One Last Fight

by Brenda Kennedy

  “Thank you. Hopefully, you’ll be able to reach that goal.”

  “We hope so. Do you have everything you need?” she asks.

  “I do, thank you.”

  “One more thing, may I ask how many families are behind in arrears?”

  “I don’t have those number off the top of my head, but many families are behind.”

  This is a problem that needs to be taken care of — and soon.

  I leave and blast the “Eye of the Tiger” through my earbuds. I run to the shop and set the bistro tables out for Leah before I have coffee with Jo. I leave before Leah arrives. Sometimes she’s glad to see me and sometimes she’s not. I don’t want to see which one it will be today is. I run the eight miles to Upper Cut for my workout. Gus, Tim, and Dad are there and my sparring partner is in the ring getting gloved up.

  My workout goes well, and my sparring partner and I are tired at the end of twelve rounds. Life is good and it feels right to be doing what I love. After my fight with Kennedy on May 1st is over and I retire, I have to admit I’m going to miss this. I love training and exercising and the way it makes me feel. I plan to continue exercising and keep in shape, but not at this level.

  I call Leah and then I call Mom to check on Gracie. I run home to spend the rest of the day with my girls. Leah is already there when I arrive. Gracie is in her bouncy seat, cooing at the stuffed green frog that hangs from the handles. I smile when I see her. Leah is on the phone. I kiss Leah and walk over to kiss Gracie. She coos when she sees me. I want to pick her up, but I don’t. I shower instead.

  After my shower, I dress in a gray tee-shirt and ripped jeans. I walk downstairs and Leah is wearing a lime green sundress and matching heels. I look at her in veneration and wonder what I ever did to deserve her. We look like we are such a mismatched couple yet I would die for her. I look down at Gracie and she is wearing a white onesie that says, “I’m cute, Mom’s cute, and Dad’s lucky.” Yes, I am.

  “Do we have plans for Saturday afternoon?” Leah asks from the kitchen.

  I’m not sure if it’s a trick question or not. I look at Leah as my head runs through previous conversations, wedding dates, and birthdays. Nothing of importance comes to mind.

  “I don’t think so, do we?”

  Leah smiles and shakes her head, “It’s not a trick question, Ace.”

  “In that case, no.” I return her smile.

  “Would you like to have dinner with our daughter?”

  I pick up Gracie and say, “I would love to. Where would you like to take her?”

  “Not this daughter, our other daughter.”

  Leah smiles and I know she is talking about Madison. “Did they call you?”

  “They did. They invited us to a barbecue at their house on Saturday,” she says. She is excited.

  “We’ll actually get to spend some time with our other daughter.” I bounce Gracie up and down as I hold her close.

  “We will.”

  We have dinner together and Leah tells me she ordered a new sign for the shop. She talks excitedly about having all three of our daughters’ name on it.

  I tell her I went to the school board this morning and what I learned about the free meal programs. She looks saddened to learn that so many schools don’t qualify for free lunches, even with the economy the way it is. We all are at risk of falling into hardship times. Even wealthy families can fall into hardship times. In some families, a great-grandfather was a millionaire, but his great-grandchildren need free lunches.

  “If they are all able to offer free breakfast for every student, why can’t they all provide free lunch?”

  “I wish I had those answers, but I don’t.”

  On Saturday, Leah tries on several dresses before she decides on a pair of white capris and a pink blouse. I lean into the doorframe with my arms crossed and ask, “Is there a problem with the dresses, Sweets?”

  She laughs, “Don’t start, Ace.”

  “I liked the dresses.”

  “Thank you. I thought I should wear capris because of the kids.”

  “Good idea,” I agree. “I thought I should wear a tee-shirt and jeans…”

  “Because of the kids?” she jokes.

  “Because I want to,” I admit.

  We gather the food that Leah made and a cooler of ice and drinks and leave for the barbecue. Leah picks at her non-existent nail polish as Gracie coos at the stuffed green frog hanging from her car seat. What is it with that frog? Gracie loves it. Leah has anxiety about seeing Madison. I’m not certain why. It could be that she isn’t sure about Madison’s mental state after the abduction or if it’s because of becoming acquainted with our daughter. Once I think about it, it could be both.

