“Well, actually Jackson’s mother, Kris, and his sister, Chloe, brought me to the designer. It’s unique, one of a kind.”
At the sound of Jackson’s name, Tara turned to him for a brief second.
“Wonderful to see Maddy’s boyfriend here, showing his support! But back to you, Maddy. Do you have any idea who your first Protections will be? And what about these rumours you might be involved in next season’s American Protection?”
Maddy looked over and saw Darcy mouthing, “Be vague.”
“Tara,” Maddy said, laughing as best she could. “You know I can’t comment on any of that. But everyone should know that I promise my first save will be memorable.”
“Everyone’s on the edge of their seat!” Tara practically squealed. “Maddy, your rise has been unprecedented, and fans all over the world look to you for guidance. What would you say to them?”
Maddy paused slightly and considered her words seriously. “I’m just so grateful to be here. And so grateful for any good I can do. That’s what’s truly important. Not all the glitz and glamour. But the chance to change people’s lives. That’s what I’m becoming a Guardian Angel for.”
Tara turned back to the camera. “And Maddy, showing the humility and down-to-earthness that has made her a household name in mere months! I almost can’t stand it, I’m so excited – America’s Angel sweetheart, everyone! Don’t go away, as we have the Commissioning ceremony from inside the Temple of Angels soon!”
Maddy wasn’t oblivious to the fact that Jackson’s body was tense, nor that he had been all but ignored by Tara, who would have murdered small children to get two minutes of exclusive interview with him just twelve months before. Maddy reached for his hand.
“Come on
, Jacks, let’s go in,” she whispered.
With a final wave to the screaming fans, Maddy and Jacks disappeared inside the Temple, walking under the arch that Jacks had passed the year before. It read: DO YOUR DUTY.
They were ushered through the depths of the Temple of Angels to Maddy’s dressing room, next to those of all the other nominees. Her stylist was waiting inside, prepared to put the ceremonial robe of the Guardian on Maddy; the formal robe was one thing that hadn’t changed for the Guardians in hundreds of years.
As the stylist fitted the robe properly around Maddy, Jackson couldn’t help but smile.
“What?” Maddy said, worrying she looked silly.
“Nothing,” Jackson said. “It’s just that you look so much like an Angel right now.”
And it was true. As the stylist stepped back, Maddy was able to see herself in the mirror: she looked more Angelic than she’d ever even dreamed of in her life. As if her inner Angel half was truly coming to life under these robes, her very skin almost seeming to glow.
“You’re beautiful, Maddy,” Jackson said. He came over and squeezed her hands tightly.
“No kissing!” the stylist admonished, worried that Jacks would smear her make-up.
Maddy looked up at Jacks, nervous, starting to breathe more quickly.
“You’re ready,” he said calmly. “Don’t let anybody tell you you’re not.”
Maddy leaned her head on Jacks’s chest. “I wouldn’t be here without you, Jacks. . . Thank you for everything. Thank you for being you.”
Jackson looked at her, his eyes mysterious. “I should get going,” he said.
“Oh, do you have to?”
“It’s about to start. I’ll see you up there. You’re going to do great. Don’t worry.” He gave her hands one last squeeze and then disappeared into the hallway.
Maddy looked at herself in the mirror again, waiting for the personnel to come get her. You can do this, you can do this, she told herself. This was just a ceremony. She could handle this. She could.
Maddy checked her phone and saw she had two texts. One was from Gwen: “I’m so proud of you girl, Don’t forget us little people!” Maddy smiled and wrote back: “Never! I love and miss you. Wish me luck.”
The other text was from Tom. It read: “Break a wing up there tonight – remember to credit me and the U.S. Navy for all your success in flying.”
Maddy texted back. “Haha, I will. Thank you, Tom. Nervous but ready!”
His response came almost instantly. “Nothing but faith in you.”