Guess who's back? After seeing all your kind reviews and favourites, I couldn't help but continue the story of Maddy & Jamie on, so please read on and enjoy and I hope I haven't lost any of my fellow readers….
Chapter 1
Six months later
"Let us commend David John Walkland to the mercy of god…"
It was a chilly October morning as family members sat gathered around a buried up grave. Maddy sat in daze as she stared at the coffin laying before her with the white bouquet of flowers resting upon it. She felt the tears build up in her eyes, waiting to fall as she listened to the priest continue the prayer. She could hear the small cries and sniffles from her sister and mum who were both sat to her side. Maddy swallowed, refusing to let her tears and cries be heard. Someone needed to stay strong for all of them, she needed to keep the family going. Her mind began thinking about all the things that needed to be done, dad's will, the mortgage on the house, the insurance. It wasn't until she felt a strong warm hand over hers. She looked to her left to see Jamie with the look of concern on his face. She moved her hand on top of his, her head going to rest on his shoulder as she looked back to the coffin, "I'm going to miss you dad," she muttered.
Jamie looked around the small living room, watching as guests gave their condolences to each other.
"Jamie," Frank said as he approached his son.
"Hey dad," Jamie said finishing off his drink before placing his glass on the side.
"I've given my condolences to Evelyn," Frank said with a nod, "I couldn't see Maddy anywhere though."
Jamie sighed, "she's around here somewhere, she's just…" He paused trying to think of the right word.
"Dealing with it in her own way," Frank finished.
Jamie nodded, "yeah."
"Just give her some time," Frank reassured, "I need to get going."
Jamie nodded, "thanks for coming dad."
Frank simply nodded back in return before making his way out the house.
Jamie sighed running his hand over his face before scanning the room for Maddy. He made his way through the guests and headed towards the kitchen to find her at the sink washing up.
"Maddy," Jamie said walking over to her, "leave that, we can do it later."
She shook her head, "It's best just to get it out the way, no point letting it stack up," she simply replied.
Jamie sighed as he stood next to her by the sink, he simply watched as she scrubbed away at the plate in her hand.
"Your mum and Allison and the rest of your family are inside," Jamie said quietly.
"I know," Maddy sniffled as she picked up the next plate.
"You should be there too, they need you," he replied.
He watched Maddy drop the plate into the sink and rest her hands against the work top as she lowered her head in defeat.
"It's okay to cry, you know that right?" Jamie whispered as he covered one of her hands with his as his other arm wrapped around her waist.
She shook her head, using her other hand to wipe away the falling tears but it was no use, they wouldn't stop. Her father was gone and there was nothing she could do about it. The memories she had with him as she grew up came flooding back to her mind making the situation even more unbearable before she broke down. She felt Jamie bring her into a hug as he wrapped her arms around him, her head on his chest as she sobbed.
"He's gone Jamie, he's gone," she muttered between sobs.
"I know," he whispered as he held her close, "but I'll help you get through this, I promise," finishing by placing a kiss into her hair as he let her cry.
Evelyn dabbed her eyes dry as she turned away from the kitchen, she took a deep breath to compose herself as she walked up the stairs only to stop at a family picture hanging upon the wall.
"They'll be okay sweetheart, they're our brave little girls," she whispered. She placed a kiss onto her fingers before gently pressing them against the face of her husband in the picture.
Jamie put down his knife and fork as he finished his roast dinner, reaching for his napkin as he cleaned his hands.
"You haven't eaten much there son," Frank observed as he gestured towards Jamie's empty plate.
"Wasn't that hungry," he replied.
"How's Maddy doing?" Linda asked sympathetically.
"She's doing better," Jamie said with a small smile, "she's just sorting through the last of her dad's things with her mum and Allison before Allison goes away on Wednesday. She did ask me to send her apologies for not being able to come to dinner."
"There's no need for the apology, it's perfectly understandable," Henry said.
"What did he die of?" Nicky asked only to earn the unapproving stares off her mum and grandfather.
"What?" she exclaimed, "I'm just curious?"
"He has Alzheimer's, I mean he did have Alzheimer's," Jamie said quickly correcting himself.
"What's Alzheimer's?" Jack asked.
"It's when you start to forget things," Sean answered proudly.
"Does that mean I have it because I forgot to do my homework?" Jack asked slightly timidly.
Everyone couldn't help but chuckle as they looked to the youngest family member.
"No Jack, but it does mean no TV for you tonight until that homework gets done," Linda answered with a smile.
"Jamie?" Maddy called out as she gently kicked the door the shut with her foot.
"In here," she heard him reply as she walked towards the living room with a box in her hands.
"Hey you," he said with a smile as he watched her walk in.
"Hey," she replied placing the box down on the coffee table before she sat down on the sofa next to him to give him a small kiss.
