Linden nodded and gestured for Maddy to sit on the sofa in the corner of the office, waiting for her to sit down before moving to sit beside her, "I don't know where to start" she laughed nervously, breaking the tense silence that had settled over the room, "How about the beginning, why were you so upset earlier?" Linden asked, trying to encourage her to talk to him. Maddy sighed and stood up, reaching into her pocket she pulled out a crumpled picture, handing it to Linden before sitting back down. Linden looked at the photo, instantly recognising a much younger Maddy grinning up at him, "That's Amy", Maddy said quietly, pointing to the toddler who's arms were wrapped around Maddy's neck. "She erm, she's, was, oh god, it's so stupid", Linden shook his head "if it was stupid you wouldn't be so upset would you, Maddy shook her head and took a deep breath, "That's a picture of Amy and her Mum". Linden looked shocked, "that's you.. . " he said pointing to Maddy in the picture, Maddy nodded, "So where is Amy now?". Maddy bit her lip and raised her eyes to the ceiling as she tried to stop her tears from falling, "She, she erm," Maddy's voice was reduced to nothing more than a quiver, "It was six years ago today". Maddy couldn't bring herself to say anymore, covering her face with her hands as she began to sob. Linden didn't need to hear anything else, and he stood from the sofa, taking the tissues from his desk he passed them to Maddy, before sitting back down, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders, "She was hit by a car, didn't stand a chance, she was 3 years old" Maddy sobbed into his chest. "Oh Maddy" Linden sighed, completely lost for words as Maddy curled further into him, "This morning, Dan didn't even remember", she gasped between sobs. "Dan Clifford?" Maddy nodded, "I don't..." Linden was puzzled, "he was Amy's dad, we were arguing and I walked out of the house, Amy followed me" Maddy sobbed, clutching Linden's shirt in her hands as she replayed in her mind the moment she saw her three year old daughter thrown into the air, the ear piercing scream still sounded so real, and Maddy swore if she crouched down she'd be level with her daughter's crumpled body.
Almost half an hour passed before Maddy's sobs calmed, "I'm sorry" she whispered, gesturing to Linden's once white shirt, now stained from Maddy's tears and mascara, "Don't worry about it" he said kindly, "I'll put some scrubs on then I'm taking you home". Maddy shook her head, "You don't need to", she told him, "And anyway, I need to go... somewhere" she trailed off and bowed her head as more tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Linden offered Maddy the tissues once again, "I don't really think you're in a fit state to be driving anywhere" he told her, "Just tell me where you need to be and I'll take you". Maddy nodded, "I need to get something from my car". Linden nodded, "I'll get changed, I'll meet you in reception in 10 minutes?" Maddy nodded, wiping her eyes she took a deep breath, smiling weakly at Linden as she left the office.
Linden smiled as he stepped from the lift, "they're, erm, lovely flowers" he said, gesturing to the bouquet of pink blooms Maddy held in her left hand, she smiled and ran her fingers over the petals on one of the flowers, "Amy loved flowers" she said sadly, "and pink was her favourite colour". Linden nodded, "I'm sure she'd love them" he said sadly, wrapping his arm around Maddy's waist and leading her out to his car.
The short journey passed in silence, the only sound being Maddy's occasional directions. Linden parked outside the small church, unsure of what to do next, "do you want me to. . .or. . .?" Maddy nodded, "I've never done this on my own before, Dan always came with me, no matter where in the country we were he always met me here." Maddy told Linden, glancing out of the car window, almost as if she expected Dan to be stood by the rusty iron gates waiting for her. Linden smiled sympathetically, and stepped from the car, waiting for Maddy to do the same before pressing the fob on his key ring to lock the doors, and turning to face Maddy, "ready?" he asked. Maddy nodded slowly, "as I'll ever be."
Linden slid his glasses from his face before rubbing his temples as he sat watching Maddy tend to the neatly kept grave, he'd backed off to give her some time alone with her daughter, but had stayed close enough so she could see him if she needed him. He saw Maddy fall to her knees and quickly slipped his glasses back on, running over to Maddy and crouching down beside her, wrapping an arm gently round her waist and pulling her close, "I miss her so much." Maddy sobbed into Linden's chest, "I know" he whispered, rubbing her back, "come on" he told her, lifting her to to her feet a while later, "let's get you home." Maddy nodded and kissed her fingers before pressing them to the cool black stone and allowing Linden to lead her back to the car.
