“She’s with Mommy now,” Madison said through her tears. “Mommy has Duck’s sister toy. They’re playing.”
We buried Daisy in my backyard. Have more room than Tom. Madison visits every week. Brings flowers. Talks to Daisy. Tells her about school.
“Yeah, kiddo?”
“You saved her. She got one more year. One more year of love.”
“Your tooth fairy money saved her.”
She smiled, gap-toothed grin. “$7.43.”
“Best investment ever made.”
Tom got a better job. Nights at a warehouse. I watch Madison when he works. She does homework at my kitchen table. We got another dog. Rescue. Named him Duck. Madison insisted.
“Daisy would want us to save another dog,” she said.
She was right.
Madison’s twelve now. Still calls me Mr. Bear Angel. Still believes in miracles. Starting to notice boys, which terrifies Tom. But she’s good. Strong. Like her mom, Tom says. Like Daisy, I think.
Last week, she was doing homework at my table. “Bear?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m writing an essay about heroes. Can I write about you?”
“I’m no hero, kiddo.”
“You saved Daisy. You gave us one more year with her. You taught me that angels are real. They just wear leather and ride motorcycles.”
“Madison—”Continue reading…
