Raising Madison (The third book in the 'The girl in the attic trilogy')

(2) Raising Madison

Raising Madison

Chapter 2

Preston’s POV

Once Brooklyn had left I took Madie into the kitchen and sat her down in her chair. It was almost supper time and although I wasn’t feeling hungry Madie had to eat. I made her some smashed veggies, pumpkin and chicken fingers and then took a seat next to her at the table. Luckily she has always been a healthy eater and as soon as she was on solids she started feeding herself. At first she didn’t get it quite right, leaving a huge mess for me to clean up every time but she was getting better at feeding herself every day.

My mom joined us in the kitchen a few minutes later and started making supper for us. I told her that I wasn’t hungry but she insisted that I had to eat. I didn’t bother arguing, knowing there was no point.

“How did the interview go?” she asked as she put some sort of pasta on the oven.

“Great actually,” I replied, thinking of how good Brooklyn was with Madie.

“So you hired her?” my mom asked, obviously wanting more info.

“Yeah, she seemed perfect I just hope she doesn’t turn out to be a complete fake,” I replied, knowing that people can be very deceiving to get what they want.

“You’ll just have to keep a close eye on her but I’m sure she’ll be fine. She seemed like a very nice young lady,” my mom said and then continued on with her food.

When Madie eventually finished eating I took her upstairs to her room so that she could play for a while. About an hour later my mom called me down for dinner and by this time I was actually feeling a bit hungry so I took Madie and headed downstairs. She started getting fussy while we were eating so as soon as we were done I made her a bottle and put her to sleep. It was just after seven at this point but I decided to finish up and get ready for bed.

I took a quick shower, changed into a pair of slacks and got into bed. I looked over at the baby monitor to make sure it was on and then closed my eyes, hoping to fall asleep. I wasn’t that lucky though. Since Katie passed away I’ve been battling to sleep. Images of her dead body, lying on the hospital always manages to fill my head. Sometimes I cry and sometimes I get really angry but it always results in me not being able to sleep.

I didn’t want to remember Katie like that. I wanted to remember her as happy and full of life but it wasn’t that easy. My mind always seems to conjure up the worst images and when I finally mange to fall asleep I wind up having nightmares.

I sighed, knowing that I was in for a long night. I try to be strong for Madie’s sake but at night I don’t have to pretend that I’m ok, I’m not sure if I will ever be ok again.

I laid in my bed for hours but every time I closed my eyes the images filled my head so eventually I just gave up and got out of bed. I walked over to my dresser on which the little wooden box that held Katie’s ashes stood and picked it up, feeling the need to be close to her.

“I miss you so much,” I whispered as tears started stinging at my eyes.

“I wish you were here so that I could hold you in my arms,” I said as I walked back to my bed and got in under the covers.

“Madie’s grown so much and she is absolutely beautiful, she reminds me so much of you,” I continued as my body started trembling and my eyes overflowed with tears.

I woke to the sound of Madie crying and sat up in my bed, the little box still wrapped in my arms. Luckily it had a lock on it because I seem to fall asleep with it in my arms a lot. I got up, placed the little box back in its place and made my way to Madie’s room, which is right next to mine.

She was standing in her crib, holding on to the side, her little face red from crying. I guess mine must look the same but luckily she is too young to understand. I picked her up into my arms and gave her hug. She stopped crying almost immediately and smiled up at me, her big brown eyes sparkling. It is so easy to make her happy, I just hope it will always be like this.

I walked around with her a bit and then gave her a bottle. She took it happily and went back to sleep.  I seriously doubt that I would be able to do the same thing.

I looked over at the clock on the wall and sighed. It was just after four in the morning so I better try to go back to sleep I thought as I made my way back to my room. I laid down in my bed and closed my eyes, hoping for a peaceful sleep but getting nightmares instead.