Page 24

Chapter

Twenty-Three

A HOLIDAY WISH

Willow

Past

“My jolly grinch. How I’ve missed you.”- W

I stand in front of my classmates, clutching my favorite mushroom squishy in both hands. It’s bright pink with little white spots, and it smells like the candy my dad buys me—sweet and warm, just like his hugs when he tells me everything will be okay. My heart is thumping in my chest, like it’s trying to escape, but I take a deep breath and smile wide.

You can do it, angel girl… there’s nothing you can’t do. My mommy’s voice plays in my head as I gather my courage to present in front of the class.

“H-Hi, e-everyone! This is my mushroom!” I say, my voice bubbling up, too loud and a little high-pitched.

I see some of the kids snicker, and my smile falters. I don’t know why they’re laughing. Maybe they don’t like my plushy. I clutch it tighter, trying to find comfort in it, but the weird feeling in my stomach only gets deeper.

“I won it at the arcade,” I whisper. “My daddy ? —”

They laugh some more and one boy points at me making weird faces.

“Shh! Kids!” Ms. Lila snaps her fingers, and the laughter quiets down. She sounds mad— mad and sad. I just want to show them my mushroom. I didn’t mean to make her sad or mad.

I take a deep breath, but my heart still feels heavy. “I— I love it,” I add, my voice shaking, and this time it cracks. The kids start whispering to each other again, their heads turning, their eyes darting between me and my plushie, and it feels like they’re laughing at me. They are always laughing at me but I don’t know why.

“Stop it!” Ms. Lila says, and she sounds angry. I just want to disappear. I press my plushie to my chest, and tears start to sting my eyes.

“Why are you crying?” a girl whispers, but I can’t answer. I shake my head, trying to hold it all in, but the tears keep falling. My heart feels like it’s breaking into tiny pieces at my feet while my classmates laugh at me.

I just wanted to share my favorite thing with them.

Ms. Lila kneels down in front of me, her eyes softening as she gently wipes the tears from my cheeks. “Hey, Willow, it’s okay,” she says, her voice calm and warm. “Let’s step outside for a moment.”

I nod, my chest tightens, my heart still pounding. She takes my hand, her fingers gentle and we walk out of the classroom. The sounds of cruel giggles fade behind us, replaced by the rush of blood in my ears.

When we reach the hallway, it's quieter. Ms. Lila stops and crouches in front of me, her eyes sad but kind. “I’m really sorry about what happened there,” she says. “Sometimes kids just don’t understand. But you did a great job with your presentation, Willow. You should feel so proud! I love your pink mushroom.”

I sniffle and look down at it, still clutched in my hands. “But they laughed,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “They think I’m weird.”

She shakes her head. “No, Willow. You’re a wonderful girl and so smart,” she reassures me. “You’re so brave for sharing something special. Do you want to tell me more about it?”

But I don’t feel brave. I feel stupid. They didn’t laugh at the plushie— they laughed at me.

I take a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. “It’s my favorite toy,” I whisper. “Daddy won it for me. It’s the best prize ever.”

Miss. Lila’s eyes soften, and I think I see a hint of pity in them, like maybe she understands something more than she’s saying. “That’s very sweet! You and your dad must’ve had so much fun at the arcade.” She pauses, waiting for me to continue.

I nod slowly, a tiny smile starting to peek through the sadness. “We played lots of games. I helped daddy pick the right one. He was so happy when he won it. He said I could have anything I wanted, but I wanted the pink mushroom.” My voice falters as I remember how happy daddy looked that day, how he looked so proud, how we both laughed when the claw machine finally dropped the prize into the chute. “It was the best day ever.”

That’s all I wanted to say to the class but they didn’t want to listen to me. They only wanted to laugh.

Ms. Lila smiles. “That sounds like a really fun day.” She’s quiet for a moment before she speaks again. “You should be proud of that day. Your daddy must love you so much.”

A long time seems to pass, but maybe it’s only been a few minutes. I’m still standing outside the classroom, my fingers tightly gripping my plushie. The door is slightly open, and I can hear Ms. Lila’s voice inside, soft and serious. “Thank you for coming in, Mr. and Mrs. O’Sullivan,” she says, her voice kind. “I wanted to talk about something that happened during story time with Willow today.”

I peek through the slit in the door, my heart thudding in my chest. I see my mom and dad sitting at the small, round table, their faces tight with concern. My stomach churns at the sad expression on my mommy’s face.

