Maddy looked in the mirror and saw her old self again, the girl who used to have everything together, despite a crappy home life. With a smile, she slung the duffle over her shoulder and went back to Maddock.
Chapter 11
Maddock’s chest thumped erratically when he saw her coming out of the grocery store, a smile on her face and a spring in her step. Nothing made him happier than making other people happy.
He wanted to compliment her, tell her how beautiful she looked, but he wasn’t sure how she would take it. Instead, he just offered her a giant smile and opened the car door for her. “Ready to eat?”
Maddy nodded. “Thanks for waiting. I feel a lot better. I probably smell better, too.” She chuckled.
“You smell nice. You look really nice, too.” He just couldn’t resist it.
“Thanks.” She ducked her head, but not before he saw her smile.
They drove in silence, not sure what to say to each other, but the restaurant was only a few blocks away, so there wasn’t enough time for it to feel too awkward.
Maddock walked so close beside her as they entered the restaurant that Maddy could feel the heat radiating from his body. What he really wanted to do was put his arm around her. He kept lifting it, then dropping it back down instead. This wasn’t exactly a date, and he had no right to touch her like that.
The waitress seated them in a small booth at the back of the restaurant, and Maddock was grateful for the privacy. He hoped to get her to talk to him, tell him her story, but he was pretty sure she wouldn’t want anyone to overhear her.
The silence continued as they perused the menu, but once their drinks were delivered and their order was taken, there was nothing else to do but talk to each other. Maddock decided to skip the small talk and go for the big question.
“Madison, will you tell me what’s going on with you?” he whispered, trying to convey compassion and understanding with a single expression.
Maddy sighed as she looked around the room, avoiding eye contact for a moment. She knew this was coming, knew someone who cared as much as he did would want to know her story. Was there any reason not to tell him? She could use an ally at this point; why shouldn’t it be the cute guy who seemed to care about her?
“I ran away from home when my aunt’s boyfriend stole all my money and tried to attack me.” The words came out easily but landed heavily between them. Maddock didn’t respond immediately, just let her words process.
Maddy continued. “I lived with my aunt most of my life — she’s my foster mother. She didn’t believe me.”
Maddock placed a hand on hers, but Maddy played with her straw wrapper to avoid seeing the look on his face, winding it tightly between her fingers. When the paper snapped, she wadded it up and tossed it aside, finally raising her eyes to his. He didn’t need words to express his sorrow, it was written in every line of his countenance.
“I had a plan, you know? I had been working and saving. I was going to move out and go to college. But he took everything! I lost my job the day after. When it rains it pours, right?” Her chest was tight and heaving, and Maddy rolled her eyes to keep the tears from escaping.
“Where have you been staying?” he whispered, too choked up to speak any louder.
Maddy gave a strangled laugh. “At the library. I accidentally got left in there after closing the first night, and I realized it was as good a place to stay as any.”
Maddock rubbed his face with his hands, relieved to know she wasn’t sleeping on the streets.
“I can pick up my last paycheck from my old job today, so that will tide me over till I get my first paycheck from Hinkleman’s. I won’t have to resort to stealing cans of tuna.” She curled her lip and picked up the straw wrapper again.
Just then, the food arrived, and Maddy dug into her pad Thai with gusto, moaning in pleasure at the taste of the peanut-sauced noodles.
Maddock bowed his head to say a silent blessing, and Maddy dropped her fork and covered her full mouth with her hands. “I’m sorry! I should’ve waited. This just looked so amazing.”
“It’s okay.” Maddock grinned. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten.” She chuckled around another mouthful.
Maddock’s heart warmed at the sight of her happiness. He couldn’t do anything about the past, but he would do everything in his power to keep her looking like that.
“So, how about you talk now while I shovel this awesomeness in my mouth. Tell me a little about you, Maddock.”
