I rang the doorbell. AJ nervously shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Taylor opened the door. "Hey, guys! What's up?"
"We came to visit our niece..." I began. "...and say goodbye," finished AJ.
Taylor escorted us to the living room. "Going already, AJ? You just got here."
Amanda's face looked forlorn. "Yeah, but I couldn't get many days off work. I only stayed as long as I did because of the weather."
"Oh." Taylor looked at me questionably, obviously wondering if I was okay with this. I shrugged in response.
"So, where's Maddy?" I asked, changing the subject.
At this point, Laura entered the living room. "She's in the playroom, hopping about."
"Well, I just stopped by to say goodbye. I have a five o'clock flight," AJ explained.
Laura shot her a disapproving look. "Okay, if you MUST go..."
"Laura, please, let's not start." AJ's voice trembled and her bottom lip quivered.
"Why don't you guys go in the playroom with Maddy?" Laura addressed Tay and I. Then she took hold of AJ's hand. "Come on," she said, leading her up the stairs.
While Taylor and I played a few rounds of Memory with Maddy, Laura and Amanda were having a heart-to-heart upstairs...
"So, do you want to leave?"
"What do you think?"
Laura let out an exasperated sigh. "I don't know WHAT to think anymore. First, you two hook up. Then you barely speak to one another. You come back, hook up again, and now you're taking off. AJ, it's not right. It's not fair to string Zac along like this."
"FIRST OF ALL, I am NOT stringing Zac along. Second, I HAVE to go back. It's either that or hop on the unemployment line. And futhermore, you're in NO position to be moralizing."
"Amanda, I'm not moralizing. I'm speaking from experience."
"Well, our situations are completely different."
"Sure, on the outside they are. But the bottomline is communication. Just do me a favor and tell Zac what you're thinking and feeling. Okay?"
AJ nodded her head, silent tears caressing her face. The two women embraced. "It hurts... so much... Laura. So much," Amanda said softly in between sobs.
"I know it does, Sweetie. BELIEVE ME, I know." Laura said soothingly.
AJ wiped her tears and nose on her sleeve. "Just so you know, I told Zac."
"Told Zac what?"
"You know, TOLD HIM."
"Amanda Jean!" Laura scolded her.
"It just came out, all right? We were having this mini heart-to-heart this morning, and I spilled the beans."
Laura huffed. "You might as well give 'em to him to read while you're at it."
"Maybe I will," whispered AJ, lost in thought.
"I win again!" proclaimed a jubilant Maddy.
I couldn't believe it. I lost a lousy game of Memory to a six-year-old. Maybe it's the early stages of Alzheimer's setting in.
"You need to improve on your memory skills," Maddy informed Tay and I, hands on hips.
"Thanks for the newsflash," I said, much more rudely than I had intended.
"Well SOR-RY. What's with you?" asked my niece. Even at six, she knows when I'm not myself.
"He's just sad to see me go," explained AJ, entering the playroom.
"You're leaving?" Everything I was feeling was written on Maddy's face.
"Yeah, Sweetie. I gotta go back to work. But I'll come visit again. I promise." Amanda's eyes were filling up with tears. "Come give me a hug, 'cause then your Uncle Zac's gotta take me to the airport."
"AJ! Quick! Come here! I gotta give you some pictures from New Years," Laura shouted from somewhere in the house.
AJ and Maddy hugged one more time. "I'll see ya. Okay? Take care of your mommy, daddy, and Uncle Zac for me?" My niece nodded her head. Amanda kissed her forehead, then left the playroom.
With her aunt's departure, Maddy broke down in tears. It broke my heart, and I gave her a hug. "Shh... it's okay. She'll be back," I soothed her.
"I know," my niece whispered in my ear.