Her eyes fill with tears that she rapidly tries to blink away. Her coffee cup goes onto the table while she swipes at the waterfall flowing from her eyes.
Nothing else matters right now, so I quickly grab the roll of kitchen towels and tear a couple off to pass to her. I pull out a chair beside her and tug her into my arms. “You’re not alone Maddie,” I whisper softly against the top of her head.
While she cries, I hold her close and offer whatever comfort she needs, hoping I’m helping her in some small way. She has no family close, so it’s the least I can do. At least that’s what I tell myself. I swallow hard and I’m almost afraid to admit how much I’m enjoying having her clinging to me. If I weren’t so hung up with the differences between us, she’d have been in my arms months ago, and certainly not in a platonic way.
I patiently wait for the tears to stop and that’s when Madison says, “Paige can no longer have children.”
I frown wondering what Tanner hasn’t told me. My son would have told me if a member of Charlotte’s family were sick. So why hadn’t he?
Madison inhales and slowly lifts her face, searching my gaze. “She’s going to be okay.” She glances away and moves back into her own space.
Unable to let her go completely, I take hold of her hands and wait, knowing she has more to say—to get off of her chest.
“She got sick and she knew that there was a risk of them having to take everything away during the surgery, which they did. She’s now having radiotherapy to make sure they got all of the … cancer.” She licks her lips as tears fill her eyes again. “She didn’t tell anyone, Derek. We only found out because her dads noticed there was something different, they visited her to find out what was going on.”
“Why wouldn’t she want her family there with her, to support her?” I ask.
“She didn’t want to worry anyone.” Madison offers a wry smile. “Turns out she isn’t as tough as she’d like to think. She loved having us all show up. I think she was a bit embarrassed because of the hair loss too.” She smiles. “I bought her a selection of brightly colored scarfs.” She chuckles. “The look on her face. Paige hates bright colors. But you know what, I think she loved them. She looked amazing in them.”
I stroke the back of her hand with my thumb, enjoying the sensation. Madison watches for a few moments and then she tells me, “One of Dylan’s friends was at Paige’s side. Once she let him into her room, Seth refused to leave.” She smiles whimsically. “I think he’s going to be the one to help her get through everything that she’s facing.”
“Having someone there with her must be a relief to everyone.” I smile softly.
“It is.” She pulls her hands free to my disappointment and runs them through her hair. “Ramon and Noah are staying in Boston until she’s out of the hospital. I think they plan on taking her home to Lexington then.” She shrugs. “I’m not sure she’ll want to go home by then when I’m sure Seth will have to stay in Boston … and I’ll be back home before then,” she whispers, taking another sip of coffee.
The thought of her being anywhere but at my ranch doesn’t sit too well with me, but it’s certainly something I need to get over.
Moving away from the table, I wash my cup and place it on the drainer. “I’m going
to get dressed for the day, and then I can make some pancakes for breakfast.” I lift a brow. “We both need more than coffee to set us up for the day.”
She nods. “I’d love some pancakes.” She becomes serious. “Thank you for listening. Just telling you what was going on has really helped me. Made me realize that Paige is going to be okay. Really okay.”
“Anytime you need to talk, Maddie, I’m here. I mean that.” Before I follow my instinct to grab her up in my arms, I quickly turn and head to my room, but then I smile. We technically have a date over pancakes. Not sure what the hell I’m doing, I pause, but remembering the sadness on her face makes me more determined. I’ll do anything to stop her hurting … except what we both want the most.
33
Madison
The aroma of buttermilk pancakes wafts from the griddle to my nose making it twitch. “You’re making my favorite.” I smile brightly, heading into the kitchen.
Derek slightly turns and offers his own soft smile. “I may have had inside information on that.”
His comment makes me pause, but the fact that he’s going to the trouble of making my favorite tells me a lot about him—he cares, a lot more than he wants to admit.
Moving closer, I dip my head and closing my eyes, inhale. “Mmm, so good.” When I open my eyes, the look on Derek’s face surprises me. I briefly catch longing cross his features before he hides behind a stern mask of his own making. His jaw is tense and a pulse ticks strongly in his neck as I watch him.
A throat being cleared behind us, snaps me out of the haze I’d dropped into and I turn. Dee enters looking as elegant as always and saunters over to Derek. She pushes past me and greets him with a kiss to his lips. Derek blushes, his jaw continuing to tick as he removes Dee’s hands from his chest.
“Why don’t you sit down and join us for breakfast?” he grumbles, seeming uncomfortable.
My heart sinks at the thought of Miss. Perfect joining us and if I’m guessing correctly, she’s just as irritated at having me here.
“Can’t we eat a meal alone for once?” she grumbles.
At least I keep quiet.
“No. Madison needs to eat breakfast.” Derek places the pancakes into the center of the table and indicates for us to help ourselves.