Mackey Residence
Thursday
Prior to sunset
Madison carefully repositions Jamie Junior in his sling. The infant is asleep with his head resting against the middle of her chest. Madison manages a tired smile and rotates her shoulders. With a tiny sigh, she returns to the task of making sandwiches.
Using a sharp knife to slice into a particularly juicy tomato, Madison giggles childishly when the offended tomato sends juices and seeds flying across the cutting board--and all over her hands. Jamie Junior is not so thrilled. The newborn grunts unhappily and shuffles in his sling. Madison coos softly, putting an end to the child's fussing.
"Sssh. Ssh, Jamie. It's okay. Mommy's sorry she woke you. Okay, Hon. You're okay. Ssh."
Thankfully the infant is full and satisfied from his previous nursing session. Jamie's right eye opens and he looks around. In actuality, the infant is only viewing images captured from his dreams. The real world matters little to his not quite wakeful mind. Within moments, Jamie's eye closes and he is fully asleep again. Madison smiles warmly and goes back to cutting tomato slices. She makes a mental note not to create any more noises which will wake the slumbering baby.
"Mayonnaise. I forgot to buy mayo. Is there some in the pantry? Damn. Please tell me there's some in the pantry," Madison groans.
Dropping her knife onto the cutting board, Madison quickly crosses to the pantry. She uses one hand to hold Jamie's head stationary, while she stands on tiptoe to look on the top shelf.
"Ketchup, soy sauce, tarter sauce, chopped onions, a bunch of mustard. Jeezus, James. How much mustard do we need? Five...Six. Six bottles of mustard? Six bottles of mustard and no mayo? Oh my gosh. Oh no."
Madison drops down, so that her feet are once again flat on the floor. Her left hand is still positioned to hold Jamie Junior's head. Her other hand flies to her hip. Disappointment ripples through the young mother.
"Oh no. We're completely out of mayo. What the hell? Who wants to eat a dry sandwich? Was mayo even on the list? Did I make the list or did James? He must've made the list? That man is so goofy. Ha. He'd forget his own head if...No. No, he wouldn't. And food? No, I must've made the list. And forgot. Food and that damn trenchcoat. Two things, James Mackey will never forget. Haha."
Madison exits the pantry and strides toward the kitchen table. She grabs her purse from the tabletop and dials Gabrielle's cellphone number. The phone rings several times before going to voicemail.
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"Hi. You've reached Gabrielle Levine. I'm so so sorry I missed your call. I know you're not a complete idiot. Especially, if you're calling about business. Please leave your name and number when you hear the beep. I promise, I'll get back to you as soon as I can. If this is a spam call...Please go and fug yourself. Bye now."
Madison ends the call rather than leave a message. She shakes her head and chuckles at Gabrielle's outlandish message. The woman has a great sense of humor, Madison will give her that.
Madison decides to continue making sandwiches sans the mayo. James will just have to do without. Or, he can pick some up on the way home. Madison prepares to call her husband. However, the phone begins to ring in her hand. Staring down at the display, Madison utters another soft chuckle and presses SEND.
"Hey, Gabrielle. Sorry to bother you," Madison says. "It's actually quite silly. But, I need a favor from you."
"What's that, Hon?" Gabrielle whispers into the phone. "I'm a little busy, babes. Hot date. And I mean hot. I met him at the mall today. I was buying some new heels to go with that dress I showed you. Let me tell you, Madison. MmmMmm. I don't regret a single moment."
"Oh," Madison says, somewhat embarrassed. "Well, I don't want to interrupt. I just..."
"I'm never too busy for you, babes. What's up?"
"I, uh... It's nothing. Really," Madison insists.
"It has to be something. Or you wouldn't have called. What's wrong? Do you need me to come over?"
"No. It's nothing like that," Madison rushes to say. "Like I said. It was silly. You don't even live in Castleton. I don't know why I even thought to call you."
"But you did. Tell me. Or, I'm coming right over. If I have to cut my lovemaking short to do it...I'm going to be very upset with you, Madison," Gabrielle teases. "Tell Sister Gabrielle what is wrong. Please, Madison."
"Okay. Fine. I need some Mayo for James' beef sandwich. I thought maybe you could pick some up for me. The baby just went to sleep and the sandwiches are all laid out. I forgot the mayo."
"Oh my goodness, Madison," Gabrielle giggles. "That is soo cute. I love it."
"Huh? You do?" Madison exclaims, staring at the phone display like a foreign object.
"Yes. I love it," Gabrielle gushes on the other line. "Don't worry, Hons. I'll DoorDash you some over. The biggest bottle I can find. Hopefully, it will get there before hubby does. And now, I have an important date to finish up. Love you, Madison. I'll update you in the morning. Bye now."
"Bye, Gabrielle," Madison says with a light chuckle.
Just like that, Gabrielle ends the call. Madison lowers her cellphone to the table and brushes a hand tenderly across Jamie's downy hair. The tiny infant moves his head in the sling--but only about an inch of so. He is deep in sleep and has no desire to climb out of his dreams. Madison closes her eyes and contemplates her perfect life.
All of those months, which rolled into years, living in that tiny efficiency apartment. The long hours between the ballpark and the restaurant. Maybe it was all for something after all. Maybe all of that suffering was preparing her for this moment. A chance to simply be grateful for the love she shares. A doting husband and a beautiful baby boy. What more could she ask for?
Madison goes back to the counter, retrieving her knife. She nabs a giant head of lettuce situated at the edge of the plastic cutting board. All that is left to do is wait for the mayo to arrive.
