Starting Over

Chapter 10

The morning was dreary and the sky was a depressing gray color a chill in the air. It was a perfect way to describe her current mood, it had been exactly a year since the day that forever altered her life.

It was the day Sean was killed.

She pulled the cardigan tightly around her as she stood in front of his tombstone, it was still weird to see his name etched on the stone. It was surreal.

When she ordered the tombstone she was torn as to what she was supposed to have put on it, they weren't married...hadn't even discussed it. In hindsight it was because deep down they both knew she'd never marry him. It was alright though, they both chose to ignore it...they were both settling. They loved each other, he loved her more than she could ever truly love him but he didn't care. He was just happy to be with her, after careful consideration she decided on the simplicity of 'Beloved Father' it was exactly what he was.

She choked back a sob, "It's been awhile, huh?" She spoke to him, "You'd love our little girl, she's wild and crazy..." She paused, Sean was the complete opposite of wild and crazy, that was all Adam's influence. "You can blame Adam for that, she's a lot like him, she looks exactly like you and behaves like Adam" she wiped her tears, "He loves her you know, and he tells her all about you...she thinks he's her daddy. I hope that you're okay with that, we're gonna explain it all when she's old enough to understand, I promise I'm not trying to replace you... I wouldn't do that to you or to Madison"

Adam laughed as Madison attempted to climb up the slide for the third time, her little face focused, he loved her persistence and determination, he celebrated right along with her when she finally made it to the top.

She turned back searching out Adam, smiling wide when she found him, she clapped her hands and was pleased with her accomplishment.

"Way to go Mads!" Adam approached her and extended his fist, Madison quickly bumped her tiny fist against his larger one and as he had taught her, she made a sound akin to an explosion.

He knew Kim needed sometime to herself, and the weather was seriously shitty it was the perfect day to try out the new indoor playground, it was filled with giant inflatables and ball pits, and included a smaller area for kids under three.

Adam was pleased they had an area separate from the older children, never had kids bothered him...now they had the tendency to drive him crazy. Especially when they ran through an area with complete disregard for those around them, he had realized that he had changed the day Madison entered his life and his heart.

Just a few weeks ago they had gone to a similar place, and they didn't have a separate area for little kids. They had been there about an hour and Madison was carefully toddling through the maze of bounce houses and slides, Adam was following a few steps behind. He'd only backed off because Kim had told him he needed to stop 'hovering' that he needed to let her explore.

He could still see it unfold in his minds eye, Madison was contemplating wether or not to actually go in one of the houses when a group of boys, none of them older than six or seven years old came tearing out of the house and barreled over Madison. Knocking her on her ass, she burst into tears.

Adam's heart froze, and it was as if time stood still, Madison was screaming and the boys all looked panicked. He couldn't figure out what to do first, if he should comfort his little girl or beat the shit out of the punks who had knocked her down.

Thankfully Kim was able to function  and she quickly scooped Maddie up, while the little girl was obviously scared, she wasn't hurt. He moved to talk to the kids, Kim could see the fear in their eyes as Adam approached, "Babe...she's fine. It was an accident" she had a hold on his arm, "Right boys?"