He couldn't help but smile as he gently pulled away, moving his hand to her cheek as he turned his body slightly to look at her.
"You okay?" he whispered looking at her, knowing she had been crying earlier from her puffy eyes.
She nodded and smiled slightly as she replied, "Yeah I think so."
"Good, did you guys finish up then?" he asked her.
"Yeah we did, finally," she said with a small chuckle as she sat forward and brought the box closer to them, "I brought back a few things to keep."
Jamie sat forward as she took the lid off the box and gently took out a handful of things.
"This right here is the ticket stub to the first ever Yankees game my dad ever took me too," she said smiling as she passed it over to him.
"1996, that feels like centuries ago," he laughed.
"I was 10," Maddy chuckled, "and you were 12."
"Ah boarding on the verge of puberty," he said as they both laughed.
"I think it's safe to say thank god for that," she said with a slight smirk.
"Hey!" he exclaimed trying to act hurt by that comment only to start laughing himself.
"Henry has shown me the photo album so don't even try to deny it," she said laughing.
"You can talk," Jamie smirked as he picked out a photo that he could see sticking out from the pile on her lap.
"Okay so maybe my fashion sense wasn't all there," Maddy laughed as she looked at the picture in his hand.
"They're nice dungarees," Jamie said trying to hide his laugh.
"You're just jealous," she simply retorted.
Jamie chuckled and handed her back the picture, "what else is there?"
He couldn't help but smile as he watched Maddy happily explain to him the small key memories she her family. He could see the happiness in her face, something he hadn't seen in a while since she found out her father had passed. His Maddy was back and that's all he wanted he thought to himself as he continued to listen to her.
"It was really nice to meet you Jamie," Alison said with a smile as she hugged him, "Although I wish it would've been under better circumstances."
Jamie smiled as he hugged her back, "Same here but either way I'm glad I met you and your family."
Maddy smiled at them both as they parted from their hug, "Hope to see you at Christmas?" she asked hopefully.
Alison chuckled and nodded, "Of course, we'll all spend Christmas here at mums this year."
"Good, I'm glad," Maddy said happily as she went to hug her sister.
"Look after mum," Alison muttered as she kissed Maddy's cheek and then looked to Jamie.
"And you, carry on looking after my sister because from what I can see your doing a grand job already, I've never seen her looking so happy," she said with a chuckle causing both Maddy and Jamie to laugh.
"I will don't you worry," Jamie replied as he happily put his arm around Maddy.
"Well I best get going, I don't want to miss my flight," Alison said as she pulled up her suitcase handle.
"Give us a call to let us know you landed," Maddy said.
"I will," Alison smiled, "I'll see you at Christmas."
Maddy nodded and smiled, "See you at Christmas."
She watched as her sister walked towards the check in gate, turning back to give one final wave which both Maddy and Jamie reciprocated back before she soon disappeared through the gate.
Jamie looked down to Maddy, "you okay?"
"Yeah," she said with a smile, "I'm feeling great."
"Good, now let's get something to eat because I'm starving," Jamie said with a laugh as they walked out of the airport.
"You're always starving," she laughed.
"Well a man's gotta eat!" Jamie exclaimed.
"Hello?" Jamie called out as he stepped into the family home after Maddy and shut the door behind them.
"Uncle Jamie!" Jack cried as he happily rushed to see his uncle.
"Hey buddy," Jamie said happily with a smile as he hugged his nephew.
Maddy smiled hanging up hers and Jamie's coat as she turned back to look at the two.
"The favourite uncle I see," Maddy said with a slight smirk.
"More like he spoils them to favour him," Danny said with a smirk of his own as he approached the two.
"Uncle Jamie do you want to see my new remote car, dad brought it me," Jack said with excitement.
"Sure bud, I'll be there in a second," Jamie replied, ruffling Jack's hair slightly before he ran back into the living room.
"I'm sorry about your dad," Danny said as he looked at Maddy.
"Thank you but you know how it is, onwards and upwards," she replied with a small smile.
Danny nodded and smiled back, "Yeah well I'm glad you came to dinner, I know Linda's missed you."
"Hm do I sense jealousy there?" Maddy said with a grin.
"More than you'd imagine," Jamie said with a grin also as he looked from Maddy to Danny.
"I'm not liking this," Danny said shaking his head as he pointed at the two.
"I think you'll have to get used to it," Jamie smirked.
Maddy laughed shaking her head, "I'll leave you boys to it, I'll be in the kitchen," she said before she headed towards the kitchen.
Danny chuckled shaking his head as he watched her go before turning to his younger brother, "I'm telling you she's a good'un, and she'll keep you on your toes."
"You're telling me," Jamie said with a smile as he watched Maddy disappear round the corner into the kitchen.
Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Please review ?
x
PS. Looking for a beta to nag me to update regularly and to bounce ideas around with. PM me if you'd like to work with me on this story!