Page 126 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

She nodded. “More than that. I want to make it better. I want kids who end up there to have more than just a roof over their heads. I want them to feel safe. Wanted.” She glanced up at me, hesitating. “I know it’s a lot, and I don’t even know where to start, but?—”

“You start by saying it out loud,” I said, cutting her off gently. “Which you just did.”

She looked at me, like she hadn’t expected me to take her so seriously. But this wasn’t just some passing thought. This was real; she had been carrying this inside her for a long time.

I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. “Sadie, if this is something you want, we’ll figure it out. You’re not alone in this.”

Her breath hitched, just for a second, and I saw it. The walls she’d spent years rebuilding around herself cracking just a little more.

Before she could say anything, Adam’s voice rang out across the room. “Hey, lovebirds! Less whispering, more working.”

Sadie rolled her eyes, but I caught the small smile tugging at her lips.

Samuel cleared his throat from across the room. “The sooner we finish this, the sooner we can figure out how to help Willow Creek.”

Sadie’s eyes snapped to his, surprise flickering across her face. “You… you’d help?”

Samuel didn’t even hesitate. “Of course.”

Adam clapped his hands together. “Alright then. First, we save The Foundry. Then, we save the orphanage.”

Sadie let out a soft laugh, but her eyes were shining. “You make it sound so easy.”

Adam grinned. “That’s because it is. We just need a plan.”

Samuel shot him a dry look. “A plan that actually works.”

I smirked, wringing out a towel over a bucket. “Alright, genius, any ideas?”

“Fundraisers, obviously. Medford loves a good cause. And booze. We’ve got both.”

Sadie perked up at that. “A charity night at The Foundry?”

“Exactly.” Adam pointed at her. “Live music, raffles, maybe an auction if we can get people to donate some cool shit. I bet half this town would line up to bid on a private dinner with Samuel.”

Samuel’s brow twitched. “Absolutely not.”

Sadie covered her mouth, trying to smother a laugh. “Come on, Sam, for the kids.”

His jaw tensed, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Fine. But if I have to suffer through that, Adam’s bartending all night.”

Adam pressed a hand to his chest, mock offended. “Like I wouldn’t already be?”

I chuckled, grabbing another towel. “We could make this big. Another festival for Medford, maybe…”

Sadie practically lit up, stepping closer. “Yes! Medford loves a festival anyway. We could do a bake sale, get the schools tohelp, set up booths—oh, what about a dunk tank?” She turned to Samuel, eyes bright. “You’d be a big-ticket target.”

Samuel sighed, but the corner of his mouth twitched. “If it gets us the money, I’ll consider it.”

“See? Now we’re getting somewhere.” Adam grinned, tossing an arm around Sadie’s shoulders. “You’re a natural at this, S.”

She barely seemed to notice, her mind already racing ahead. “We could reach out to businesses in other towns, too. See if anyone wants to sponsor. And we’ll need to set up a donation page online.” She glanced up at me, excitement practically buzzing off her. “Do you think Hayley would help with that?”

“She’d love to,” I said without hesitation.

Sadie nodded, chewing her bottom lip, her fingers tapping against her thigh. She was glowing. This was more than just an idea now. It was real.

And she wasn’t second-guessing herself.

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