Maddie
Even though I understood the reasoning, when Erik told me he was moving to Prague no matter what, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to process. Though it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest, I played it cool, as cool as I could, because there was no reason to get upset or make him more upset. I knew there was no changing his mind.
The reality that we’ve always known, is that for him to ever be able to stay in America legally after his work permit expires, he must leave the country. And when he leaves we have no clue how long it will be until he’s allowed to come back. Because he chose to admit that he was brought here illegally as a child, and took the appropriate steps to stay here, we’re hoping his process to re-enter the country will be a little easier. The policies on the status of Dreamers could change a hundred times over the next few months, or even years, but it’s highly unlikely that all of them would ever be given blanket U.S. citizenship, no matter how many Homeland Security policy changes happen. And it doesn’t do him any good to wait if the solution will always be the same.
I never thought that he would choose to leave, and as much as that hurts, I understand why he has to do it.
I was prepared to handle his absence with a strong heart and my head high. Until I realized…
Erik can’t stay in America, but there’s absolutely nothing that stops me from going with him to the Czech Republic.
All this time we’ve been discussing how to keep him here, but going with him never came up once. I’m quite certain he never mentioned it because he thinks I have this grand life here that I couldn’t possibly leave behind, and maybe I thought that myself once—before us. I’m a different person now than I was even a few months ago, but one thing hasn’t changed: family is the most important thing in the world. And Erik is my family now.
I knew he’d never agree to my suggestion unless I settle a few things beforehand—not just in my life, but also things that weigh heavily on him. If I can get everything I need to sorted in the next few weeks, I’m free to move to wherever I damn well please.
If the man I love is going to Prague, I’m going too.
* * *
I knock on the doorframe to my father’s office. Like a college professor, he holds open door hours at work. It was part of a company-wide plan built to make the workplace a more open, friendly environment. We’re a family business, and we want our employees to feel like family. Open door hours give employees specific times to reach managers in person. Daddy can only be reached by executives this way, but it’s still helpful.
“Daddy, I need to talk to you about my future with Commons Department Stores.”
“Excuse me?” He looks up from his computer screen.
“I’m moving to Prague at the end of the month,” I say matter-of-factly, though I know the news will be a major blow. “I may not be able to efficiently handle all of the duties of the Vice President of Apparel and Cosmetics remotely. I need to talk with you about a different position, or hiring an Assistant VP to take care of the things I need to be present for during that time. I assume hiring someone is cheaper than flying me back and forth. I’d like to know what other options I have with the company.”
“Hold on a second, Madeline! What do you mean, you’re moving to Prague?”
“Erik has to move, so I’m going with him.”
Daddy stares at me. He looks at the computer screen, then to me again. “Come in and sit down, please.”
I step into his office. “I can’t stay long, Daddy. As you can probably imagine, I have a to-do list a million miles long. I just need to know if it’s something we can work on, or if I need to look for a position in Prague.”
“Madeline, you’ve made your point. You love him. I can handle that.” He removes his glasses, tossing them on the desk, and rises from his chair. “But giving up your career? Moving to a foreign country?”
“Erik stood up for me when no one else would. Erik stands up for everybody.” I look out the window, because I can’t quite face my father when the pain is still so raw. “You wouldn’t stand up for me when I told you about Trent. I’m your daughter.” I turn back to him with tears in my eyes. “I can’t keep putting on a strong face every day and be forced to work alongside Trent. Something has to—”
Daddy raises his hand, a well-known nonverbal command to silence me. It’s ingrained. “I spoke to Jessie Piper and told him that Trent Anderson is not to be involved in any matters that involve Commons Department Stores or the Commons family. He is not to have access to records. He is not to communicate with our family in any legal matter. And if they don’t adhere to those rules, we will pull all of our business from their firm.”
“But—” I close my eyes and shake my head, trying to understand. “You—”
Within a few strides, he’s at my side. He places his hands on my shoulder and looks me straight in the eye. “You are more important to me than Trent Anderson. You always have been and you always will be. I’m sorry if my actions have ever made you doubt that.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“Now, that we’ve handled that.” He kisses my forehead and starts to walk toward his desk.
“Does that mean I’ll be able to stay in my current position while in Prague?” I ask.
He spins around, eyes wide with surprise. “I thought I just established the fact that you won’t have to work with Trent again. You can stay here.”
