Chapter 11

Poppi arrived home and could see Madden’s light on in his room. Her heart leapt for a moment, because that meant he didn’t hook up with Anchor. He came right home after they left.

She walked inside and pulled off her white boots. Her feet were aching from all of the dancing.

She found his hat sitting on the stair railing. She touched it briefly and looked upstairs.

“Hey Popsicle is that you?” Valyn asked from the living room.

“Yeah, it’s me mom. I’m going to head upstairs. I’m beat,” she said.

She knew she was lying. She knew she was going upstairs to check on Madden.

She hit the last glistening, wooden step before the landing and could hear Madden’s voice.

Was he on the phone? He sounded giddy, as if he were talking to his crush. Poppi walked by his room and listened briefly.

She walked away.

This is stupid.

She came back.

Just knock.

Her hand raised slowly and she felt her knuckles tap on the outer edge of the door. She pulled her hand away quickly as if she were trying to undo the knock.

The door flung open and Madden was standing there in just shorts. No shirt. And a phone to his ear.

“Anchor, let me call you back,” he said.

“Oh you and Ancs exchanged numbers?” Poppi asked, as if she were genuinely interested.

“Yeah. That is what two people do when they like each other,” he said. “What do you want Poppi?”

His tone wasn’t very welcoming.

“Madden, I don’t understand our dynamic right now and I would like to change that. I want to get to know you. I have all of these different feelings inside and I think it’s mostly because you are still a mystery to me,” she said.

He sighed and gestured for her to come into his room. He sat on his bed.

Poppi sat at his computer chair. She fidgeted at first and then tried to make small talk.

“I like the colors you did in here. Really brings out the paint,” she said.

He stared at her quizzically.

“Come and sit down Poppi,” he said, patting a spot on his bed.

Poppi hesitated, but she was also intrigued. She stood up and walked to the bed as if her feet were made of concrete.

“Do you know why my dad left me and my mom?” He asked.

Poppi knew she had no idea and she was afraid to know. Afraid to feel guilt about taking Madden’s life away from him.

She swallowed hard and responded, “No, Fred doesn’t talk about his old life, as he calls it.”

“Yeah, I figured as much. He kept me a secret for a while,” Madden said, spinning the ring he had on his pinky.

“I never understood it. I wasn’t even allowed to know your name, other than he calls you MJ,” she said.

“MJ. What a joke. My mom called me that. My dad has never called me that. He and my mom were so in love. She had fallen at work and broken her hip and became addicted to pain killers. Eventually she was accessing pills weekly. Dad told her that she either could have him or the drugs. She chose the drugs and we moved to New York when I was about 6 years old. My mom started using harder drugs and eventually lost me to foster care. My dad wouldn’t even come and get me. I was 8 years old at the time,” he said, keeping his voice low.

Poppi touched his hand. Neither of them pulled away.

“I’m so sorry Madden,” she said.

“It’s whatever now. My mom got me back when I was 10 years old. I stayed with five different foster families during that time. She stopped the drugs and got a job. She was doing so well. That’s when my dad started to come and visit me. He put us in an apartment at first in Maryland. After mom proved herself he got us a house near his ranch. I learned how to ride and care for the horses. Mom passed about three years ago when I was 17. She had major heart complications from the drug use. My dad was ashamed and told everyone that she had a natural heart attack. I miss her every day,” he said, opening a small circle on his ring.

It was a photo of his mom! She was stunning.

“She is gorgeous. I’m so sorry you lost her Mads,” Poppi said admiring the ring and photo.

“Takes one to know one,” he said.

A wave of emotion overcame Poppi and a few tears fell onto her cheek. Madden stopped one with his hand.

His hand felt warm. Safe. Full of hope. His hand rested on her cheek as they met one another’s gaze.

“Poppi… he began.

“Madden…” she responded.

They both stopped fighting it and leaned in. Not too fast. Enough to feel the connection they were having. He looked at her lips. She smiled softly. He pulled her face gently towards his. As their lips were about to meet, they heard a gasp in the doorway.