Page 5 of Here With Me

“I just feel like I should know more about the state of the store before I take over. Did you know Dad’s accounting isn’t even on the computer?”

“So, you’ll learn on the job. And you’ll get to set it up the way you like. Which is perfect for your control-freak personality.”

“I’m not a control freak.” She crossed her arms across her chest. “You’re just a slob.”

One eyebrow shot up, and Romee stepped to the closest box. Without breaking eye contact, she opened the flaps and pulled out what must have been the first thing she touched. Then without even looking at the purple cut glass vase, walked over and set it on one of the empty shelves in the corner. That was Sadie’s favorite vase, and she always kept it on a wood trivet in the center of the dining table.

For one heartbeat Sadie stared at it then turned away. She’d fix it later. After she unpacked the trivet. It would be in the box with the vase.

Maybe she did like to have a certain order to life. But with David leaving her, then Bonnie, and eventually Jeremy, she’d learned that everything went smoother when she only depended on herself. She even stopped asking God for His input. Let someone else take the wheel? No thanks.

Just to prove to Romee that this hadn’t bothered her, Sadie walked back into the kitchen and opened the cupboard above the coffeepot and pulled out a mint green tumbler. The final alarm sounded as she poured the coffee. “Lottie! Time to go.”

Lottie dashed back into the living room and slung her new backpack on her shoulder. “I’m ready. Bye, Mom.”

“Not so fast there. Don’t I get to take you today? It’s the first day of school.” Sadie picked up her computer bag off the small dining table, pulled the strap onto her shoulder, and held out her hand for the store keys Romee still held.

“Please, Mom. I’m almost ten. I can walk to the bus stop. Alone. Oma said Lucy will be there. We’re going to be best friends.” Of course they would. Because Lottie made friends wherever she went, just like Bonnie had.

Sadie bit back the chuckle wanting to escape. Lottie—little Miss Independent. “Very well. Find out if Lucy is in ballet. Maybe you could take lessons too?”

Lottie bounced her backpack on her shoulder. “Sure thing.”

“Let me snap your picture real quick.” Sadie pulled out her phone, and Lottie posed in front of the door. “Can I at least walk downstairs with you since I’m heading to the store?”

Lottie threw open the door. “Okay. But no farther. And don’t stand at the door and cry when I walk away.”

Together, the trio walked out of the apartment and down the wooden stairs to the alley that ran behind the hardware store. The cool morning air hinted at the start of fall.

“The leaves will change soon.” Lottie pointed at the fall tree full of green leaves behind the shop. “Dad would’ve loved that tree.”

Sadie slid her arm over the little girl’s shoulder and hugged her to her side. Grief, the unwanted companion that it was, showed up at unusual times. “He sure would’ve.”

Lottie shrugged off Sadie’s arm and twirled when they made it to the bottom of the stairs—the moment of grief passed. “Okay, Mom. I’ll see you after school. Bye, Aunt Romee.”

Lottie skipped ahead of Sadie, stopping at the corner and running back. “Mom, Otis is sitting in front of the hardware store. Almost like he’s trying to peek in onyou.”

The cool morning breeze rushed down the side of the building as Sadie walked up to the corner. Romee kept pace with her. The sun peeked over a grove of pine trees behind them, casting their long shadows down the sidewalk toward the square. Sure enough, Otis sat on the sidewalk at the corner of Richard and Second, right under the window that faced the square, as if trying to draw attention to the big, dirty window of Hoover’s Hardware.

“Otis always knows what’s happening around town. He’s in on all the big events.” Sadie pulled in a breath. Maybe Otis’s watchful eye meant her new endeavor would be a success. Otherwise, Otis would have a front seat to her making a mess of things.

Lottie jumped up to kiss Sadie on the cheek and then dashed off again.

Sadie waited while Lottie made her way all the way to the bus stop at the corner of Richard and Henderson and gave her a final wave then fell into step with another little girl. Maybe it was Lucy.

Romee stood beside her, sipping her coffee. “I’d hoped I could walk a little farther with her.”

“Nope. Lottie’s determined to meet Lucy. And don’t go stealing my mug. I love that one.”

Romee inspected the old mug. The words Cedar Point could barely be seen on the side. “You’re attached to this mug? Looks ancient.”

If thirteen years was old for a coffee mug. She got it just after her freshman year of college. Maybe it was ancient. She and David had met at college, both involved in the same outreach program on campus. One weekend, the group had gone to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, where she’d found the mug in the amusement park’s gift shop, and David bought it for her. Maybe it was time to let the memories rest, a final release to prove seeing David again after ten years hadn’t wrecked her mental state. “No attachment. Maybe you should keep it. Or better yet, trash it.”

Romee waited for more, but she’d be waiting a long time, because Sadie had talked about David about as much as she was willing.

Her sister finally shrugged and turned toward their parents’ place. “Well, I’ll run home before anyone notices I’m missing. And I’ll be back to bug you at the store in a bit. Maybe I can bring you lunch before I head for home?”

Sadie waved as Romee walked off before climbing up the few steps to the front door of Hoover’s. She pushed her store key into the lock, but there was no resistance when she turned it.

---