  “Where did Gracie get that frog?” I ask, trying to take her mind off of Madison and because I really want to know where that thing came from.

  She looks up at me and then she looks back at the car seat. “It came with a book I bought for her. It’s cute, isn’t it?” she asks.

  I don’t know about that. “It’s colorful,” I say instead.

  “She loves it.”

  “That, she does,” I admit.

  Leah returns to picking at her nails.

  I tell her, “You know, she’s going to love you, right?”

  “What if she thinks I look like Melissa? What if this haircut reminds her of what she went through?”

  “What if she looks at you and thinks that you look like her?”

  Leah looks at me and tries to hide her smile, “What if she doesn’t?”

  I smile a big toothy smile, “What if she does?”

  We both laugh, “Okay, you win.”

  We pull up to the Sinclairs’ house. Everyone is outside playing with bubbles and Madison is jumping rope. They walk to the car and Leah and Chelsea hug. They must have bonded more than I realized during Madison’s abduction. I shake hands with Drake and we say “hi” to the kids. Drake’s dad, Steve, is also there, and Drake introduces him to us. We have already met him, but he must have forgotten. We don’t correct him.

  Leah, Gracie, Chelsea, and Madison go into the house with the food, and I walk around the back of the house with Drake, Caden, and Steve. The day is pleasant and filled with good food and friendly conversation. I watch Madison when she isn’t looking at me and it seems like she is adjusting very well. When Steve moves out into the yard to play tag with the kids, Drake tells us Madison has been seeing a therapist. He also tells us that Madison is almost back to her old self.

  Chelsea holds Gracie, and I go into the yard and join the kids and Steve in a game of tag. Leah joins us shortly as Drake and Chelsea stay on the lanai with Gracie. It’s been a long time since I played tag with anyone.

  Once we are finished, Chelsea asks, “Madison, why don’t you show Leah and Bobby your bedroom?”

  “Okay, Mom. Do you guys want to see my room? I got a new bed and everything.”

  “Sure,” Leah says. We follow Madison down the long hallway and into her room. I have already seen her room — on the morning she was abducted — but I don’t tell her that. Leah walks into her room and I lean into the doorframe watching. Madison holds Leah’s hand as she walks her further into the room. She shows Leah her new bed, bedding, and her Lee Middleton Doll collection on the bookshelf.

  “My mommy gets me these every year for Christmas.”

  “These are very beautiful,” Leah says, lightly touching a doll’s hair and skin.

  “That one is my favorite. Her name is Jamie.”

  Leah carefully sits on the bed and says, “I had a daughter named Jamie.”

  “I know, Mommy told me. I’m sorry she died,” Madison says, sitting on the bed beside Leah.

  “Thank you. She was your age.”

  “Daddy said she would have been my sister. I didn’t know her.”

  “You would have liked her. She was very beautiful and sweet.”

  Madison asks, “Did she look like us?”

  I look up to see what she is talking
about.

  “We have the same hair and we look alike. Did she look like us, too?”

  Leah shakes her head and I say, “No, Jamie had long brown hair like your mommy’s.”

  “I had long hair until that lady cut it. Mommy said she likes my hair and she is going to get hers cut, too.”

  I smile. Madison is being raised by good people. I’m happy to know that. I want to ask Madison what that lady did to her, but I can’t. I can’t ask her about things that may be too much for her to remember.

  “I was thinking about letting mine grow out.” Leah reaches up and pulls on the ends of her hair.

  “I like my hair short,” Madison confirms.

  Leah touches Madison’s hair and says, “I like your hair short, too. It looks good on you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Leah

  I touch Madison’s hair — it is so soft. It’s the closest I have ever been to her. I want to pick her up and hold her, kiss her, and tell her how much I love her. Instead, I slowly lower my hand and place it back on my lap. I force myself to look away to stop from staring at her. I stand and look at the other items on her bookshelf and nightstand, keeping my hand tightly clasped in front of me.

  My eyes land on the small infinity heart necklace Robert and I got her for her birthday, a couple weeks ago. It is hanging on her necklace holder with her other necklaces. I smile when I see it.

