The Unexpected Journey Part Two

Chapter 24

"Thank you," Maddie's relief was heavy in her voice, in the way her shoulders released, the way the tension shifted from the room. As Bishop took the razor from her, she squeezed his arm in gratitude. "Thank you." Taking a deep breath, she turned to face the mirror, looking at the group of them reflected back to her. "Okay. Ha...I'm a little more nervous than I thought I'd be."

"I'm sure that's normal," Ella spoke up, her hand gentle on Maddie's back.

"Yeah," Maddie nodded, offering a shaky smile to her best friend. "I suppose it is."

"Would it help if I went first?" Harry offered.

"What?!" Maddie's head swung over, her eyes wide as she turned to look at him. "What are you talking about? First?"

Harry met her gaze with one that was just as sure as hers was stunned. "What? You really thought I was going to let you walk around bald all on your own?"

Maddie blinked as her mind tried to catch up with what he was saying. "I...yes! I...Harry. No. You can't shave your head!"

"I absolutely can. My brother will bloody love it."

"No," she shook her head. "That's crazy, that's absurd! That's..."

"Really sweet," Ella offered.

"NO!" Maddie turned to look at Ella, shaking her head as she turned completely around to face them all. "No. Absolutely not. Listen. I...appreciate the sentiment, I really do. But...this isn't what this is about. This isn't what we're about. I...I have to be bald because I have to be bald. And...fine. I'll be bald. But I don't want you to do this," she looked up at Harry. "I don't want this to be how you support me, Harry. I don't want this to be how we do this." She reached out to take his hand. "Please? Please...let's not make this go this way. Just...let Bishop shave my head and let's let that be the end of it."

"Madeline..." Harry moved in a step, making a moment between just the two of them.

"Henry..." She turned her wide, sweet eyes up to him and he knew instantly that she would win. He knew he would give in to her. She was in control of this, she was in control of all of this and if Maddie said no...

"Fine," Harry stepped back, sighing as he shook his head. "You know you win this."

"Thank you," she reached out to him, her fingers light as they rested on his chest. "I don't want this to be a bigger story than it has to be and if you're bald too..."

"I get it," he smiled, his hand closing over hers, pressing it to his chest as he nodded. "Whatever you want Maddie. Whatever you want."

"Thank you," she held his smile, held his hand, for one more beat before she sucked in her breath and turned to Bishop. "Okay...are you ready?"

"Are you?" His smile was sweet, his voice soft.

Smiling, Maddie nodded her head. Though she was nervous, though she was shaky, she also knew that there was only one way to get it over with. Because she was certain she couldn't watch it happen, she turned completely from the mirror and instead focused entirely on Bishop. "Yes."

"Okay," Bishop moved in a little closer, checking out the electric razor in his hand, getting comfortable with it. And then, as he lifted it up to Maddie's head, he paused, an eyebrow arching as he leaned in closer to her. "Swear you won't hate me when we're finished?"

Leaning in, Maddie's hand lifted to his cheek, her fingers pinching playfully. "I swear I'll love you more when we're finished."

"Perfect." His grin stretched higher and then, without looking to Harry or Ella or anything else in the room other than her, he switched on the razor and lifted it to Maddie's head.