Page 132 of Broken Dreams
I crouch down in front of her. “I bet your daddy and Jett’s mommy are looking down and smiling when they see you two. You’re both the best kids in the whole world.”
Elodie wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes. “I lub you, Mommy.”
“I love you, Elodie Grace.”
“I lub Aunt Debknee, Aunt Chloe, Jett, Grady, Miss Michelle and Uncle Sean. He tickles me.” Her sing-song voice has my heart so full. And I don’t miss that she loves Grady.
Please let tonight shed some light on what to do.
My phone rings and I see Blakely’s name. This is the last call I need to take, but it could be something not about the merger, so I answer.
“Hey, I only have five minutes,” I warn her as I answer.
“I’m happy to take even less if you have an answer.”
I sigh. “I’m not ready to say yet.”
“Addy, we have to tell them something.” I can hear how frustrated she is, but she’s not the one giving everything up.
“Tell them I want another web meeting tomorrow. I want to know everything before I decide.”
She is silent for a moment and I know she’s trying to keep her anger in check. “I get that this is a big deal, but we can’t keep stringing them along.”
“That’s all well and good, but I have a life here. Elodie is happy, she’s settled, and so am I. Yes, we can do amazing things if we take this, but we are doing amazing things now. If I’m going to leave Sugarloaf, I need to hear more about the future plans from them, okay?”
I need to know exactly what their vision is.
“I get that. I have reservations too.”
Well, that’s good to know now. “Like what?”
“A lot, if I’m being honest. I don’t know how all of this will work. What if they completely change our company mission? We’re going to have staff, a corporate office, and have to worry about having more locations than we ever planned. I’m also excited about all of that though. Run to Me was to help girls avoid trafficking. It was to honor Isaac and heal all of us after the hell we endured because of what happened to him. This community was rocked by it and this center really gave us something to hold onto. Imagine all the people we could help avoid this kind of pain by expanding.”
It’s the exact reason I haven’t just turned it down.
But then I think about the fact that I’m giving up my home.
I’m walking away from a place I love and...Grady.
I know we’re nothing, but what if we could be more? What if I went to him and asked him? Would he turn me away? I don’t know, but I know I can’t go without at least trying.
“Set up the meeting and let’s go over these concerns and see what they say,” I tell her, feeling resolved and sad.
“Okay. I’ll let you know when and we’ll get all our questions answered.”
“Thanks, Blakely.”
“Of course. I love you and want this to be good for you too. This was your dream, too.”
It was, but I don’t know that this dream won’t become a nightmare.
“Love you too.”
I look over at Elodie who is drawing on a piece of paper, legs swinging in the chair, and murmuring to herself. I walk over to see what she’s coloring and smile.
“What’s that, El?”
“It’s a picture for Grady and Jett.”
