The Christmas wish

9

Mark's pov

After we made sure that Amy and Riley made it home, we went home. Maddox didn't want to go back.

As I was making dinner, Maddox put notebook in front of me,

Are you mad at me?

I looked down at her puzzled then signed, Why on earth would I be mad at you?

She took the notebook and wrote,

I left Amy after you told me not too.

She looked down at her feet, I took the notepad from her and wrote, No, I am not mad at you. I know that you did it because of the police.

She looked up at me, smiling. I love you.

I signed I love you too then watched her run into the other room.

After dinner was cleaned up, she handed me the notebook again,

Amy's nice, she held onto me tight making me feel safe. Some of the ladies were giving her a hard time when you helped me with my food.

I got a pen and wrote,

I am glad that she makes you feel safe, she will protect you. I will take care of the ladies.

She smiled then ran away.

Just as I was getting ready to sit down my phone went off.

"Hello." I answered it.

"It's just me." Amy said, "I wanted to thank you for protecting Riley and myself today."

"It is no problem." I sat down on the couch, "I am sorry that he found you guys, with the charges on him he will be locked away for some time."

"Thanks." There was some relief in her voice.

"I can see why you need to be drunk to have sex with him." I laughed.

"Yeah, a lot of it was needed." She laughed as well.

"But on the bright side, you do have an intelligent daughter."

"This is true."

"Did you guys eat?"

"Yeah, I made some chicken here, how is Maddox?"

"She was scared that I was mad at her for not staying with you, but I calmed her down telling her that I am not mad at her. she is now playing a video game."

"That's good, I am so sorry about all of this."

"None of this is your fault."

"If I would have stayed with him, I could have sent Riley somewhere safe."

"Amy, please don't think like that. You need to be with Riley, there is nothing that you can do because he is an ass."

"But-"

"No buts. Amy, this is what you needed to do, you needed to get both of you out of there. You are safe here. He is now known as a pedo and he will not be allowed anywhere near kids or kid's places. So she will be safe at school and since you sell children's books at work, he will not be able to get in."

"Nor the rec, Maddox is safe as well."

I felt my lips curl. No one other than my family cares about Maddox.

"Yes, she will be." I said,

"Looks like for a little, we will have to have our play dates in kid friendly areas."

"I was thinking of the next playdate, maybe we can go to the zoo?"

"Adam never let me take Riley to the zoo, he said it was too dangerous." Her voice started to shake.