Maddock had an immediate desire to tell her everything about himself, including the forbidden truth about his half-angel nature, but instead he decided to stick to the basics. “You already know most of the major points. I’m almost 20, I’m studying business at the community college, and I divide the rest of my time between Hinkleman’s and the shelter. And my favorite hobby is eating!” Maddock shoved a giant forkful of noodles into his mouth and chewed happily.
“I wanted to major in business, too. There’s a lot you can do with that kind of degree, you know? I just wanted to make a decent life for myself so I don’t have to depend on anybody.”
“What’s so bad about depending on other people once in a while, Madison?”
Maddy dropped her head and her voice. “They always let you down.”
Maddock reached out a finger and lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes again, trying to see through the emerald depths into her heart. “I’m so sorry, Madison. I’m sorry you haven’t been able to depend on people. I’m gonna try my best to be someone you can count on.”
“Why, Maddock?” Maddy pulled back and straightened her spine. “Why do you care about me? You don’t even know me.”
“It’s just who I am; I care about people. Besides, maybe I want to know you.” Maddock gave her a giant smile, releasing the full effect of his heart-stopping dimples.
Maddy’s heart seized at the sight of them, and she immediately threw up a wall of protection. She couldn’t let herself fall for him, no matter how wonderful he seemed. She couldn’t risk trusting him. It would hurt that much worse when he eventually let her down.
Maddock saw the shields go up and her eyes glaze over as she distanced herself from him. He knew that look; he’d seen it on a dozen other faces. She wasn’t going to take him at his word; he was going to have to prove that she could trust him.
When the check came, Maddy looked at it with regret, wishing she hadn’t agreed to let him pay for it. She hated feeling indebted to someone else. Soon enough she’d have her own money again, though. In fact, maybe Maddock would be willing to help her with that. It was the last thing she’d let him do for her.
“Maddock, would you be willing to make a couple stops on the way to the shelter? I need to pick up my last check from Dairy Queen and go to the bank to cash it.”
“Sure! No problem. I’d be happy to.” His eyes lit at the request. Maybe she wasn’t as resistant to help as he thought she was.
They stopped at the Dairy Queen, and Maddock followed her when Maddy hopped out to collect her paycheck. “You don’t have to come in; I’ll only be a second.”
“Well, I can’t very well stop at Dairy Queen and not get a Blizzard, now, can I?”
She gaped at him. “You just ate an enormous plate of Thai food! How can you possibly have room for ice cream?”
Maddock shrugged sheepishly. “It melts into the cracks.”
Maddy shook her head but couldn’t hide the wry smile. This boy was dangerously appealing; resisting him might be harder than she imagined.
The door wouldn’t budge when she pulled on it, though, and all the lights were off inside. She knew they were closing this location, but it hadn’t dawned on her that she wouldn’t be able to pick up her check here. She’d have to call the manager and find out how she could get it.
“Maddock, do you have a phone I could borrow?”
He nodded and pulled out his cell phone, punching in his
passcode before handing it to her. Maddy stared at it for a few seconds, flummoxed. “I don’t know the number! I have it in my own phone, but the battery has been dead for several days now.”
“What kind of charger does it use? I have a few in my glove compartment.”
Maddy’s face lifted in a small smile. What would she do without this guy? Every time she turned around he was saving her.
A few minutes later, her phone was at 3% and she was able to call the manager, but the news wasn’t any better. She punched the end button forcefully, wishing it was an old-fashioned phone so she could slam down the receiver. She dropped the phone in her lap and covered her face with her hands, trying to rub away the awful feeling. “They mailed the check to my home address. It’s probably already been spent.”
“Oh Madison, I’m so sorry! Here, I can help you till you get your check from Hinkleman’s.” He pulled out his wallet.
“No, Maddock. I can’t take any more of your money. I’ll be all right. Let’s just go to the shelter.” She pushed his hand away then turned to stare out the passenger window, hiding her tears from him.
