Page 15 of Here With Me

Her dad nodded, and his face looked anything but apologetic.

He cleared his throat behind Sadie. She closed her eyes and rubbed her head.

A loud ringing split the air, and Sadie pulled her phone from her back pocket. Saved by the bell. Literally. She held up her phone. “I need to take this.”

Sadie made a beeline for her office, not looking at him. Maybe if she didn’t actually see him, she could ignore his presence. She closed the door of the office and answered her phone. Eddie jumped right to business.

“I talked with Mr. Mackers, and he has agreed to extend your loan.”

Air rushed out of Sadie as she let go of the breath she’d been holding since picking up the phone. She straightened her back, her shoulders popping. She’d not realized how much tension had gathered. “That’s great. Thank you!”

“Well.” Eddie hesitated. “There’s more. Mr. Mackers says he can extend the loan until October 31, but…”

Her shoulders tensed. There was always a but.

“You’ll need to pay half the amount due today.”

“Today?” Sadie sat down in the chair behind the desk.

“I’ve told Cindy, our teller, to be on the lookout for you. We’re open until five.”

Sadie thanked Eddie and leaned back in the chair. It creaked under her weight as she closed her eyes.

Half the amount?

Running the numbers in her head, she pressed her hand against her forehead. She already knew how much she’d have to cough up—it didn’t matter how many times she calculated everything. She’d be out almost everything in her savings account. She’d have a tiny bit left but not much. Not enough to live on if the store went under.

Jeremy had wanted to make sure she and Lottie were cared for. He hadn’t seen a failing store in their future. If she parted with what remained of his life insurance, would she even be able to save the store?

Sadie leaned forward and let her head thump on the desk. An extra month would give her a total of seven weeks to scrounge up the funds. But how could she do that, run the store, focus on Lottie, and prep for the adoption hearing? Without help, she’d never pull it off.

He flashed in her mind. Once upon a time, they’d been a good team. David had always been an incredible salesman.

Why, God? Why him?

It would be easier if she could refuse his help. Tell him she didn’t need him, but the reality was…she did need him.

Oh, that burned to admit. But if she was pouring just about everything she had into this store, she couldn’t afford to be prideful.

She needed help, and David was the only one offering.

Sadie sat up and unbraided her hair. Pulled the hairbrush she’d stored in the top drawer out and ran it through her hair and rebraided it. Ready to swallow her pride and face David, she added a fresh coat of lipstick. If she had chocolate, she’d eat a piece, but since she hadn’t replaced her dad’s stash, she dug out a breath mint.

Because there was no way around it. She had to face him. Had to accept his terms of unpaid employment.

Sadie stood, rolled her shoulders back, and took a deep breath.

Here goes nothing.

As she walked back to the front of the store, her dad and David stopped speaking as she approached. David dipped his chin. A shock ran through her spine as his mocha brown eyes met hers. His deep voice rolled over her like hot chocolate. “Hi, Sadie.”

Okay, when she’d wished for chocolate, she hadn’t meant his alluring gaze. From now on she’d make sure she had some in her desk. “David. Why would you work here unpaid?”

He nodded, his hands sliding into his pants pockets. His arm muscles tightened, straining against his sleeves as he moved. Why didn’t he have a jacket, and how did he manage to have such incredible biceps? “My mission board wants me to be working in the community while I’m here. Every other place in town is full of volunteers.”

Well, at least he didn’t want to work with her any more than she wanted to work with him. That probably shouldn’t sting…but it did.

At least he wouldn’t be here long. And the looming end date would stand as a good reminder that no matter how good looking he still was, no matter how much physical appeal he still had, he’d leave again. Just like before. At least this time she would have all her guards up, her walls in place, and her heart would stay intact.

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