My One And Only

The front door opened and got closed making the least possible noise.

“Madison, you are here.”

Madison heard her nana’s voice as she closed the door behind her. She thought that the old woman had gone to bed by now. It was too late.

“Yes, nana. What are you doing up so late?”

Madison asked, getting closer to where her grandmother was sitting. She sat right beside her on the sofa, keeping her bag nearby. The lights were kept dim in the living room.

“I could not sleep. ”

Madison did not say anything to that. She just kept looking down, on the white tiled floor. She did not know if she should inform her nana about Tinsley.

“What is wrong, child?”

Anna Maria inquired, seeing the colour of Madison’s face changing from a normal one to something else.

Madison drew herself back from the reverie and decided against on exposing the news for she did not want her grandma to worry anymore.

The woman had been tensed since the day Tinsley had left home. She had tried numerous times on her cell to call, hear her voice.

It was an endless loop of disappointment for Anna Maria as she continued to get no answer from Tinsley.

Madison noticed it and always tried to wrap the situation by saying that Tinsley would have contacted her if she wanted it to. She was happy with Josh and did not want anyone to disturb her.

Anna Maria constantly told her that she was not like that. Tinsley was always so excited to tell Anna about everything that had happened to her even when it was meant to keep a secret, she could never hide anything for so long from Anna Maria.

And how surprisingly, Anna Maria’s fear that what if something had happened to her turned out to be true, Madison yet did not want to expose a thing as it would only worsen the situation more for her old woman.

“Where were you at lunchtime?? I came to drop by and have lunch with you.”

So she decided to divert the topic. It was true though she had returned from her office to lunch with the old woman taking a half time.

Anna Maria was caught off guard with that question thrown her way. She had no idea that Madi would drop by today only to lunch with her.

She had gone to the Harrington mansion in search of Tinsley. She did not want to disclose it to Madison but thought that it was of no use hiding things for sooner or later, Madison would find out anyway.

“I went to the Harrington mansion here. ”

“But why?? ”

“To look out for Tinsley.”

Anna Maria said with the same tone Madison asked her the question.

“Why would you do that nana?? You did not inform me about it??”

Madison implored getting riled up. She could not believe that her grandma had sneaked out of the house without thinking to inform her at least.

“It had been more than two days since Tinsley left and I have no news about her whereabouts, what do you think?? I should just sit back and wait for her to contact me??”

Anna Maria shouted at her granddaughter. She did not like the sound of distaste whenever she mentioned the name of Tinsley before Madison.

“Yes. She would contact you when. She wants to.”

“She has no one, Madison. No one in this world except for me. ”

Anna Maria let out stopping whatever Madison was going to say halfway. She looked right into her nana’s eyes and then looked away for she would not be able to hold herself back more if this went on.

“Ramona told me that they had no idea where Tinsley was. She did not know if she was with Josh or not. I could tell that she was not even interested in it. ”

Anna Maria went on speaking as Madison kept her mouth shut, listening quietly to her nana.

“I do not feel right about the entire ordeal, Madi. I feel like something wrong has happened to my child and I have no idea or could I save her.”

Madison felt her grandmother’s sorrow, her deep love for Tinsley. It was obvious that she was attached to her but not to the point as it hurt her for not knowing about her whereabouts.

Anna Maria watched how Madison was deep in her thoughts and wondered if her granddaughter had again taken the wrong note about the situation.

“Madison look at me.”

Madi parted her eyes from the tiles and settled it on her old face. Anna Maria held her hands onto hers.

“You know Tinsley and you, both are the same for me. I love you both the same, not less not more. ”

Madison had no idea where her grandma was going on with the flow of the conversation but she went on listening.

“I always tried to make you both acquainted but you just would not drop your hard face just like your mother, Lily. You are just like her, strong, tough, aware while Tinsley is the complete opposite. She is soft, light and not aware of her surroundings most of the times which made me look after her more, to make her understand things that you understood in just the snap of your fingers….. I never took it as my job.

You girls make my life bright and so never take it the wrong way that I love you less or I love Tinsley any more than you. ”

Madison never doubted upon her grandmother’s love but she needed to hear those words and so she felt grateful.

She nodded her head, getting emotional and pulling her nana close for a hug. She swore to herself that she would check up on Tinsley tomorrow herself and when she would get better, she would bring her back home, to them, here.

“I love you, Madi bear forever and always.”

Anna Maria mumbled, hugging her granddaughter, in her heart, she chanted out the same for Tinsley.

“I love you too, nana! “