Page 11 of Finders Keepers

The truth is, I want to say yes. I want to give her everything Matt denied us both.

Ms. Lucy gives me a knowing look over her glasses, as if sensing my internal struggle.

“Now, about dinner.”

The old fear whispers in my ear, but I push it away. Just dinner. Just for tonight.

“We’d love to join you for dinner, Ms. Lucy,” I say, surprising myself with how steady my voice sounds. “What time should we come over?”

“Well, it’s nearly ready now,” she says, glancing at her watch. “How about fifteen, twenty minutes? That’ll give Jake time to wash up from the barn.”

My stomach tightens at the mention of him again. Another man around Sophie. But Ms. Lucy seems to trust him completely, and there’s something reassuring in that. Still, I’ll keep her close.

“Okay. We’ll just tidy up a bit and head over.”

“Wonderful!” Ms. Lucy’s face lights up. “Nothing fancy, just come as you are.”

After she leaves, I kneel down to Sophie. “We’re going to have dinner with Ms. Lucy and Mr. Jake. Remember the nice man that talked to us about Buttercup? But you stay right by me, okay?”

She nods solemnly. “Yes, Mama.”

I help Sophie change into a clean shirt, a blue one with tiny yellow butterflies that she loves, and quickly run a brush through her hair. My own reflection in the bathroom mirror gives me pause. The dark circles under my eyes, hair still damp from the shower. I look tired, worn. But also… different somehow. Like the woman staring back at me has taken the first step toward something new.

“Ready, Soph?” I call, grabbing my phone and the key Ms. Lucy gave us.

She bounds to my side, slipping her small hand into mine. “Ready.”

As we step outside and lock the door behind us, the evening air feels fresh against my skin. The walk to the main house is short, just across the gravel driveway. With each step, I remind myself that we’re safe here. That this isn’t Oklahoma. That not every man is Matt.

But old habits die hard, and I find myself scanning the property anyways.

I settle into the dining chair, making sure Sophie’s secure on the seat beside me. The dark oak table gleams under warm lighting, and the aroma of the homemade chicken pot pie fills the room.

“Would you like another scoop, Bailey?” Jake holds out the serving bowl towards me.

“Thank you.” I take it carefully, ensuring our fingers don’t touch. The conversation flows easier than I expected.

“Now, Buttercup’s what we call a gentle soul,” Jake explains, serving himself another helping. “Perfect for beginners. She’s been giving rides to little ones for a long time.”

“I’m not little,” Sophie protests, pot pie forgotten. “I’m almost five years old!” She holds up five fingers at Jake to drive home her point.

“Well, excuse me, ma’am,” He tips his imaginary hat. “My mistake entirely.”

I take another bite of the pot pie, savoring the flaky crust and perfectly seasoned filling. “Ms. Lucy, this is absolutely incredible. I haven’t had home cooking like this in… well, in a long time.”

“Family recipe,” she says with a pleased smile. “Been passed down through generations. Speaking of which, Jake, how’s your mama doing?”

He sets down his fork, his expression softening. “She’s doing much better. Doc says her hip’s healing right on schedule. She’s already talking about getting back to her bingo nights, though I keep telling her she needs to take it slow.”

“That sounds just like Martha,” She shakes her head. “Always was too stubborn for her own good. Remember when she insisted on finishing that church bazaar after throwing her back out two summers ago?”

“Had to practically tie her to a chair to make her rest,” Jake chuckles, reaching for his glass of sweet tea.

I glance between them, curiosity getting the better of my usual reserve. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to your mom?”

“She took a fall off her porch steps a few months back.” He explains. “Broke her hip pretty good.”

Ms. Lucy looks over at me. “You know, Bailey, sometimes life throws us down those steps too. Metaphorically speaking, of course. The key isn’t just getting back up, it’s learning to take those steps one at a time afterward.”

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