Page 68 of Here With Me

Mrs. Mathews said a few more things, but Sadie would have had an easier time talking to the wall. Her dad had dismissed their bill?

Her dad had dismissed. Their. Bill.

A good-sized line of credit. She had two weeks left to scrimp together enough money for the bank. What was her dad doing?

Had he waived anyone else’s? Was he trying to sabotage her?

No. Obviously he wouldn’t. The store mattered to him. But how did he expect them to raise the money for the bank if he dismissed people’s loans?

Sadie’s hands shook. She’d done the math, over and over. She didn’t have any wiggle room. And without this family’s payment, she would be short.

Her dad had said he’d sell things to make up the money. He’d better be ready to follow through with that promise, because Sadie didn’t have any extra.

Lottie finished picking out the yogurt. “Let’s pick out a frozen pizza for dinner.”

Sadie agreed. Because why not? She hadn’t told David she’d bring dinner. They hadn’t made any plans to see each other. It seemed silly, but she missed him. Missed seeing him at the store. Missed his teasing, his touches, his conversation. But it had only been one day. Still, David would know how she should respond to her dad, and he’d encourage her to stand up for what she believed in.

She could do that without David’s encouragement, so she pulled her phone out and texted her dad.

Sadie: Mrs. Mathews said you forgave their line of credit? Why didn’t you tell me?

Dad: I didn’t want to worry you. But trust me, they need that money more than we do.

Sadie: I don’t think you understand how much the store needs that money. Just how much is on the line.

Dad: It will come together.

Sadie: How? Cause I’ve run the numbers. What are you willing to sell to keep the store?

Dots appeared and disappeared.

Sadie: You said you trusted me to run the store. Did you change your mind?

Sadie shoved her phone in her purse. His response didn’t matter. If he kept refusing money, the store was doomed. It didn’t matter who ran it.

Sadie slowly pushed her cart, following Lottie. The girl picked up a box of Zebra Cakes and tossed it in the cart. Normally Sadie would put it back or tell her to stop.

But that box of Zebra Cakes probably wouldn’t be around come morning. Little Debbie comfort for the win.

In the freezer aisle, Lottie opened a door and pulled out a pepperoni pizza and placed it in the cart.

“Mom. What are those?” She pointed at the onions like they were dead fish before picking one up.

Sadie let her breath out. “Please, Lottie. Let’s not do this.”

“Are you buying them because you’re planning for me to leave?” Tears filled Lottie’s eyes, and her bottom lip quivered.

“What are you talking about? I would never plan for you to leave me.” Sadie tried to hug Lottie, but she stepped back, so Sadie dropped her arms.

“I saw the papers. Aunt Doris wants me to live with her.” Lottie’s shoulders sagged, and her arms hung down to her side as a single tear spilled over and ran down her cheek. “Do you want that, too?”

“No. Never. I want you to live with me.” Sadie squatted down in front of Lottie and waited for her to meet her eyes, then she held out her hand. Lottie’s smaller hand gripped Sadie’s like she was afraid to let go. “You are my daughter—no matter what the court says, and I will fight for you with everything I have.”

“I don’t want to live with Aunt Doris and Uncle Patrick. I want to live with you.”

“I want you to live with me, too.” Sadie tugged Lottie closer, and she wrapped her arms around her. “I should have told you. I just didn’t want to worry you.”

Little arms wrapped around Sadie, squeezing tight, and Lottie released a small hiccup. Her dad’s words from her text floated back to her. He hadn’t wanted to worry her. Isn’t that what she’d done to Lottie? Sadie had kept information from Lottie because she hadn’t wanted to upset her. Good parenting was a lot more than getting them to eat their vegetables. It required a balance of honesty, love, and hard work. Sadie wanted to carry the weight of the world for Lottie, but she wouldn’t always be able to do that. At some point she had to prepare Lottie for what the girl would face.

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