Page 17 of Here With Me

Vangie’s jaw dropped, and her hands splayed on the table. “You builded me a fairy house?”

David nodded, and Vangie threw her arms around his neck. “I can’t wait to see it.” She gave him a sloppy kiss on the check and ran off.

Caroline shook her head at David. “Way to make sure you’re the favorite uncle. She’ll never stop talking about coming to see you now. You’ll have to follow through on your dinner invite.”

“How about next Saturday? I’ll provide meat and the makings for s’mores, and you guys can bring the sides.”

“We can’t next weekend. Could we do it in two weeks?” Caroline looked at the calendar on her phone.

His weeks just ran together, but two weeks gave David a little extra time to clean things up and maybe add some pink paint to the trim of the fairy house. “That’s fine with me. Leah?”

“Works for us. You done, David? I can take your plate.” Leah brushed his shoulder as she picked up his plate before he could even respond.

He stopped her by holding the edge of the plate. “Your hands are full. Let me do this.”

Leah shook her head. “You hold Isabella. I’ll clear the dishes.”

She carefully handed him the tiny baby wrapped in a soft pink blanket. David cuddled his tiny niece close to his chest.

He’d missed seeing both Vangie and Becca this size. He’d be heading back to Costa Rica soon, so he’d enjoy this while he could. Isabella sucked on a pink pacifier, her little cheeks working furiously, her eyes closed as she let out a sigh.

A deep longing to have a family, children of his own, awoke within him. It had to be the nieces fueling these thoughts. He shut those buried dreams down. His work, his life, required sacrifice. It was just the way it was.

“She’s growing so fast.” Jon spoke from the head of the table. “But I’m ready for her to sleep through the night.”

Grant, who sat to the right of Jon, grunted his agreement as he grabbed Jon’s shoulder, like some secret father club. “It takes a while before a baby sleeps all night.”

Across from David, Caroline sat practically glaring at him. Her green eyes flashed in anger.

David racked his brain, but nothing came up. He had no idea what he’d done to make her angry. He’d finished all the renovations at his grandparents’ house she and Leah had requested. She even said she liked it. Had something changed? Leah came in—she must have left the dishes in the sink because she hadn’t been gone long enough for anything else—and kissed Jon on the cheek as she slipped into her seat.

“What is this? An intervention?” David couldn’t handle more today. Seeing Sadie, agreeing to work with her…Wasn’t that enough for one day?

Jon grunted, and Leah shot him a warning glance.

“No.” Leah stood up. “I forgot dessert. Who wants coffee?”

“There’s no need to make coffee.” Caroline crossed her arms. “But if you have it made, I’d take a cup.”

Jon stood up. “I’ll get the cookies.”

David pushed back from the table. “I can help.”

Caroline stood up. “You have the baby. I’ll help.”

The baby—it had been a trap. No way could he make a quick exit with Isabella in his arms. He’d walked right into this, and he had no choice but to hear what they had to say now. If only they’d hurry up and say it.

David looked at Grant. “Do you have any idea what this is about?”

“I’m staying out of it.” Grant pulled his phone out and started scrolling.

David didn’t have long to wait because Jon came back in with the plate of cookies, and Leah and Caroline returned with five cups of coffee and the cream and sugar.

David took his coffee black and waited while the others fixed their own cups. He shifted the baby in his arm, pulling her closer, as he took a sip. Bitter. And not quite right—like everything else since seeing Sadie.

The night couldn’t end soon enough, David just needed to hear what they had to say so could he leave. “So, ready to say your piece now?”

Leah glanced at Caroline and then Jon. “Well, you see…”

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