Page 31 of Sadie's Guarded Harbor

“Ms. Katherine, this pie is yummy. But where’s the chocolate?” Amelia asked, her brow wrinkled in confusion.

Marie laughed and mopped a mess of peas and carrots from Nora’s face. “I should have known your mind would go to sugar.”

Grinning, Sadie rolled her eyes. “Thank you again for having us over and excusing my silly daughter. I know you didn’t plan on feeding two extra mouths.”

“No problem at all.” Katherine stood and grabbed the pie pan from the center of the table. Her sandy brown hair was tied back in a low ponytail and the dimples in her cheeks mirrored her brother’s. She carried the dirty dish to the sink and filled it with sudsy water. “And don’t worry, Amelia. I always have chocolate in this house.”

Tommy leaned back in his chair and sighed. “What did I do to deserve my favorite dinner tonight? You hate cooking this. Always say it takes too damn long.” He winked at the little Amelia, who sat beside him.

“Uncle Tommy said damn, Mommy.” Oliver, Katherine’s son said with wide brown eyes and a wicked grin.

“Language.” Katherine turned and pointed a fork at Tommy. “And after last night, I would have made you anything you wanted. But I knew this was high on your list.”

Owen stood and slapped a hand down on Tommy’s shoulder. “So that’s all we have to do, huh? Almost get hit by a train to get you to spoil us?”

Katherine aimed the fork at Owen. “Get that thought out of your mind right now.”

“Thanks for that,” Marie said with a snort.

Reaching around the table, Katherine’s husband, Theo, gathered the rest of the dirty dishes and piled them in his arms. A well-trimmed, dark beard covered his jaw and blue eyes sparkled behind his black-framed glasses.

Sadie stood to help.

“We got this. Sit back down.” Theo smiled and carried the soiled serving ware to the sink.

“Are you sure? Really, I don’t mind.”

“Trust me. Don’t argue.” Tommy wrapped an arm around Oliver and hugged him close to his side.

Sadie sank back to the chair with her gaze locked on him. Since they’d stepped foot in the house, Oliver had been glued to his side. And she wasn’t sure which one of them enjoyed it more. The carefree attitude he’d shed while on the job came back in full force around his nephew. His laugh was contagious, and the little guy was cute as a button, his shy smiles coaxing Amelia into playing before they sat for dinner.

She glanced at the sink, where Theo slapped Katherine’s butt and Katherine laughed while dotting his nose with suds. A pinch of envy turned her away. After Amelia’s father had been killed overseas, she’d never wanted another man.

Never trusted another man.

But the picture-perfect family moment was one Sadie wanted more than she’d ever realized.

“I’ll let most of this soak.” Katherine returned to the table and sat next to her. “Theo and Marie, can you take the kids in the living room for a few minutes?”

Oliver aimed worried eyes and a deep frown at Katherine. “Is something wrong?”

Katherine smiled. “Not at all. I just need to talk to Uncle Tommy, Uncle Owen, and Sadie for a second alone. We’ll call you in when we’re done. Why don’t you draw a picture for Amelia? I’m sure she’d love to see what an amazing artist you are.”

Oliver’s frown transformed into a beaming smile. “Okay. Do you like cats?”

“I love them! I have one at my house. A big orange tabby named Mittens.” Pride puffed Amelia’s little chest as she spoke of their treasured pet.

Oliver wrinkled his brow, tilting his head to the side. “Mittens?”

Sadie laughed at his dubious expression. “His paws look like he has on little white mittens.”

Oliver giggled. “I’ll draw a picture of him.” He jumped off his seat and ran into the other room.

Amelia hesitated. “What should I draw?”

“Hmm,” Tommy said, rubbing his index finger over his chin. “Can you draw me a rainbow?”

“I love rainbows!” Amelia squealed as if the two had discovered a deep-seated secret. “I’ll make the prettiest one ever.”

---