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Chapter 4

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As soon as Horatio and Madison got back to Susie's apartment, Madison showed her mom that she had tied her shoe all by herself.

"Horatio told me to loop, swoop and pull."

"Wow! That's really great. Good job, sweetie."

Horatio read the silent thank you on Susie's lips and then handed her the bag of candy saying, "Madison and I would like you to come to the beach with us."

Madison nodded, grabbing hold of her mom by the waist.

"Please, mommy."

Susie looked down at her little girl then at Horatio.
"Okay."

The little girl had already ran off to get ready when Horatio told Susie he'd go home and change and they'd go down to the beach together.

The cool empty apartment left behind, Horatio drove them near the beach. Having parked the Hummer, he helped the girls get out of the vehicle and then, they were on their way.

The trio sauntered towards the beach; Madison, between Horatio and Susie, held the adult's hands and once in a while was lifted from the ground and swung by them.

Finding a good spot on the beach, Susie and Horatio unfolded their towels as Madison, already out of her flower dress, ran out to the sea, small red bucket and shovel in hand. Horatio unbuttoned his short-sleeved shirt and stepped out of his footwear as Susie lifted her shirt over her head and slipped out of her shorts.

"Horatio!" Madison yelled.

Susie eyed Horatio and gently took the parasol from him, asking him to go.

"She wants to spend time with you. I can set this up myself."

He smiled, taking a bottle of sunscreen with him and briskly walked to the shore where Madison had found a minuscule seashell.

"Look!"

"Yeah. I see that. It's pretty," he told her while squirting lotion on her arms and spreading it over her pink baby flesh.

"Look at me, sweetheart," he asked, lifting her chin with a finger, gently applying lotion on her face and neck. Like any child, she hated to stand still for this and pretended Horatio wasn't there until he spread some over her feet and she wiggled her toes, giggling.

"You're tickling me."

"I don't mean to," he said unable to keep from smiling.
"Alright. All done."

"Good." She exhaled loudly. "I wanna go swimming."

She grabbed his hand and pulled. Lacking strength, Madison didn't succeed in making Horatio budge, but he unexpectedly caught her by the waist, flipping her upside down in his arms. Arms hanging, she giggled loudly, screaming with amusement.

"How 'bout I dip you and I stay dry." He chuckled.

She giggled, shaking her head. Turning her over, he set her down in the sand and took her hands, standing behind her as they entered the water.

Every time a wave higher than Madison came crashing to the shore, he lifted her. He absolutely loved hearing her laughter.

"I wanna go back!" she told him eagerly so he went back to shore with her.

She ran over to Susie, as far as he could tell, to ask her something.

Horatio joined them and saw that Madison was sulking.

Looking at Susie for an explanation, he understood that Madison wanted a boogie board like the other kids on the beach and that her mother had said no.

"C'mon Madison," he held out his hand to the pouting little girl.

"Horatio, you're spoiling her," Susie warned.

"It's fine."

When they got back, Madison ran to the water with a board almost as big as her. Horatio helped her lay on top as he went in the sea up to his shoulders holding Madison on her new board.

After an afternoon of running, swimming and digging in the sand, Madison, covered with Horatio's towel, snoozed curled up on the backseat of the Hummer.

Looking out the window, Susie questioned, "She asked you about Bob, didn't she?"

"Yeah. Has she been asking you about him?"

Susie nodded then looked at her hands, fingering the bracelet around her wrist.

"I haven't talked to her about who her real father is."

"I didn't think so."

"Do you think I should? I mean, you're her uncle - she should know that."

"I don't think that's such a good idea. She doesn't need to know right now. When she's older she'll be in a better position to understand."

"I'm so happy that she turned out alright after the way I acted when I was pregnant with her - I made a lot of mistakes. I tried to stop Meth, but then when the cravings, the insomnia and the anxiety kicked in, I got back on, forgetting all the defects she could have because of me. I started out bad as a mother and I always think that I'm still not cutting it - "

Horatio kept his eyes on the road, but reached over the center console to cover her hands with his.

"You're a good mother, Susie. Madison couldn't be happier."

"Yeah, but I'm always working and I can't seem to offer her much with the money I make... I'd give her everything she wanted if I could."

"I know you would." He stopped at a red light and said, "Susie, you let me take care of that, okay?"

Susie looked at Horatio, "She loves you, you know."

He glanced at Susie, "I lover her too."

Having arrived at Susie's home, Horatio carried Madison up to her bed.

As he was leaving, Susie gave him a hug thanking him.

"My pleasure."

They parted and in a gravelly voice he said, "Take care, Susie."

"I will."

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Horatio reached in his pocket for his ringing cell phone.

"Horatio." He kept one hand on the steering wheel as he drove through the Saturday traffic.

"Hey you," Calleigh drawled.

"Hey. How was the diving?"

"Great. I had a lot of fun. Eric's a good teacher. How was your afternoon with your niece?"

"Wonderful."

"Got anything planned for tonight, handsome?"

"Nope. Just heading home now."

"Why don't you swing by my place?" she asked silkily.

"I thought you'd never ask."

TBC...