  Robert steps further into the room and reaches for a book on the nightstand.

  “Do you like this book?” he asks, holding up the book Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae.

  She sits back on her bed and says, “It’s my favorite book. Do you want me to read it to you?”

  I quickly look at Robert, who is smiling. “I was going to read it to you,” he says.

  “I can read it. Have you ever read this book?” She scoots further back on her bed and sits Indian style with her legs crossed.

  “No, I haven’t,” he says and he is honest. I sell this book at the bookstore, but we never read it to Jamie. I have a feeling this will soon be one of our favorite books.

  “You’ll like it. You can sit here if you want.” Madison pats the bed, indicating where Robert should sit.

  Robert holds his hand out for mine and leads me to sit next to him. Madison opens the book and begins to read. Robert and I listen intently, never taking our eyes off of her. She reads with enthusiasm and experience. Madison is an expert reader. It makes me proud. I love it that she already has a love for books. She and Jamie are so much alike, and I find it hard to believe they aren’t biological sisters.

  She reads and even shows us the picture when she is finished with each page. I make a mental note to check out all the books written by Giles Andreae. If Madison likes this book, I’m sure she’ll enjoy Giles’ other books.

  Caden comes in and says it’s time for dessert. When Madison is finished reading, Robert and I stand up. He offers his large hand to Madison to assist her off of the bed. She reluctantly takes it. When she hops off the bed, she strolls past him and says, “You have big hands.”

  I smile and take his large hand in mine. I feel happy that Robert got that close contact with Madison. It’s only a touch, but it means so much. To know that she is our daughter and we have never hugged or kissed her, it’s sad.

  Robert and I follow Madison down the hall. He looks down at me and says, “I think she likes me.”

  “You got all that from her holding your hand?”

  “Yes, and she called me big. She definitely likes me.” He winks at me and we hold hands as we follow Madison to the kitchen. Chelsea is still holding Gracie and her green frog.

  I take Gracie from her and sit her in her carrier. I reattach her green frog to the handles and smile when she starts cooing at it.

  “She really does like that thing,” Chelsea says, watching Gracie.

  “She does. Who knew something so simple would bring so much amusement?”

  We all have key lime pie with coffee for dessert while the kids have animal-shaped sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles. I watch Drake, and he also has a sugar cookie with the kids. They play with the cookies before they eat them. I watch him as he casually plays with the kids. He appears to be so much different than the man at the meeting at the hospital and in the courtroom. It’s reassuring to know he isn’t high strung and loud all of the time.

  “The abduction changed him for the better,” Chelsea whispers. I nod. I don’t want to say anything. I’m afraid he’ll hear me. “This is the Drake I married.”

  I look at her and she is watching him with love and adoration. I decide to change the subject. I’m still intimidated by Drake and would hate for him to suspect we are talking about him. Besides, it’s rude.

  “Madison is quite the reader,” I say out of nowhere.

  “Let me guess, Giraffes Can’t Dance?” Steve replies with a smile.

  “Giraffes Can’t Dance,” I confirm.

  “She is an excellent reader; however, she recites that book from memory. It was the last thing my wife had given to Madison before my wife died,” Steve says, sadly.

  “I’m sorry to hear of your wife’s passing.” I think I heard at one time that his wife passed away, but I must have forgotten about it. I hate hearing that.

  “Thank you. She loved her grandchildren deeply,” he admits.

  Robert speaks up and says, “I’m sorry, too. When did she pass?”

  “Thank you. It’s been just a little over three years now. We miss her, don’t we, kids?”

  “Yep, Grandma was the bestest,” Caden announces.

  “Caden, Grandma was the best, not the bestest,” Madison corrects, laughing.

  Caden laughs and says, “Okay, she was the best but she made the bestest cookies.”

  We all laugh and Drake and Steve both agree. Chelsea clears her throat. Drake looks at her and smiles, “Mom’s cookies are a close second.” He winks at her and she blushes.

  “Yep, Mommy makes the bestest cookies, too.” Caden picks up his giraffe cookie and bites off the head.

  Trying to hide her smile, Chelsea says, “Manners, Caden.”

