“You bet. Go get Maddy. I’ve got some setting up to do.”
Her dubious expression has me chuckling. “Trust me, you guys will love it. Go. Meet me in the kitchen.”
With one more look at my grocery bags, she heads towards the stairs, and I take everything back to the kitchen. I unpack the bags, setting my eight boxes of cereal and assorted things on the table. Then I open Emma’s cabinets and drawers at random until I find bowls, spoons, and glasses, setting three places and adding a stack of extra bowls.
I’m just finishing up when I hear footsteps on the stairs. I turn just in time to see Emma walk into the kitchen with Maddy, and for a second, all I can do is stare at them. With her red hair, freckled face, and intense green eyes locked on me, Maddy looks like she could be Emma’s actual daughter, and it fucks with my head a little.
The way they’re standing, Maddy angling her body towards Emma and Emma’s hand on her shoulder, speaks of comfort and trust. Maddy may not say much, but I see clear as day that she’s bonded with Emma already. My heart expands with pride for this amazing, life-changing thing Emma is doing, at the same time as it hurts, just a little, for the parentless little boy in me who never had someone like Emma to put a hand on his shoulder just to let him know they were there.
I bend down so I’m eye-level with Maddy and put out my hand.
“I’m Jeremy. I’m a friend of Emma’s. It’s really nice to meet you Little Red.”
She puts her little hand in mine, her eyes studying me, her face set in serious lines, and her eyebrows pulled together.
“My name is Maddy.”
I smile at her. “That’s a really great name. I called you Little Red because you have red hair, just like Emma. It’s like a nickname. But I don’t have to call you that if you don’t like it.”
“I’ve never had a nickname before.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, but I can hear the consideration in her tone.
“I like to give nicknames to people who are my friends. I think you and I are going to be excellent friends.”
Her nod has an air of finality to it. “You can call me Little Red.”
I hold up a hand and she high-fives me. My chest warms as I look at her. I’ve barely known this little girl for five minutes, and she already has wedged herself into my heart, right next to the space that Emma has always occupied. Uncomfortable with that thought, I shove it away, because neither of these red-haired girls are mine to keep. I force my tone to stay casual.
“Now that we have that settled, can I ask you a question?”
“Okay.”
“Do you like cereal?”
She nods again, but her eyes light up.
Bingo.
“I’m so glad. I like cereal too. I actually love cereal. It’s my favorite food in the whole world, and I need your help with something really important. Cereal lovers everywhere are counting on us, Little Red.”
Emma snorts out a laugh, and I wink up at her before turning back to Maddy.
“Do you think you can help me?”
She glances up at Emma, and Emma gives her an encouraging nod.
“I can help.”
“Oh, thank god,” I say dramatically, holding my hand to my heart. “I thought I would have to do this all alone and the truth is, it’s no fun to eat cereal alone. It’s so much more fun to eat cereal with friends.”
Maddy lets out a giggle. It’s quick and quiet but it’s there, and it’s the first time she’s sounded like a seven-year-old since she walked into the kitchen. From Emma’s sharp inhale, I think maybe this is the first time Maddy has laughed since she’s been here. One glance up at the riot of emotions on Emma’s face confirms it.
“Well then, take your seat at the table, Little Red. Let’s get this cereal party started.”
“Emma too?”
I chance another glance up at Emma and the look she’s giving me is one of awe and a little gratitude. I don’t know if I deserve it, but I can’t deny the warm feeling in my chest at either of those feelings being directed towards me. I turn my attention back to Maddy and sigh dramatically.
“I don’t know, Little Red. Earlier Emma told me that cereal isn’t dinner and that’s just plain wrong. But she’s our friend, so we’ll give her a seat at the table just so we can show her how wrong she is.”
