On A Run (16 page)

As the words settled into Daniel’s consciousness his anger abated, and he knew that what she spoke was true. It did not completely ease the pain for the lost time, but for tonight it was enough. There would be time to heal, time to form memories, time to be found again.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Madison had just meticulously placed the seventh candle, apparently a part of some master plan that she had thought out, onto her birthday cake. Daniel, Hannah and Madison had spent the afternoon elaborately decorating Meg’s seventh birthday cake as a map of Disneyland. In the end, the decorators had more frosting on them than the cake, but it had been a wonderful afternoon.

It had been a busy week. They had spent the weekend before in California. Meg loved the ocean and the beach and wanted to spend as much time there as absolutely possible. They had spent many weekends hanging out at the beach with Daniel over the past year. On Saturday, Daniel’s parents had thrown Madison an early birthday party. As soon as they had met her, his family had taken Meg into their hearts without hesitation. They had welcomed Hannah back as if she were a long lost relative.

Daniel had flown back with Hannah and Madison to Colorado and they had spent the week planning this private “official” party for just their little family. They had earned many frequent flyer points over the past twelve months. If Madison had had her way, she would have permanently lived near the beach. She talked frequently about going to a California school, telling Hannah that she could be a room mom at her new school. Even Sheila was beginning to drop hints to Hannah that she could just as easily write from California as she could Colorado. Daniel was the only one who didn’t push.

Once the final candle was in place, Madison immediately wanted to light it. “Look mom, it’s Main Street!” And it was. Madison had placed the candles around the center of the scene, and indeed, they did look like the streetlamps surrounding Main Street. With that, she sang the happy birthday song along with Daniel and Hannah, but then paused a long time before making a wish. Madison closed her eyes, made her wish and blew the candles out in triumphant style.

“What did you wish for?” Hannah asked, wondering if her d
aughter would share her special contemplations.

“You’ll see!” Madison said with a secretive smile.

Daniel then handed Madison a small square box wrapped in a red ribbon. Hannah looked at Daniel questioningly. They had spent an afternoon shopping for Madison while she was at school one day. Hannah was even more surprised when Madison handed the box to her.

“What’s this?” Hannah said, thinking it was some sort of prank Daniel and
Madison had played on her.

A
pparently it was. Hannah opened the box to reveal a brilliant yellow diamond solitaire ring.

“What is this?” Hannah could barely whisper, not yet fully understanding.

“It’s my birthday present!” Madison exploded in delight.

“Meg saw it while we were out the other day. She said it is what she most wanted for her birthday – for us to get married. I couldn’t turn the kid down.” Daniel dropped to one knee in front of Hannah and took her hand. “Hannah Glen, will you marry me?”

“Will you?” Madison chimed in, jumping up and down.

Hannah looked from one
hopeful face to the other. “Yes,” she said it to herself alone, and then Hannah waited. She didn’t feel an ounce of fear or a hint of a pang in her stomach. She did want this and it didn’t scare her at all.

“Yes!” She said again, this time out loud, for once in her life absolutely sure of her answer.

“Alright Meg-girl!” Daniel and Madison high fived before he turned and scooped Hannah into his arms.

Meg stopped jumpi
ng up and down for a moment; her face grew serious with a thought.

“When you get married,” Madison proudly announced, “I
will be Madison Elizabeth Glen Anderson.” She then added, “MegA-girl!”