Maddock put away the wallet but vowed to find a way to help her anyway. Maybe he could stuff some cash in her bag when she wasn’t looking.
The rest of the drive was quiet, but by the time they arrived Maddy had wiped her tears and plastered on a smile. Maddock tried to lighten the mood by chattering on about the history of the shelter. Maddy smiled and nodded, but she wasn’t really listening. Instead, she was trying to figure out how long she’d have to work before she’d have enough for a deposit on an apartment.
She also hadn’t been back to school since the day she left Aunt Ricki’s. How could she ever get to college if she couldn’t even graduate? Maybe she could get a GED, instead.
The shelter was an old factory that had been converted, but the outside still looked industrial — muddy brown brick with crumbling mortar. Maddock parked in the back and led her in through the kitchen. “I’ll give you the insider’s tour, then we’ll get you checked in.”
Chef Bob was making vegetable soup, and the homey fragrance enveloped Maddy with a sense of peace and comfort. She closed her eyes for a moment, imagining another life where she had a mother who made soup for her and baked homemade bread while wearing a ruffled apron. Chef Bob didn’t exactly fit that image, but he seemed like a pretty good father figure. He wiggled his eyebrows and gave a knowing smile when Maddock introduced Maddy.
Maddock showed her the inner workings of the kitchen and dining room before leading her to the check-in desk. The friendly woman behind the desk gave Maddy bed linens, a towel, and some toiletries, then directed her towards the ladies’ room. All guests were expected to shower first, and Maddy was ecstatic about the opportunity.
“So, I’m gonna go help the chef in the kitchen for a little bit, but I’ll eat dinner with you later, if you want.” Maddock wanted to offer to take her out for a nice evening, but he was pretty sure she would decline.
“Okay, that would be nice. Thank you again, Maddock, for everything.” She kept her head down, risking only an occasional glance at him.
“It’s my pleasure, Madison. Really, it is. Please don’t hesitant to ask if you need something. I want to help you.” He handed her the phone charger she had borrowed earlier and a slip of paper with a phone number. “Here, keep this so you can finish charging your phone. That way you can call me if you need me.”
“You can call me Maddy if you want, that’s what everybody else calls me,” Maddy blurted.
Maddock stared at her for a moment, digesting her offer. On the surface, it sounded like she was opening herself up to him a little, but yet, she didn’t say that was the name she preferred, just that it was what everyone called her. Maddock chose his reply just as carefully. “Maybe I don’t want to treat you like everybody else has.”
Maddy stared at him as he walked away, admiring the view and contemplating the mystery that was Maddock Engel.
Chapter 12
The computer screen stared back at Cheydan menacingly, the cursor in the search bar flashing, daring him to do what he was contemplating.
Sharon had given him the password to the database software and showed him how to access client information. All he would have to do to find Lissy’s file was type in a few letters.
The walls of the office closed in around him, suffocating him in his solitude. Sharon had gone to get some lunch, leaving him alone for at least 30 minutes, maybe longer. Plenty of time to get the info Lissy needed.
He never struggled to do the right thing, following the rules always came naturally to him. Life just made more sense when everyone did what they were supposed to. But Lissy’s situation was a little less black and white than most, more like a softer shade of gray. Heavy on the white.
He was almost positive the court would grant her access to the information she wanted, it was just a matter of time. But what if she didn’t have enough left? Would he feel like he’d done the right thing if she died, waiting to get what she needed? His heart clenched at the possibility.
He thought about going to the Dominion for advice. Dominion Connan was the leader of the Celestia Divisa, and he usually tempered his deep wisdom with a heavy dose of wit to lighten the sting. He was one of Cheydan’s favorite people.
But Dominion was getting too old to do his duties and had already elected his replacement, Cheydan’s friend, Zephaniah. Cheydan and Zeph were best friends first though, and Cheydan didn’t want to make it weird by treating his oldest pal like his authority instead of his buddy.