“While I truly appreciate that you finally stood up for me, Trent has little to do with my decision. I want to be with Erik. He’s my family. I won’t let him move to a foreign country alone.”
He tilts his head before pleading, “Madeline—”
“Harris,” I say firmly. “I’m going to Prague. I want to do it on good terms. I want you to be proud of me. Do I have a job or not?”
The silence is thick for a few seconds. Finally, he sighs heavily, his shoulders dropping when he says, “Yes. You will have a job. Let’s put together some ideas as to what it will look like, and meet next week.”
“Thank you.” I turn to leave his office.
“Madeline!” Daddy calls. I turn around slowly, bracing for the wrath of speaking to my father so sternly.
“I’ll always be proud of you.”
* * *
I’ve barely made it to my car when a text pings. After a quick swipe of the screen, I see:
Mama: Madeline, you get your butt to the house this minute!
Ah shit. I should’ve known Daddy would call Mama as soon as I left his office. My stilettos clap against the asphalt as I hurry to the car.
“I’m here, Mama!” I call as I enter the house. “Do your worst.”
“I’m in the kitchen!” she calls.
Taking a deep breath, I brace myself for the wrath. Mama is really good at making me feel guilty for my choices. Or making me feel like, if I don’t make the decision she wants me to make, it’s flat-out wrong. Thankfully, I’ve been sailing through Cookie’s waters my entire life, so I know how to navigate through the storm that’s brewing. I am my mother’s daughter, and like her, once I’ve made up my mind, nothing will change it. Not even one of Mama’s guilt trips.
When I enter the kitchen, Mama is at the bar, clicking away on a laptop. She stops to pat the chair next to her.
“Pull up a seat, Madeline.”
Tentatively, I walk toward her, surprised at how calm everything seems. It’s definitely not how I expected this to go. Maybe Daddy didn’t call her? Nah, they’re thick as thieves, so that’s out of the question.
I hang my pocketbook on the back of the chair and slide in next to her. Peering at the screen, I notice she’s logged into the website she uses to coordinate meals for our friends who have had major life events happen and need some extra help or love. She’ll enlist people to bring a meal over, so the family can focus on the event, whether it’s a family member who passed away or a new baby in the house.
“Who’s that for?” I ask.
“Ginny.”
My head snaps to Mama. “What?”
She switches back and forth between a browser with her email to the sign-up website, her eyes never veering from the screen. “I’m making a schedule for who’s going to visit Ginny while you and Erik are away,” she says. “There won’t be one day where she doesn’t have a visitor.”
“Mama—” I start, but the words catch in my throat. I press my lips together, trying to compose myself as tears pool in my eyes.
“I’ve made it very clear that visiting during mealtime is ideal, but I do hope it’s okay if there’s a day or two that it’s just a visit.” She finally looks at me.
I don’t even stop the tears as they slide down my cheeks. “Thank you, Mama,” I say softly.
She wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight. Suddenly, her body begins to shake, and I realize Mama might be crying. I pull back to confirm, and sure enough, we’re both blubbering.
She reaches across the counter and grabs a dish towel. “I’m going to miss you, Madeline,” she says, taking a moment to dab her eyes. “But I’m not going to stop you from being with the person you love.”
On the drive from my office to the house, I thought of the things I still had to do to be able to make moving to Prague work. Because I knew Ginny not having anyone to visit was one of Erik’s major concerns about his having to leave, I wanted to make sure I took care of it before I told him I’m going with him. I didn’t know how I was going to pull it together, but I never imagined Mama would.
I’d prepared for this moment with Mama, ready to fight. Yet, instead of coming at me with anger, she began preparing the very thing I needed help with. All of a sudden, I’m reminded of what a good person Mama is. She might do or say things I perceive to be cold, but when it comes down to it, she does what she needs to do for family. And she’ll fight tooth and nail for us.
“Thank you, Mama.” I pull her back in my arms because I really don’t have any other words to express my appreciation. “I love you so much.”
* * *
There’s one last pressing issue I have to figure out before I get back home tonight. And I know just who to call.
“What’s up, Mayor?” Emily greets me upon answering her phone.
“I need a favor.”
“You want a tattoo?” she teases.
“Fat chance.”
“Someday, you’re gonna get one. And I’m going to say—”
I interrupt her ridiculous rambling. “I’m moving to Prague with Erik. Can you foster our dog for a few years?”
“Fuck yes!” she answers.
And just like that, Erik and I are free to go.