Even Though I'm Leaving

11

"I stopped and got smoothies so that one is yours,". He nodded toward the cupholder.

"Thanks," She smiled, taking the large cup and taking a sip.

Will nodded and drove back to his place, both he and Maddy staying quiet.

"You okay over there? You're pretty quiet," Will noticed, looking over as Maddy looked out the window as he drove.

"Yeah. Just really missing my dad today," She shrugged, playing with her phone case.

"I know you miss him Mads, and I know he misses you too,"

She nodded and sighed again, looking at her screensaver which was a picture of her family. "I just wish he would've given us more warning. I came home from school and he was gone that night. We weren't ready,"

"I know," He nodded, pulling into the driveway of their home. "I'm sure Owen will be thrilled to see you,"

She nodded and got out of the car, grabbing her backpack off the floorboard before going into the house with her uncle.

"Hey honey," Natalie smiled, knowing that Maddy was coming over.

"Hey aunt Nat," She smiled, waving a bit.

"I'm gonna help her with some science homework," Will told her, taking the teen to the kitchen. "Alright, let's see what you have going on here,"

Maddy nodded and set her bag on the barstool and pulled out her folder, taking the assignment out and handing it over to Will.

"Alright, so here's how you do it," He said after he'd looked it over. He showed Maddy step by step how to work through the problems which is how he knew Jay helped her with math.

It took about an hour for her to finish before she put her stuff away and sat in the living room with her aunt and uncle.

"When do you guys think I'll be able to go back to volleyball? Or if I'll be able to?" Maddy asked, looking at them as she finished her question.

"I think you'll be able to go back Maddy. It's just gonna take time. Your surgery was what? A month ago?" Natalie asked, watching Maddy play with Owen.

"6 weeks," She shrugged, "I was hoping I'd be back by now,"

"This isn't some little thing you're recovering from kiddo. You had to go under and have open heart surgery, that's not like a broken knee or something. It's gonna take a few months. Probably another 6 weeks," Will told her, hating to give her that response.

"The seasons gonna be over," She sighed, "I missed most of volleyball for the year because of this,"

"I know but it just means that you'll be ready to go back for soccer season,"

"I guess but I was really hoping for a good volleyball season this year. It was my first year on varsity and I worked really hard for it,"

"Maddy you had a medical emergency. You couldn't control it, it just happened. You'd been under a lot of stress with your dad leaving, your little accident, and then trying to get your mom's attention. Maybe you'll make varsity soccer. You have that second chance," Will told her, sitting on the floor beside her.

"I guess. But if I'm 100 percent, then I won't make anything,"

"You're just getting down on yourself Mads. Don't let your mind do that. You will get better and you'll be our same Maddy girl that we know and love," Natalie smiled, hugging the teen close.

"Thanks, guys," She smiled a little, hugging both of them before the LED headlights shined through the window.

"I think that's your mom," Will said as he got her bag and opened the door, walking her out to the car.

"Hey Mads," Hailey smiled as Maddy got in the passenger seat.

"Got all the homework done," Will nodded, opening the back door and setting Maddy's bag on the floor, "And we talked,"

"Thanks," Hailey nodded, waiting for Maddy to get her seatbelt on before they started driving home. "Will said you guys talked?"

"About volleyball and soccer. I don't know if I'll be able to go back to volleyball, or if I'll even make a soccer team. I'll be lucky if I get on the JV team but I really want varsity and if I'm not 100 percent, I don't have a chance,"

"Come on Maddy. Honey, you know that dad and I, and the rest of your family will support you no matter what. If you make JV this year, you'll just get more experience for next year. Next year, you'll make varsity volleyball again and then I'm sure you'll make varsity soccer,"

Maddy just nodded and sighed, letting Hailey's words sink in.

"Dad is going to call later and I'm sure he'll tell you the exact same thing," Hailey told her, reaching over and squeezing her hand as she drove.