“Can I have some of that?”
Piper and I laughed, Maddie’s question melting the tension between us just enough to raise the comfort level.
“No way young lady,” Piper said. “You can have some when you’re done with college.”
Maddie’s eyes flashed, as if her mom had just told her to imagine an infinite amount of time.
“That’s too long!”
I laughed, then considered the matter, and something occurred to me.
“Wait. I think I saw something in your fridge that might work. You mind?”
“Not at all.”
I hopped out of the chair and made my way to the fridge. Once opened, I spotted what I was looking for—a bottle of grape juice. That in hand, I opened the cupboard where I’d seen Piper earlier take out a kid’s cup, spotting a purple, stemmed cup that looked near enough to a wine glass. I grabbed that and went back over to the table.
“How about this?” I asked, pouring the juice into the cup and handing it over to Maddie. “Pretty close if you ask me.”
Maddie took the cup with her little hand and glanced down into it. “OK!” She smiled up at both of us, eager to join in the fun.
I leaned in. “Now, the important part is that you have to pick something to toast to, OK?”
“Toast?” she asked, an expression of slight confusion on her face. “Like breakfast?”
Piper and I laughed. “No, not like for breakfast,” she said. “This kind of toast means you have to pick something that you like or want to come true. Or just something that makes you happy.”
She scrunched up her face in an adorable way, tapping her chin and giving the matter some serious thought.
It didn’t take long before her eyes lit up with excitement.
“Oh! Can I toast to Mick?”
Another laugh from Piper and me.
“You sure can,” I said. “I bet he’d like that.”
She raised her glass. “To Mick!”
“To Mick,” I echoed.
“To Mick!” Piper and I said in unison as we raised our glasses, tapping one another’s first and then Maddie’s. We sipped, Mick on my mind as I drank.
“I miss Mick,” Maddie said, a touch of sadness to her voice. “I want to see him again soon.”
“Well, if you’re good,” Piper said. “You might be able to see him soon. Dr. V. and I have to talk about it some more.”
“I promise I’ll be good!” Maddie said. “Please!”
“Let’s give it some time,” I replied. “Mick’s had a busy day, and so have you.”
“Speaking of busy days, I think it’s about time for yours to be over,” Piper said.
“Aw! Do I have to? I’m not tired atall.”
“Well, your mom and I have to talk about when you and Mick will see each other again.”
“Yep. Mick’s a special dog that only hangs out with good boys and girls.”
