Maddie stayed silent the whole way back. Nick, trying his best to stay calm, felt the weight of her silence settle in the air between them. He had no idea how to handle this. Kids weren't exactly his forte, and now he was knee-deep in a situation that felt way out of his league.
"Wanna go to the park?" he asked, his voice strained with uncertainty. It was a weak attempt, but he was desperate for any reaction from her. She didn't even look his way.
Nick had no clue what to say. Should he tell her, 'Don't be sad, Maddie. You didn't do anything wrong.' Or maybe, 'I'll get you another box of pie-shuu, I promise.' Or even, 'That kid shouldn't have treated you like that, not even if he was upset. I'll make sure he learns a lesson someday.'
But none of that seemed right. He couldn't even figure out what was going on in her little head. The only thing he knew for sure was that whatever he said wouldn't fix it. So he kept quiet, sighing softly as they walked.
