Page 57 of Here With Me

It wasn’t the time to ask. Especially after tonight. The time he’d spent holding her in his arms, comforting her—it sure made staying in Heritage appealing.

Sadie started filling a plate with spaghetti and topped it with meat sauce and then handed it to David. “I’m sure your sisters would love to have you stay. Free babysitting and all.”

“Free babysitting?”

“Please tell me you take the kids sometimes. Come on, Uncle David, step up.” She held out the plate.

Maybe it was time to think about Heritage as home and the potential future here.

He accepted the plate full of spaghetti, sans garlic bread, a shy smile on Sadie’s face—Heritage might have some perks he hadn’t considered before.

eleven

“Idon’t understand why we have to go.” Lottie’s whine could shatter glass. And it had been nonstop since Sadie had convinced Lottie to pack up the dolls to go to David’s to play with Vangie, rather than play at home together. Not to mention that she’d answered the same question five times already. Not even reminding Lottie about the kittens left at David’s place had stopped the questions from coming. Over and over.

But when David called with panic in his voice, Sadie had felt a smidge of guilt. After all, she had cajoled him about babysitting his nieces just two nights ago.

When she’d asked if he’d consider staying in Heritage, he hadn’t shut down the option. He also hadn’t enthusiastically said he wanted to stay with her. Not that she was ready for that, but maybe she wanted to know if it was a possibility.

At least David had called after she had made the reservations to go stay at the lake house that Jeremy loved after the adoption hearing. “You know we can take the dolls on our trip and have a few days just you and me to play.”

That seemed to do the trick, because Lottie grabbed Sadie’s seat and shook it. “I can’t wait! We’ll get to see the leaves. Daddy loved the colorful leaves.”

Fall had always been Jeremy’s favorite season. Lottie had mentioned the leaves several times lately, and visiting the lake house would give them time away to enjoy some fall foliage and a way to celebrate the adoption.

“Look, Lottie. We’re here.” The car bounced along the dirt driveway until Sadie parked in front of the old farmhouse. “Maybe Mr. Williams will still have a kitten you can play with.”

“I’m really good with the kittens, Mom.”

Sadie opened the car door and was met with the cries of a baby—maybe two—and blaring music. The noise intensified as they jogged to the front door. Vangie, her long hair loose and tangled around her face, pushed open the screen door to let them in. As soon as they were inside, she ran back to the couch and jumped up on the cushions, singing. Becca sat on the floor, crying. Snot ran down her face, and her cheeks were tinged red.

Lottie let go of Sadie’s hand and ran to jump on the couch with Vangie.

Sadie shook her head and stepped away. She turned the volume of the music way down. She picked up the toddler on the floor. The little girl instantly buried her face in Sadie’s sweater. The snotty-clothes phase wasn’t one Sadie missed, but Becca’s sobs turned into quiet, shuddered breaths almost instantly. “Lottie, why don’t you show Vangie the dolls you brought.”

A quick cheer sounded, and the girls sat on the floor while Lottie opened her backpack. The toddler in Sadie’s arms snuggled closer.

David walked out of the kitchen, a bottle in hand, and a very angry, very loud baby in his arms. His hair stood up straight.

The little girl snuggled into Sadie as she walked toward David.

David silently pleaded for help. The guy was out of his comfort zone. “I might blame you for this. I shouldn’t have offered to watch the girls. I don’t know anything about babies.”

“You can do this.”

He shook his head. “You had this room calmed in seconds. I couldn’t calm Becca and Isabella at the same time. And Isabella won’t take her bottle. I don’t know what she wants. I checked her diaper. I’ve walked and bounced and snuggled and changed positions. Nothing has helped.”

Sadie ran a hand down the back of Becca’s head. “Where’s Isabella’s Binky?”

David blinked. “Her what?”

“Her pacifier?”

“Oh! In her diaper bag.” David handed Sadie the bottle and hurried from the room. He returned with a pink pacifier and a still screaming baby. “She won’t take it.”

“She’s too worked up. Put it in her mouth and hold it for just a second. See if she will start to suck on it.” Sadie watched as he did as she instructed, lightly holding it in place. Then the baby calmed as she sucked on it.

The room quieted, and David’s wide shoulders relaxed. The same shoulders that had held her and comforted her Friday night.

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