“What the fuck happened?” Daddy’s voice sounds angry. There’s panic under the anger.

“Is Willow okay?” Mommy asks, her voice small, almost shaking. She sounds scared—more scared than I’ve ever heard her before.

Ms. Lila takes a breath. “Willow presented her favorite toy today,” she says softly. “But some of the kids laughed at her voice… at her. She was upset, and it broke my heart to see her like that.”

There’s a sharp, sudden sound from daddy—he curses under his breath. “Those little fuckers.”

“Giant please,” Mommy pleads, her voice sad.

Daddy’s voice cracks just a little when he speaks. “They hurt my girl’s heart.” He sounds more sad than angry now.

I swallow hard. I want to run in there and tell them to not be sad, but my legs are frozen in place.

I peek again through the crack in the door. My mommy’s face is soft with sorrow, her eyes glistening as she listens to Ms. Lila. My dad sits beside her, looking strong. His expression is fierce, almost scary. He looks like he always does when I’m sad— like he wants to tear the world apart to make sure I’m safe and happy.

“Thank you for calling us,” Mommy says softly, her voice small. She clears her throat, but it doesn’t stop the shakiness. “We’ll talk to Willow about it.”

Daddy’s jaw tightens, and his voice is thick with emotion. “I can’t believe they would laugh at her. She’s doing her best. She’s so perfect and fucking beautiful. How dare they laugh.” He shakes his head in anger.

“I understand,” Ms. Lila replies gently. “Kids sometimes don’t think before they act. We’re working on kindness in the classroom. I promise, we’ll address it together. This won’t happen again.”

But it doesn’t feel okay. It doesn’t feel like enough. It’s not enough to undo the way the other kid’s laughter hurt my heart. Not enough to make mommy and daddy feel less broken and helpless.

Mommy reaches out, placing a hand on Dad’s large tattooed arm. It’s like she’s trying to calm him. “We appreciate you looking out for her, Ms. Lila,” she says, her voice steady now.

My teacher nods. I take a small step back, not wanting them to find me snooping. But then the door swings open, and I freeze.

Mommy and daddy look down at me, and in that second, their faces soften into something tender, something that makes me feel safe and protected.

Daddy’s arms reach out for me, and before I can say anything, he lifts me up, holding me tight against his chest. “Hey, Mo Chuisle,” he whispers before pressing a gentle kiss on the top of my head. “Don’t let what those parasites did get you down, baby.” The words make me feel a little bit better, but the sadness in his voice makes my heart ache. “There’s no one more beautiful, more perfect than you.”

I want to believe my daddy because he never lies. But it feels like the laughter is still echoing in my ears, still ringing in my head, telling me my voice is ugly.

Mommy hugs us, her eyes shining with love. “We’re so proud of you for sharing today, sweetheart. It takes a lot of courage. You’re so brave.”

But I don’t feel brave. I feel small. Weird. I feel like my heart is still crumbling into pieces and nothing and no one can put it back together.

I bury my face against daddy’s chest, and I don’t know if it’s the comfort of his hug or the weight of everything happening that makes me cry harder. “They’re always so mean, Mommy.” I whisper as I clutch my mushroom tighter.

Mom makes a sound, like she’s choking, as I watch her wipe a tear from her cheek. “Has this happened before Willow?” She sounds like she’s breaking inside.

I nod, feeling embarrassed.

“Fuck,” Daddy whispers harshly. He looks lost, like he doesn’t know how to fix this.

“Baby girl,” mommy croaks, as if in pain. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

I don’t know what to say. I reach up, my fingers brushing Daddy’s hairy cheeks, trying to calm the storm I can see in his eyes. “Their words hurt me,” I whisper. “And if I told you, I was afraid you’d hurt too.”

Mom’s pretty face crumples as she pulls me closer, brushing a hand through my hair. She holds my hand in hers, her touch gentle, and kisses my palm. “No, my baby,” she says, her tone laced with sadness but also love. “You tell us everything. Mommy and Daddy can handle it. It’s our job to protect you. Always.”

I manage a small smile, nodding in understanding. “Okay.” But I don’t feel okay but for them I can pretend.

Mommy smiles through her tears, her lips trembling. “One day the world will be kinder to souls like you and me, Willow. You’ll see.” She says it like she believes it. “If not then, Daddy will burn it down.” Mommy laughs softly, trying to lighten the moment.

Daddy chuckles darkly, his voice scary, but there’s no humor in it. “I will.”

