Page 52 of Our Sadie

To a degree, I’m just as guilty of that. But I like where this is going. “So we alter our focus from a competition to a team effort. All three of us working toward the goal of being there for her and helping her to heal. I know we’re not counselors or anything but—”

“We can be her friends,” Zach interrupts me in his enthusiasm, but it doesn’t bother me. “And her lovers.”

So, from that, I can surmise that she’s now had sex with each of us.

Dom raises his chin again, his dark eyes seeming thoughtful.

I remember something from Sadie’s profile, something that made me take this gig from the jump. I yank out my phone and click on those initial emails from Elegance. Out loud, I read the sentence that stuck out to me.

“‘As a contractor, you are encouraged to apply personal touches and a unique approach.’ What if that’s code for a legitimate connection? I think you’re right, Zach. I think she’s looking for the intimacy of a true friendship.” Likely one with benefits, though I don’t verbalize that thought. “We can provide that for her. It’ll be easy. Especially if we work together to make it happen.”

“Who knows?” Zach says. “If we approach this as a group, maybe she’ll hire all of us rather than just one, too.”

There’s an intriguing notion. Based on the hopefulness wreathing the other two contractor’s expressions, it’s one we can agree on.

“You think she’d really pay to keep the three of us?” Dom inquires. “That’s triple her offer.”

“Man, look at this place.” I wave around with a hand. “It’s a chalet, for fuck’s sake. A vacation home. And her apartment in the city? That place must be worth millions. I think this is less about money for her and more about being on the same wavelength with somebody. And if she can find that with all three of us, there’ll be no cause to send anyone away when we get back to Boston.”

Doing this will be taking a risk, there’s no getting around it. The trust required will involve not just a couple but four separate people. But it’s a risk worth taking.

“I’ll be honest...” I might as well extend that trust now. “I haven’t always guessed correctly where she’s concerned.”

I wait to see how much the other two will admit to and see Dom’s mouth flattening out as he gives us another bob of his head.

“Me, neither,” Zach adds, which I’m taking as confirmation.

“With three of us on the job, hopefully we’ll have smoother sailing,” I say. “But we’ll need to discuss this with her. Ultimately, the power of approval lies with her.” Just like her ability to reject us all does.

“Do you think she’s aware that she sleepwalks?” Dom asks. “Should we mention it?”

It’s impossible to know how she might react to that.

“Chances are that she knows,” Zach says.

“Unless it hasn’t happened until now,” I provide, and we each glance over to where she’s breathing deeply in her bed, out like a light. “It could upset her. And maybe it won’t occur again.”

Maybe.

“I vote we say nothing about tonight unless it goes down a second time,” Dom says, and I envision how eerie her eyes appeared as she walked and talked without even being cognizant of it. “When it comes to being all buddy-buddy as a group, we should come to it like it’s just this one-off idea. See how she takes to it.”

It’s a gradual approach, which I think is reasonable.

“You know what we should do?” Zach looks all excited and gets too loud, making Sadie stir again. If we’re not careful, we’ll have to have a sit-down with her before we’re ready. Going stationary, we wait her out. When he speaks up this time, Zach’s much quieter. “We should do something festive. It’s almost Christmas. Bet Maxine would know if there are decorations we could use. We can have a holiday movie marathon, too.”

We could. Not that my dad and I tend to do much for this time of year. But it might bring Sadie some cheer.

We remain with Sadie until dawn, clearing out once the light peeks over the snowy mountainous horizon so we won’t frighten her. Then, with a clear plan of action at the ready, we face the next day.

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