Page 49 of Here With Me

“No, I don’t think you do. I have never seen her like that. Frankly, it scared me, and I don’t ever want to see her like that again.”

Way to scare him off before things even get started, Mom. Sadie coughed, and the conversation changed as she stepped out of the aisle. Her mom’s open expression welcomed Sadie, hiding the fact she’d just given David a warning speech.

“Dinner tonight? I made a pot roast. It’s your favorite, hon. David, you’re welcome, too.”

“You know I can’t turn that down.” Sadie’s phone buzzed again. A reminder her sisters would want an update.

David shoved his hands into his jean pockets. “I appreciate that, Dawn, but I’m playing soccer with some of the teens tonight.”

Opening the door, Sadie’s mom gave her a knowing look. “I’m going to run. Your sister has been messaging me non-stop for the past few minutes.”

Of course she had. Romee would wheedle every little detail out of their mom.

The bell jingled again with the shutting of the door, and the store descended into quiet.

“I’m sorry you haven’t gotten a chance to eat your lunch.” Sadie stepped toward the counter and pulled out a Styrofoam container from the bag and held it out to David. “Probably cold by now.”

David took the container and set it back down on the counter then intertwined their fingers. “I’d rather have an answer. My question was sincere. Dinner with me?”

Sadie swallowed. This was it, the moment to decide. “Yes.”

A sweet grin lit up David’s face. “I’ll pick you up Friday night. Will that work?”

“After the store closes.”

“It’s a date then.” David picked up his lunch and headed to the back room.

Sadie turned, and next to her lunch sat the crinkled envelope with the check inside. One check. One payment due. A start. With David’s help, she might save the store.

But her heart might be a lost cause.

It was just dinner, and he was acting like this was his first date.

In some ways, it sort of was. David’s sweaty palms squeezed the steering wheel as he parked next to the hardware store, reminding him that it was more than just a dinner with Sadie. Forgiveness and perhaps—hopefully—a second chance.

Reservations made. Check.

Nice clothes. Check.

On time for dinner. Check. Maybe even too early.

A quick walk to the gazebo would blow off some of the energy coursing in his veins and kill a little bit of time. David stepped out of his grandfather’s truck, shook his hands, and walked to the front of the hardware store.

Otis guarded the playground, near the slide. Lottie sat on her knees next to him, scribbling back and forth on a piece of paper on his hip.

What on earth was she doing? David crossed the street to her.

Lottie leaned back on her heels and held the paper up to the setting sun. “I will figure your secrets out, Otis. You might think you can keep them hidden from me, but I will figure them out.”

David stepped closer to see what the paper held. A blob of scribbles. “That mystery is as old as Heritage itself or at least close.”

“Look what I found.” Lottie held up the paper. But the scribbles didn’t look like much. “Did I tell you I opened the Heritage Square clock face?”

David shook his head.

“Well, I watched a YouTube video about repairing clocks. It didn’t help me repair it though. The inner parts are all bronze, like Otis here. And inside I found a logo for a watchmaker. There used to be a manor on the square, and it was built by an old watchmaker. The logo in the clock looked like this.” She rattled the paper. “Well…sort of. The one in the clock has lots more details. Maybe the builder of the clock and Otis have a connection.” Lottie traced the blob of scribbles with her fingers.

David watched her. He squinted and tilted his head—nothing. He couldn’t figure out how she saw a logo. “Where’d you find it?”

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