I know my daddy would do anything for me and mommy. He’s our superhero.

Mommy touches my face, pushing another curl away from my forehead. “Now let’s go, baby.”

I frown. “But classes aren’t over.”

“They are for today,” Mommy says, but there’s something in her voice that sounds like a lie. I know she’s trying to protect me.

“Where are we going then?”

Dad grins, his eyes sparkling. “First we’ll get ice cream,” he says, “and then I’m buying you the whole damn toy store.”

Mommy laughs, and I smile just for them. My parents always know just what to say, what to do to make me feel better, even if it’s only for a minute.

But as much as they tried to shield me from the world, they couldn’t keep it from hurting my heart again. The laughter didn’t stop. The teasing continued. The kids still whispered behind my back, still called me names— because of my voice, or because Daddy started sending me to school with bodyguards, like I was a target. It all made me feel like I was broken, something to be pointed at.

It got so bad that I had to transfer schools more than once, but even in new places, the cruelty followed me, like a shadow I couldn’t shake. I stopped talking altogether. I started hiding behind silence, because it hurt less than words did. It felt safer to just disappear into the background.

Mom used to say that one day the world would be kinder, that people would see me for who I was, not for the sound of my voice. But one day never came. Not until him.

I can shake another thing off from my bucket list because of him— because of Madden.

The vibrant colors of the lanterns reflect in the water as I stand beside Madden, the cool breeze gently tugging at my hair.

This night feels magical and it has just started. Around us, laughter and music fill the night with joy, blending with the soft whispers of the lake. But all I can feel is Madden's strong presence, his large body close to mine.

His tattooed hand brushes against mine, sending a flutter through my stomach as we walk. I glance at him with a smile on my face as he looks at the colorful lanterns with a skeptical expression, his full lips pressed together in that adorable way he does when he’s trying to hide his curiosity.

“I can’t believe you’ve never heard of this before.” I tease softly, trying to hide my smile at his grumpiness.

He glances over at me, then back at the lanterns, raising a dark brow. “This isn't something I’m interested in, Wild One,” he grumbles, but there’s softness in his tone that betrays him. He looks around at the crowds, as if counting the seconds until he can get out of here, but there’s something about the way he’s looking at the lanterns that makes me think he’s not as uninterested as he’s pretending to be. “So, what’s this all about?”

I laugh, the sound light, I can’t help it— the grinch attitude is part of his charm. I meet his eyes, feeling butterflies in my stomach as the soft light of the lanterns reflects in his dark gaze. “The water lantern festival is a celebration of hope and wishes,” I say, my voice a little quieter, as if sharing a secret. “You write your wishes on paper lanterns and release them into the water. It’s a way for us to send our hopes and dreams into the universe.”

He scoffs, but there’s something adorable about the way he scrunches his brow. “Seriously? Just like that? You’re telling me these people think floating paper lanterns are going to change their lives and grant them wishes?”

I laugh softly, shaking my head. “Don’t be rude! Besides, it’s not about that. It’s more symbolic. It makes them feel better. They let go of their worries, releasing them into the world. It’s about the feeling of having hope, even when everything feels dark and ugly.”

Madden watches me for a long moment, his arms crossed, looking more like the grinch with each passing second. The man really is so stubborn. “And how exactly does that work? Is there a wish-granting fairy ready to catch the lanterns in the water?”

I roll my eyes and grin. “Just write something meaningful, light it, and watch it float away.” I hand him a lantern and a red marker. “It won’t kill you, you know.”

He looks at the lantern in his hands, his brow furrowing in that familiar way that makes my heart do a thousand flips. “I think it just might,” he mutters, but he takes the lantern and marker from me reluctantly.

I laugh some more. “Oh, hush.” I turn around to give him some space. I pull the marker from the lantern and start writing my wish on the paper, my heart feeling both light and heavy at the same time.

I take a deep breath, the cool air filling my lungs as I write my wish. “For my sweet grinch,” I scrawl, my hand steady but my heart racing a little. “eternal happiness and a life filled with color and laughter.” It feels right, a quiet hope wrapped in love and kindness for the man who thinks of himself as broken. I tuck the pen away and glance over at him, not surprise to find him still focusing on his lantern, his brow furrow in concentration.

I bite my lip, unable to resist. “Are you ready?”

He looks at me, then back at the paper, his expression softening. “Yeah…” His voice is low, hesitant but full of something deeper, something I can’t quite place.

