Page 72 of Here With Me

Pray? She’d trusted God to bless her plans, but could she really trust Him to take the lead?

Then again, look what trying to be in control had gotten her. A missing daughter, a battle for custody, a loan she couldn’t pay, and a broken heart. Right now, praying was the last thing she wanted to do, but she couldn’t say that to Nate. Couldn’t let him know how her entire life was crumbling around her. Instead, she nodded.

Nate gathered everyone together and said a prayer for Lottie’s safety and speedy return. He prayed for peace. If only Sadie could get a sprinkling of that. Then he left to look for Lottie.

“I don’t think I have ever seen this many cars in the driveway. Had to park along the road down the street.” Her mom’s sweet tone nearly broke her last bit of control.

Sadie sank into her mother’s waiting embrace. Calming lavender and rose fragrances filled her senses.

“I take it there’s no news.”

Sadie straightened and rolled her shoulders back. “Not yet. But I think we should find some blankets to throw in David’s dryer so they’re warm when we find Lottie.”

“That’s a good plan. Let’s head inside.” Her mom passed her a coat that Sadie hadn’t even realized her mom had been holding. “I figured if Lottie didn’t have a coat, you didn’t either.”

Sadie slid her arms into her coat and zipped it closed, cutting the wind. Lottie must be freezing. Linking arms with her mom, they went inside and tossed some blankets they found in the hall closet into the dryer.

“Dad never did say why he called. Is everything ok?”

Her mom shook her head as she pushed the front door open, the hinges squeaking, loud and sharp.

A cold gust of wind blew through the front porch and stole Sadie’s breath. Please, Lord, keep Lottie safe.

“There was an accident at the store.”

“What kind of accident?” How much more could go wrong?

A loud breath escaped from her mom. “We’re going to find Lottie, and then we’ll handle things at the store. But Mrs. Allen crashed into the front window.”

“Is she okay? Was anyone hurt?”

“I believe she is okay, but her car isn’t. And the store is going to be closed for a while.”

“A while like a few days? Or…”

Her mom wrapped her arm around Sadie’s shoulder and pulled her close. “Or. Definitely or.”

Sadie wrapped her arms around herself. Words failed her before her heart took off racing. The store? But she couldn’t even consider that right now. Her hands shook. She needed something to do. “Maybe I should go look for Lottie, too.”

Her mom shook her head. “I know you are itching to move. But we’re going to stay here and trust God and the others to find Lottie.”

“Mom, I’m not good at trusting.”

“I know, sweetheart. But it’s often in trusting that we find peace. Let’s do more than ask God to bless the plans we’ve made tonight. Let’s ask Him to go before us. To guide each person looking for Lottie. And we’ll trust Him to watch over our girl, wherever she is right now.”

Sadie tried to block out the fear threatening to consume her as she allowed her mom’s comforting hug to surround her. Could she really let go and trust God? With Lottie? With the store? With their future?

Tonight, Sadie had already lost David and potentially the store. If she lost Lottie Tuesday…

What choice did she have but to trust?

She’d never wanted to give up control before, but her life was quickly becoming a dumpster fire that she couldn’t contain. If she couldn’t figure out how to salvage a part of her plans, she wouldn’t have a choice but to trust.

Could she afford to wait and see if she could put out the fire on her own?

Sadie didn’t know.

And she wasn’t sure if she should find out.

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