The evening was everything the night before wasn't. Laughter filled the house as the twins put on a mock puppet show they had worked on that afternoon with their papaw. Once we had consumed enough comfort food to feed a small army, we sat around the comfortable family room and watched a Christmas movie that would never have been allowed in my house when I was little. I nestled next to Dean, soaking in every second. Every once in a while, James's death would drift through my mind like the ticker at the bottom of the news stations, reminding me of my loss.
The twins were put to bed once the movie was over. While his parents were laying them down, Dean pulled out several board games that he and Trish wound up arguing over about which one we should play.
Dean grudgingly gave in when I confided that I had always wanted to play Monopoly.
"Fine, but I'm the banker," he said, shooting Trish a warning look.
"Well, goodie for you. I didn't want to be banker anyway," she gripped, pulling a stack of orange cards out and placing them face down on the board.
I couldn't help smiling over their bickering.
"Oh, thank God, did we miss the banker fight?" Sarah asked, sitting on the floor next to me.
"Yep, Dean won," I answered, resisting the uncharacteristic urge to lean against her. Something about her drew me in. Maybe it was her acceptance of me.
The game was loud and rowdy as Trish and Dean got brutal, trying to destroy each other by placing multiple hotels on their properties. It wasn't long before Sarah, Tim and I were all bankrupt.
Sarah and I sat on the couch, watching Dean and Trish battle it out while Tim read a book on the recliner on the far side of the room.
"Dean says the call with Donna didn't go very well," I finally said, knowing I couldn't hide from it forever.
Sarah let out a long sigh. "Your mom is definitely not an easy person to talk to. Her unwillingness to understand her parental responsibilities makes me want to scream. I actually decided to go around her," she added, looking at me apprehensively.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I called your dad," she admitted.
"What? How did you get his number?"
"I was able to get it out of Donna before she hung up."
"What did he say?" I asked, trying not to focus on the sudden silence that filled the room.
"He'd like to come see you."
"Really?" I asked, not sure how I felt.
"Yes, really. By the way he talked, I get the impression he's wanted to see you for a while."
"Then why hasn't he called her?" Dean asked, abandoning the game to sit beside me on the couch.
"I don't know, son. That's something only he can answer. The important thing is how Madison feels," she said, turning to me. "Do you want to see your father?" she asked.
I wasn't even sure how to answer that. I did want to see him. More than I liked to admit, but I questioned whether he would be able to move past what I had done, and the part I had played in their divorce.
"Madison, you don't have to," Dean said, ignoring the look his mom shot him.
"No, I should. I need to talk to him," I said with resolve. "When?" I asked.
"If it was okay with you, he's going to drive over tomorrow morning."
I nodded my head. I knew deep down, it was best to get it over with. Clean slate.
Dean and I stayed in the living room watching TV after his family turned in for the night. We had the TV on the Food Network, but the volume was low enough that we could still talk quietly.
"You sure you're okay about tomorrow?" Dean asked.
"I have to face him sooner or later. I’d rather it be here with you," I admitted.