We both kneel by the small candle at our feet. I hold my lantern steady, while Madden carefully lights the wick, the flame flickering to life in the dark night. I watch the warmth of the light dance across his handsome face, the shadows playing over his exotic features, and for the briefest moment, I feel like I can see every beautiful part of him— the parts he won’t let anyone see, the tenderness he only shows me.

“On three?” I suggest, my heart thudding loudly in my chest.

He looks at me, and for the first time tonight, there’s a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. His eyes meet mine, softening. “One… two… three.”

We release the lanterns at the same time, watching as they float into the night, glowing softly against the dark lake. They float away, carrying our wishes with them, and as I watch them float into the distance, I feel a rush of hope wash over me— hope for a happy and magical future for Madden.

“Look at them go,” I whisper, the words slipping before I can stop them. This moment feels like we’re the only two people in the world. “So beautiful…”

I notice Madden's silence and turn to find him looking down at me. “Fucking beautiful, indeed.”

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

He’s not just talking about the lanterns anymore. I can hear it in his voice. The way he’s looking at me, like I’m the light in his dark sky.

I take a small step closer, feeling the pull between us like a gravity I can’t fight. Not that I want to.

I smile brightly at him, feeling so much joy in my heart that I’m afraid it might burst at any given moment. On an impulse, I wrap my arms around Madden’s waist, pulling him into a tight hug. As I hug him close, I can feel the strength in him, even if he initially stiffens.

After a moment, he hesitates, as if unsure how to react, then slowly wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer. The height difference is striking—my head resting perfectly under his chin, the lovely beat of his heart against my ear. Being in his arms feels like I was meant to be here. It feels safe.

I close my eyes, savoring the feel of his arm around me, and for the first time, I feel like I’ve found my place in the world— my home.

Him.

His fingers brush gently through my curls, the gesture sweet and tender. “You know,” he murmurs softly, his voice teasing but warm, “you’re not as annoying as I thought.”

I can’t help but laugh, my heart blooming with love for him. “Is that your version of a compliment, Madden Hunt?”

“Something like that,” he replies, a hint of a smile in his voice. Then, without warning, he lowers his head and kisses the top of mine—soft and sweet— and my breath catches in my throat.

We stand there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, the magical night settling around us. His voice is soft as he pulls back just enough to meet my gaze. “So, what did you wish for?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.

I hesitate before I pull back slightly, lifting my eyes to meet his, letting my heart speak before my mind can stop it. “I wished for you to always feel happy.”

His expression shifts, surprise flickering in his eyes before a small smile breaks through. “You did?”

“Yup,” I say, a smile of my own tugging at my lips.

Madden’s eyes soften. “There’s no one quite like you, Willow O’Sullivan.”

His words settle deep in my heart, silencing every word that said otherwise, and I smile wider, feeling my heart beat wildly for him. “Likewise, Madden Hunt.”

His arms tighten around me, pulling me closer.

But curiosity bubbles up inside me. I pull back slightly, leaning closer, my heart fluttering. “So…what did you wish for?”

He hesitates, his eyes darken with mischief. “One day, I’ll tell you,” he murmurs, his voice low and teasing.

I pout, unable to hide my disappointment that flashes across my face. “No fair. I told you mine!”

His smile widens. “One day, Willow.”

One day…

Thud.

How…sweet.

I tap his chest—right where his heart is—three times. “One day, Madden.”

He surprises me by leaning down and in one swift motion, he leans down and presses his lips against mine, in a soft, soul consuming kiss.

The world around us blurs, and for a long moment, it feels like no one else exists but him until our breath, our hearts become one.

Madden steals not only my breath but my heart as he kisses me tenderly. The kiss is gentle, but it lingers, and when he pulls back, the light in his eyes makes me fall harder for the man. “I think I might keep you, fairy,” he says, a beautiful smirk tugging at his lips.

I blink up at him, heart racing, still caught in the spell of his kiss. “Okay,” I whisper breathlessly.

“Okay,” he whispers back, his smile taking over his face.

And as we stand there, the glow of the lanterns reflecting in both of our eyes, I realize that whatever his wish is, it feels like it’s already starting to come true.

I also realized something then, something I hadn’t before. Madden Hunt has stolen my heart—again. But as I thought about it more, the truth settled in. My heart hasn’t been mine in a long time because Madden has been the owner of my heart and all its wishes since I was six years old.

Life brought him back to me during this jolly holiday and now it’s up to me to make him stay… forever.