kicked her feet in the water, splashing droplets everywhere. Sarah joined them, crouching down beside Madi and letting the water wash over her own toes.

"She's brave, just like her dad," Sarah said, leaning into John B's side as they watched Madi explore the new sensations.

They spent the rest of the morning playing in the sand, building small castles and letting Madi crawl around, her laughter filling the air. The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the beach. It was the kind of day that reminded John B and Sarah of why they fought so hard to have a life together, despite everything they'd been through.

As they packed up to head home, Madi grew a bit fussy, rubbing her eyes and yawning, clearly worn out from the excitement of the day. John B carried her in his arms as they walked back to the van, her head resting on his shoulder as she sucked on her pacifier, ready for a nap.

When they got home, Sarah put Madi down for her afternoon nap, watching her daughter's chest rise and fall as she drifted off into a peaceful sleep. She gently closed the nursery door, feeling a wave of contentment wash over her. For the first time in days, everything felt right.

John B was waiting for her in the living room, his feet propped up on the coffee table as he scrolled through his phone. He looked up as she entered, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"You okay?" he asked, setting his phone down.

Sarah nodded, walking over to sit beside him. "Yeah. I think we all needed a day like this."

John B wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "I was thinking we should take that weekend trip soon. We've earned it."

Sarah smiled, resting her head against his chest. "That sounds amazing. Just us for a couple of days. No worries, no responsibilities... Just some time to reconnect."

"Exactly," John B said, kissing the top of her head. "We'll make it happen."

As they sat there in the quiet house, with Madi peacefully napping in the next room, the world felt right again. There were still challenges ahead—there always would be—but for now, they had each other, and that was enough.

The tide had turned, and tenderness had returned to their lives once more.