  After dessert, we say our goodbyes and thank them for having us over. “We are so grateful for the time we had with Madison,” I say, honestly.

  “We know,” Chelsea says.

  “We’re glad you accepted our invitation to join us today.” Drake reaches his hand out for Robert’s.

  Robert

  I shake Drake and Steve’s hand and buckle Gracie into the car. I watch as Madison does a flawless cartwheel in the yard as Caden tries to mimic her moves. He stumbles and falls.

  On the drive home, Leah tells me how wonderful the day was. She confesses that she wanted to take Madison in her arms and hold her. She tells me she wanted to tell her we are her real parents, and we love her so much.

  I nod my understanding because I wished to do the same thing. I wanted to pack up her things and bring her home with us. When she held my hand for that second, I thought that would be my undoing. I didn’t want her to let go. I can see that it took a lot of restraint from me and from Leah.

  I look at Leah before looking back at the road. “I think today’s visit will help with the transition when the courts give us custody of her.”

  “Do you think that’s why they had us over?”

  “I do. They love her, there is no denying that. I also believe that as painful as letting her go will be, they want to make it as easy on Madison as they can.”

  Leah looks sad and says, “No matter what, it won’t be easy on any of us.”

  “No, Sweets, it won’t.

  Leah takes a bath and bathes Gracie with her. I get Gracie out of the water and I put lotion on her, dress her, and then feed her. She falls asleep while eating. I kiss her and inhale her baby scent. Her baby smell sends my mind into a memory of Jamie when she was an infant. I get a pain in my chest at the thought of my beloved Jamie. I stand at Gracie’s baby bed and kiss her again. I lay her on her ba
ck, and watch as she sucks on her bottom lip. My girl is always hungry, or she appears to be hungry. Her spiky black hair makes me smile.

  I shower in the separate shower in the master suite while Leah finishes her bath. We go to bed and Leah gets on her computer and orders some books. I have a feeling that Giles Andreae book sales just peaked. Leah and I make love, and I hold her closely.

  “Daddy, I have to go.”

  “Jamie, stay. I need to make sure you are all right. We had an accident.”

  “Daddy, I need to go. I love you and Mommy so much.”

  “Where are you going?” I try to open my eyes, but they refuse to open.

  “I need to go with Grandma. Daddy, it is so pretty, and you should see all the pretty flowers.”

  “Jamie, don’t leave me, I love you,” I cry.

  “I love you, too, Daddy. Grandma is waiting for me. Take care of Jack for me.”

  I wake up breathless. I hate this dream. Leah stirs and repositions herself on her side. I try to get my breathing under control as I relive that day that changed my whole life. Grandma? Jamie didn’t have a deceased grandma.

  I remember what Steve said at the cookout today. “She is an excellent reader; however, she recites that book from memory. It was the last thing my wife gave to Madison before my wife died.”

  Could it be? Is that even possible? Could the Grandma Jamie was referring to be Steve’s wife? Madison and Caden’s grandmother? Who else could it have been? I lie there wide awake. Shouldn’t I find comfort in knowing that Jamie is with someone? Could Jamie have known that Steve’s wife was her grandmother? She came to Leah and me when we were unconscious to let us know she loved us. I guess anything is possible.

  I fall back to sleep and pray that Jamie visits me in my dreams again. Hopefully during happier times. Instead, I dream about fighting Kennedy.

  “Bobby, stay focused! You won’t be able to take another blow like the last one,” Gus scolds. Dad holds the enswell to my eyelids to reduce the swelling promptly. The metal has been on the ice and is almost painful when it makes contact with my skin. It works quickly.

  Gus treats my cuts next with a cold compress. Cold stops blood flow so the bleeding slows significantly. He applies adrenalin to the lacerations with a cotton swab and pressure. It hurts like a bitch. I plan to take my anger out on Abel Kennedy. I watch as they treat his injuries in the opposite corner. He also looks to be in bad shape. Good. He’ll be in worse shape once I’m done with him. I rinse the blood from my mouth. Gus reapplies Vaseline to my face, and the bell rings. I lost count of the rounds. The way my body is protesting, it feels like it’s been more than twelve.