Small Town Lights

Chapter 8

Colt has been spending so much time with Maddy. He has been at our house nearly every day. Sundays he is there bright and early to make breakfast with us then to the park we all go and end up at my parents just like that first Sunday. Sometimes he stays after Maddy is in bed and we just talk. It honestly feels just like old times, of course, that's the problem. It's been almost a month and next week he goes to Atlanta to start training. I can't deny my feelings to myself and it sucks, to say the least. He can't afford to be distracted in his rookie year. I did what I did four years ago so that he could be successful and I'll be damned if I screw it up now!

I sighed as I thought about how much I and Maddy will miss him when he leaves. I know that he plans on seeing Maddy still so she will get to see him. But I have gotten a little used to spending time with him too. I'm a big girl though and I will be okay. I spent the last four years without him, I can do this. Either way, I would put my worries aside though to spend the weekend with everyone. The fourth of July is huge both Colt and I's families and we always spent it at our jointly owned beach house. It was a 2-hour drive and Colt had insisted on driving because he said I wasn't any good at it.

I can feel Colt looking at me longer than he probably should since he is driving but, when I look at him, he looks away. "Daddy, do you know any songs?" Maddy asked him from the back seat. I looked at him and smiled when I saw his stretch across his face. Colt hated singing in the car when we were kids. I, on the other hand, loved it. Mostly because it bugged him so much but, he always let me do it.

"I do, giggles. What song would you like to sing?" He looked into the rearview mirror to talk to her before looking at me with a playful glare. "You taught her to sing in the car?" I just nodded with a smile on my face. I didn't even try to hold it back.

"Old Mcdonald!" Maddy yelled throwing her hands in the air. I burst into laughter when I saw Colts face contort. I could tell he was holding in a groan which made me stop laughing and realize I love how he is with her. My admiration grew when he started singing the song with her. Around the third verse, I decided to join them. We sang songs until we reached the beach house, an hour later.

Colt put the car in park and Maddy started clapping. "Can I go see the water, please?" I looked back at her and smiled. Maddy loved the beach she could never contain her excitement each when we arrived at the house.

"You take her to see the water and I will get the car unloaded," Colt laughed listening to Maddy beg over and over to get to the water.

"You sure?" I asked him as I stepped out of the car. I opened the back door letting Maddy hop out like a kid with a sugar rush.

"I'm sure," he smiled walking to the trunk. Maddy ran to stand beside him looking into the trunk. "What do you need giggles?" He asked her. She pointed into the trunk and started jumping up and down. I watched as he teased her pointing to the suitcases and everything else in the trunk but the large yellow duck with a green hat float toy, she had convinced him to buy on their unsupervised shopping trip two days ago. She got louder with each wrong guess and I laughed harder than I ever thought I would but stopped when Colt glanced up at me with his perfect eyes that matched the ocean's blue. He smiled before turning back to Maddy. "Do you want your duck?" He asked her like it was the last thing he would think she would want.

"Please, Daddy," Maddy nodded her head with excitement. "I want to go play!" Colt laughed and handed her the duck. He kissed her on the head. "Let's go!" She yelled as she ran toward the side of the house that would lead her to the water.

"Maddy!" I yelled after her, "you have to wait for me!" I looked at Colt, "I'm sorry." He shrugged and tipped his head in the direction that Maddy had just run telling me to go. I smiled and ran after her.