Page 79 of Here With Me

Romee set her cup on the coffee table. “There has to be a way to fight Doris and Patrick. You know what…I think we need Mom and Dad in on this conversation.”

Sadie’s stomach sank. “I haven’t told them. I will. I promise. Just not…yet.”

“Not yet? Stop shutting yourself away. From us. From Mom and Dad. From David.” Toby let out a sigh, and Sadie could picture him shaking his head.

“It’s more complicated with Mom and Dad. I don’t want them to blame themselves.” She focused on that because she really didn’t want to talk about David. Sadie pulled the blanket up, balancing the coffee so as not to spill it. “I gambled. Put everything into the store. All my savings and it’s not enough.”

“Why does the store owe money? I thought Dad owned that property.” Anna’s accounting mind was probably crunching all the numbers.

“He said they went through a rough patch, took out a mortgage to pay for things, and it just sorta went south. They never caught up.” Sadie lifted a shoulder. If she’d been prepared, she would have known this before taking over. Instead, she’d asked God what to do, her dad fell, and it just seemed right. She’d thought this was God’s path, that He’d opened doors and directed in a specific way. So, she’d leapt—and landed in a puddle on the ground.

“And so, you took over the store, didn’t tell anyone it was in trouble, and sank everything from Jeremy into the store.” Romee’s disgust bled through every word. She turned toward Sadie, squeezing her shoulders. “We’re here to help. Hoover’s Hardware is our family business.”

“That you have no interest in. None of you. You took off to travel with your music, only to land in Grand Rapids. Toby settled down in Florida with Clara, doing what God called him to do. And Anna, she left Heritage the moment she graduated high school, never looking back. I don’t even know where you are because you move around so much. Why would I think any of you have an interest in the store?” Or her. They’d all left her, just like David had. After she’d been left alone again with Lottie after Jeremy died, she learned to depend on herself. Sadie’s hands shook. “I can handle this on my own. It’s my problem.”

“Except you’re not handling it.” Toby sighed. A door closed over the phone, and the sound changed. He must be going somewhere. “I’m coming.”

“What? No, Toby. There’s no need. Really. Not to mention it would take you hours to get here. You can’t leave Clara on a whim.” Sadie shifted forward out of Romee’s grip and placed her mug on a coaster.

“Then listen, Sadie.” Toby’s deep voice sounded so much like their dad’s that Sadie swallowed down her emotions. “You are not alone. God is with you. He did lead you back to Heritage, and He’s never going to leave you. We’ve seen that promise come to fruition so many times, that even when we feel alone, we can trust something bigger than ourselves. Right now is one of those times. We have to trust Him.”

“That’s easier said than done.” Sadie wanted it to be as simple as Toby made it sound. Wanted to just jump in and agree with him. But sometimes, trusting was harder than it sounded. Romee slung an arm around her shoulder and pulled Sadie close.

“Of course, it is. But God never, ever does things in our life without a purpose. And when things are too big for us to handle, that probably means we are trying to handle them in our own strength. We have to rely on Him and the support of the people He put in our life. I don’t like this situation you’re facing, especially the possibility of losing Lottie, but listen here. None of us—” Romee tightened her grip on Sadie and gestured toward the phone. “I repeat, none of us will let you face this alone.”

Anna cleared her throat, her voice oddly gravelly like she was fighting tears. “You can’t get rid of us. No matter where I am, I’m just a plane ride or two away. Mom always said siblings have to stick together. So, you’re stuck.”

Sadie relaxed into Romee’s embrace. Strength came in many forms, but she hadn’t leaned into the strength of her family. Maybe ever. As the oldest it was her job to take care of them, and she’d done a pretty good job. To have her siblings gather around her, to offer her love and support—her eyes burned. Maybe, with the help of her family, she could trust God. Trust that this path she’d jumped onto wouldn’t take everything she loved from her.

sixteen

The sun shone through the front window of David’s favorite family-owned restaurant on a corner of a residential area in San Jose. If he could figure anything out on this trip, it would be with the help of Maria, the tiny, older owner—more like David’s adopted grandma. She rushed around the counter to hug him when he walked in, asking a long, fast string of questions. He patted her back as she fired off at least a hundred questions. Then she let go, put one hand on each cheek, and pulled his face down to her height.

It had been so long since David had spoken in Spanish, not having needed it since he’d been sent home six months ago, that it took a heartbeat to catch up. “How was your time away? Did your family feed you? Did you fall in love? Are you healed?”

A variety of the same questions mingled as Maria made observations about his clothes, his hair, and even the weight he may or may not have gained. She squeezed his arm and shook her head, clucking.

Wise, older eyes studied him, her brown irises darkening. “How is Leah? And her baby?”

“Great. Isabella is beautiful and growing quickly.”

Maria nodded. “If your family is well, then you’ve found someone, because your heart is sad in your eyes.”

He’d found someone over ten years ago. Completely ruined it then. And now? She’d kicked him out of her life. Again. It didn’t help that her life was over two thousand miles away. David shook his head, and Maria’s hands tightened on his face.

Pain radiated from his spine to his neck to his toes. After the all-nighter he’d pulled looking for Lottie and then driving to the airport in Grand Rapids, only sleeping a few hours on the plane, his body was feeling every ache and pain. None of it compared to the ache growing in the center of his chest, though.

A breeze blew into the café as someone walked in behind him. He struggled to free himself from Maria’s grip, but she tightened the hold on his face, pulling it even closer. Her clean scent mixed with all the spices she used in the kitchen. She let out a loud sigh and practically slapped at his cheek. “I’ll make your favorite, and we’ll talk.”

She let go and spun on her heel with more energy than women a third of her age. Her gray bun bounced at the nape of her neck. “Go sit, David. I’ll bring you food. And you will talk with me.”

David chuckled. The café had become a regular stop for him not long after he moved to Costa Rica. Maria had sensed his wandering and lonely soul and latched on to him. He’d drawn the line at attending her family meals and celebrations, but he had been there when her husband, Ricardo, had passed four years ago. Maria’s son Matteo had insisted David attend the family gathering, coming into the school to invite him.

Sadie would like Maria, her no-nonsense business attitude. Her determination, and her ability to read people. Pain seeped into David’s chest, and he rubbed at his sternum—it wasn’t a physical pain, but it hurt just as much as if he’d broken a rib.

A heaping pile of meat and veggies on a tabla slid toward him, the sweet and tangy scent making his stomach growl. Casado de res—his favorite meal—served on a banana leaf. When was the last time he’d eaten? Had it been the stale peanut butter and jelly sandwich at home? No, surely, he ate in the airport, but he couldn’t remember what.

Maria placed a large bowl of soup in front of the seat across from him then gestured toward the kitchen as a young server brought two glasses of Coke. She slid her hand across the table, and David held it, her leathered skin warm against his. David said a quick prayer over the meal and then quickly dug in.

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