He needed more information to fully assess the situation, he decided, and his fingers quickly tapped out the names of her parents. He would read her case file and then decide what was right. As an agency employee, he had permission to look at her information. All it took was a few clicks for the screen to populate.
Bullet points demarcated the important names, dates, and even addresses, but it was the narrative that drew Cheydan’s attention. In cold legalese it told the heart-breaking story of a baby born sick to a teen mother unprepared for motherhood. The mother had birthed the baby with no plans to give it up for adoption, but after three months in the neonatal unit, she had finally admitted her inability to handle the burden.
The agency was contacted, and within a few days, the baby she had named Melissa was handed over to the McAllisters. They had enough love in their hearts to overlook her disability, and enough money in the bank to pay for years of medical treatments. Cheydan was surprised they had given her their last name but had kept her first, nicknaming her Lissy.
Would it ease Lissy’s heartache to know her birthmother had tried to care for her, or only enflame it? Would it make the birthmother more likely to help her now?
Cheydan didn’t know, but there was another catch to the story that might make a difference, and he doubted Lissy knew anything about it. Cheydan’s heart thumped erratically as he stared at the monitor. Lissy and Cheydan had one incredible thing in common — they both had a twin sibling.
Even if Lissy’s birthmother couldn’t or wouldn’t help her, a twin sister would be a perfect match for a kidney. Cheydan wondered if she had any knowledge about her twin or if the adoption had been kept a secret from her as well.
Cheydan returned to the personal details bulleted at the top of the file, scanning the name and address of the woman who gave birth to Lissy. There was no way to know if the address was still accurate, but it was a place to start, anyway.
Cheydan picked up the phone to call Lissy, his mind made up, but a whoosh of wind from the front door halted him. Sharon was back, and Cheydan quickly exited Lissy’s file, the shame of his intentions hitting him like the blast from a hot oven, despite the cool air that was rushing in.
The rest of the day dragged as Cheydan longed for an opportunity to call Lissy. Sharon kept his hands busy with idle tasks that did nothing to take his mind off the information that was simmering a hole in his brain. He didn’t even get a moment al
one with the computer to Google Lissy’s mother.
A few different families came into the office, and his eyes were opened to the emotional cost of adoption — birth mothers struggling with the decision to give up their babies, barren couples longing to be chosen, and people like Lissy, desperate for answers. He used his Celestia gift to bestow a touch of patience on everyone he thought it could help, desperately wishing it could solve Lissy’s problem.
When his shift was finally over, Cheydan dashed to his car, dialing Lissy as he walked, anxious to tell her everything he had discovered. It barely rang once before she answered, breathy and eager. He was going to tell her the news over the phone, but the idea of seeing the look on her face was more appealing.
“Lissy, it’s Cheydan… the guy from the adoption agency?”
Lissy chuckled. Did he really think she could forget him? She had been staring at her phone for two days, willing him to call her. She had even searched for him on Facebook but couldn’t remember his last name. She wished she had taken a picture of him, but as soon as she saw his name pop up, his handsome face filled her imagination.
“Hi Cheydan, it’s nice to hear from you,” she murmured, subduing her excitement.
“Lissy, could we… meet? I found some things, but I’d like to tell you about them in person.”
Seeing him again suited her just fine. “That would be great. Where should I meet you?”
Cheydan wanted to be a gentleman and pick her up at her house, but he knew nowadays girls thought more about safety than chivalry. “I’m just getting off work, and I’m kind of hungry. Would you like to get dinner? There’s this Italian restaurant nearby that I like… or I could pick you up if you’d rather.”
“Italian sounds great. What’s the address?” She wasn’t worried about her safety, but she didn’t want the size of her house to intimidate him. Since her parents built houses for a living, they’d built themselves a modern palace. Most people looked at you differently if they thought you were loaded, and Lissy didn’t want Cheydan to be one of them.
Date with Destiny Collection: Angel Romance Series: Books 1 - 4 Page 33
