Page 56 of Here With Me

“What?” That couldn’t be.

Sadie leaned back. Pulled her feet up, placed her arms on top of her knees. Lowered her head. She’d opened up but then physically backed away. David gently pulled her leg toward him.

Sadie’s glassy eyes looked at him. His hand tightened on her calf. “This is garbage. They shouldn’t contest your adoption. Do they have brains? Eyes in their heads? I’ve only been working at the hardware store for a month, and I know you are an incredible mother.”

Sadie inhaled a shaky breath, and David ran his hand up to her knee and back to her ankle.

The muscles in her legs relaxed as David continued to run his fingers up and down. “I called my lawyer. He’s not worried. Says it’s an open-and-shut case. Not only do I have Jeremy’s written wishes, but I have a job, a home, a support system. Lottie is thriving here. But, David?—”

“No buts. None. Don’t go down that path. You are a fantastic mother. The best that Lottie could have.” David rubbed his hand up and down her calf again, the soft material of her leggings like butter.

Sadie relaxed under his touch, even as she shook her head and wiped her face. “I’m not Bonnie. She was such an incredible mother. Confident, calm, loving.”

“And so are you. You might not be Lottie’s birth mom, but you will make sure that little girl grows up knowing that not only did her birth parents love and adore her, but you do, too. Look at these photos on the wall.” David gestured to the photos on the wall behind him. “Look at all the people who love her. She will grow up knowing that kind of love.”

Sadie closed her eyes and let her head fall back on the couch.

“Thank you.” Sadie lifted her nose in the air and sat up. “Do you smell that?”

David inhaled. “Smoke?”

“Oh no!” Sadie scrambled to her feet and raced to the kitchen. David followed right behind her. Light gray smoke filled the air and Sadie pulled a dish towel out of a drawer and waved it in the air.

David opened the front door, and a breeze rushed in. Sadie turned the air vent over the stove up and opened the oven door.

The garlic bread sat on the cookie sheet, completely charred. She pulled it out and set it on the stove. A nervous laugh hiccupped out of her.

Not good. David shoved his hands in his pockets, unsure what to do. Comfort her? Hug her? Escape out the front door?

“This is rich. I can’t even cook dinner…how on earth am I supposed to care for a little girl? Maybe Doris is right? I mean, the store is crumbling, and if I fail, I lose everything. My home, my job, my income, my savings.” Sadie pinched the bridge of her nose. Laughter and tears mixed together.

David wrapped his arms around Sadie, pulling her into a tight hug. She clung to him as her breath puffed on his neck. She snuggled closer, her breath calming, evening out, and her body relaxing.

Was this what home felt like? Because in this moment, David could see a future, different than anything he’d imagined before, but one where he could step in and support this incredible woman. Where he’d have the right to offer her comfort like this and so much more.

“I’m here, Sadie. Whatever you need.” It was lame. Her entire life hung in the balance. What could he really offer her? “Seriously, just say the word. More hours in the store? Consider it done. A written recommendation? I can do that. The tweezers out of the clock? I’ll figure out how to get it working.”

Somehow, he’d solve the clock problem. Someone had to know something about clocks. He’d ask around.

“For right now”—Sadie tightened her hands around his back—“this is enough.”

David closed his eyes and rested his cheek on the top of her head. He could stay here as long as she wanted. He didn’t want to be anywhere else.

Eventually, Sadie stepped out of his embrace. She wiped her face once more with a nervous chuckle. “I’m sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. Not with me.”

She turned away from him and dumped the bread in the trash. “What now?”

“We could make more bread.” David eyed the loaf of fresh bread.

“No, I mean for you. If you aren’t going back to Costa Rica, then what will you do next?”

Wasn’t that the question of the month? “I don’t know.”

“You could stay?” She held his gaze. “In Heritage.”

With her?

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