Page 28 of Here With Me

“Kittens fun! Want one.”

“You want Uno?”

Olivia laughed. “I think we like Cinco.”

“Vangie and Becca have called dibs on Uno and Dos, so consider Cinco yours. They all need homes before I leave, so feel free to spread the word. I have two more.”

“How are things at Hoover’s?” Olivia stepped forward and started looking around on the workbench.

David shrugged. “I’m not sure if I should continue. Someone thought I was Lottie’s dad. And things with Sadie are…”

“Tense? I get it. It would be weird. But honestly, it doesn’t matter. I think you’ll be good for Lottie.”

David lifted an eyebrow and smirked at Nate. “You guys could certainly tag team.”

“It’s normal after being married. But seriously, we choose how to impact those we love. Sometimes people are only around a short time. But each relationship can have an important impact in someone’s life.”

The clock sat nestled in the box still sitting on the workbench. He could have a positive impact on Lottie if he gave her the clock and if she chose to look into it. She’d have that unique topic she wanted.

And even if it was only a few weeks, David was helping at the hardware store. Sadie knew the arrangement had an end date. She probably had a countdown till his departure. Too bad he didn’t have a number to give her.

“You knew Lottie’s dad, didn’t you?” Olivia’s hand found her hip and she flipped her long hair over her shoulder. “I bet you could tell her about your memories.”

Nate picked up another box and settled it on the table. “Think of the impact that could have on her.”

“Is this what you’re looking for?” Olivia held a lawnmower blade in her hand.

Nate wrapped his arm around Olivia’s waist and kissed her temple. “How did you know?”

“The lawnmower was left in the middle of the yard, only half mowed, David has grass stains on his jeans. And you guys are digging through boxes.”

“Where was it?” David placed his hands on his hips. Nothing seemed to be missing.

Olivia pointed to the wall behind some old Folger cans.

Nate closed up the box and put it back where he’d taken it from. “We should be going now. Let you get back to work.”

Work. David looked down at the clock.

Yes, he’d be going back to work.

six

The idea of a relaxing evening at the park on Tuesday, enjoying the cool temperatures, had sounded ideal when Sadie suggested it, but as Lottie held Sadie’s hand and yanked her across the playground to the monkey bars, Sadie realized she’d made a fatal mistake. Empty parks were not relaxing with an energetic child.

And energetic children wouldn’t just sit and swing. Sadie glanced at the empty swing set. Her aching feet could use a break.

Even her daughter’s excitement and energy couldn’t help her outrun her thoughts of David. No matter what she’d done since Friday’s conversation with him, she hadn’t been able to escape the memory of his understanding gaze, the supportive way he stepped in to clean up without making her feel like she was helpless. The way he’d affirmed her skills as a mother when she’d wondered if she was failing.

Nothing could stop her thoughts from returning to David. Not the happy squeals of Lottie as she jumped down from the monkey bars. Or when she climbed to the top of the ladder and slid down, laughing. Or her energy as she raced toward the swings, her arms above her head.

Sadie had spent the day hauling boxes from the back room, but no matter how many trips to the dumpster, she hadn’t been able to stop David’s kind words from replaying in her mind.

Sadie stretched her neck, letting the cool evening air blow the hair from her face as Lottie jumped off the swing and climbed up to the top of the slide again.

At least the back room was fairly clean, thanks to David running the front of the store today. They’d been able to work without any mention of Friday night. Partly because she’d kept busy in the room that she’d found filled with mislabeled boxes.

It had almost been a relief to find a project she could take on alone, because she needed some space from her new employee. Simply being near him had made her long for things that would never be. The excess number of boxes had provided the perfect reason to stay out of his way.

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