The last thing Madeline could ever have expected was Jackson running into her arms, calling her his mom.

Jackson must have been feeling terrified and insecure.

He buried his tiny physique deep into her arms. It was as if the only way to lessen his fear was to hold her tight with both his hands while his eyes remained shut.

Madeline felt her heart clench at the signs of distress on his small cheeks. It had been a long while since she had felt such an intrusive stab of pain eating its way ou