Chapter 29

*Austin's POV

Two days later we waited at the house for Maxwell to bring Zachary. Luckily they had already flown Zachary here. Madison hated flying.

She paced around the living, walking back and forth between the front door and the TV. Oliver followed at her heels, pacing with her. I think she was more nervous than I was. We had talked last night and I finally got through to her fears of parenthood. She was terrified that she was gonna end up like her mother. She said that she's afraid she's not gonna make the right choices and our kids will hate her as much as she hates her mother. Now with Zachary coming, she was scared she couldn't live up to what a good mom Janey was.

She pulled me from my thoughts when I heard her gasp. "Crap. They're here." She looked at me and looked panicked. "What do I do?"

I smiled and stood up, going to her and taking her hands. "Relax. He's a 7 year old boy. Not a nuclear bomb." I kissed her forehead. "Come on."

I opened the front door and saw Maxwell and Zachary coming up the walkway. Zachary was adorable. Madison stood next to me and put her arm around me. "He looks just like Mikey."

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Hello, Miss Haythe." Maxwell said. He nodded at me. "Mr Carlile."

Madison kneeled down in front of Zachary and smiled. "Hi, Zachary. I'm your Aunt Madison. Remember me? I seen you at Christmas."

He nodded. "Yes."

I smiled. "Come on in, you guys."

Maxwell held his hand up. "Actually, I have to get going. I have to file your paperwork." He shook my hand. "Nice to meet you." He walked away.

Madison looked at me and frowned. "That guy has no emotion whatsoever."

I nodded. "I know." I looked at Zachary. He was shy. He looked sad and wouldn't look at either of us. "Hey, Zach Attack."

Madison smoothed his hair. "Wanna come inside?"

He shook his head. "No."

I leaned against the doorway, watching Madison. She smiled. "Do you want us to stay out here with you?"

"No." He said.

Madison nodded. "Okay. Well, we're gonna go in the house. I'll leave the door open for you. When you feel like coming in, come on in, and Uncle Austin will show you your new room and I'll make you some dinner. Okay?"

He nodded. "Okay."

Madison kissed his forehead and stood up, motioning for me to come inside with her. She went to the kitchen to start dinner. I pushed the door open all the way and sat on the couch so I could still see Zach. He stood in the door way, looking around with his big blue eyes. He had big chubby pink cheeks and his blonde hair was short on the sides and long on top.

He looked at me and took a step inside, then another. I smiled. He looked around the living room and then came all the way inside, closing the door behind him. "Can I see my room?"

I nodded and stood up, holding out my hand. He held my hand and we walked down the hall to his new bedroom.

The day after Maxwell first came to see us and we decided to take Zachary, Madison cleared out our office and went shopping. She finished his room in a day. She bought him the basics for now until we got to know him more. Maxwell said the rest of his stuff would be shipped here from Michigan within a week.

I walked him to his room and opened the door. "This is all yours, Zach Attack."

Zachary looked around. "Thank you."

I felt Madison's hand on my back. She stepped next to me and slide her arm around my waist. "Do you like it, Zachary?"

He sat on his bed. "Yes."

Madison smiled and went over there. "I have a present for you." She had a picture frame. She sat on the floor in front of Zach's bed and handed it to him.

He looked at it and smiled a little. "That's my mommy and daddy."

Madison nodded. "Yeah. Your daddy was my big brother."

Zachary looked at her. "Is that why I live here now?"

She looked at me and shrugged. I went over to them and sat down at the small desk. "Zach, do you know what happened to your mommy and daddy?"

He nodded. "Yes. They crashed their car and went to heaven."

Madison nodded. "Yeah. That's right. But listen honey, they will always be in your heart. And if you ever wanna talk, you can come to me or Uncle Austin."

He nodded. "Okay."

I smiled. "You're gonna love living here, Zach. We live right by the beach."

"Have you ever been to the ocean?" Madison asked.

"No." He smiles again. "But I seen it on the tv. And it's so cool."

Madison turned and grabbed my arm, pulling it towards Zach. "See his tattoos? It's all ocean themed on his arm."

Zach smiled a little bigger. "That's awesome."

Madison stood up. "How about after dinner we go down to the beach?"

"Okay." Zachary said.

I smiled and stood up. "Make yourself comfortable, Zach. This is your house now too."

Madison left the room and I started to follow her. "Uncle Austin?" Zachary said.

I turned. "Yeah, buddy?"

"Mr Anderson said you have a dog." He said.

I smiled. "Yeah. He's in the backyard. His name is Oliver."

Zach stood up and followed me to the kitchen and I showed him to the back door. He went outside and I sat down at the island, watching him play with Oliver.

Madison chopped up some chicken and smiled. "He's so cute."

I nodded. "I feel bad for him. He seems so nervous."

She looked at him. "He's so much like Mikey. So shy and polite." She set the knife down and smiled. "I don't know. I think I'm gonna love this."