Page 81 of Here With Me

David squeezed Maria’s leathered hand. He could do that, show up in Sadie’s life, let his actions speak louder than his words. It might take years, but if God was calling him to be patient for years, he could do that. He’d wait as long as it took, because Maria was right. He did love Sadie.

He stood, and Maria wrapped him in a hug, her strong arms tightening around him as she patted his back. “You bring her back to meet me.”

“I will.”

It was a promise he’d be glad to keep.

Instrumental music played over the speakers inside the bank. Two tellers behind the counter were already working with customers on Monday morning, and Eddie Fry sat at his desk behind a glass wall.

Sadie adjusted her purse on her shoulder and ran her hand over her stomach. She had a check for a fraction of what was owed.

Eddie came out and extended a hand to Sadie to shake. “I’m sorry about the accident at the store, but thankful no one was hurt.”

It had been the sentiment she’d heard all over town, but it didn’t make the failure to meet next week’s deadline any better. “I was hoping we could talk for a moment.”

“Of course.” Eddie motioned toward his office, and Sadie followed him in. She sat in the leather chair across from his desk as his thick brows burrowed together. “What can I do for you?”

“I brought a check to apply toward our balance. I know we still owe more. But I’m hoping that perhaps since I’ve been able to pay so much, that we could work out an extension. After the accident, the store’s not open. If I could just have a little more time, I know I could pay off the balance, eventually.”

Sadie pulled the check out of her purse and slid it across to Eddie. He glanced at the amount. She still owed thousands. She held her breath as Eddie studied the check. “I talked to Mr. Mackers about this. Knowing the accident would be a severe setback, he still says he can’t extend the loan any longer. I’m so sorry.”

The tears stung, but she refused to let them fall. She had known it would be the inevitable outcome, but she’d hoped for a miracle. She’d run the numbers last night one more time. If she could collect all the outstanding credit at the store, she’d only be short a few thousand dollars. Maybe she could ask her siblings to cover that. But without the credit, she couldn’t ask them to cover the balance. It was too much. She’d tried. Prayed for a miracle, and it just hadn’t happened. “I understand. Thank you.”

Sadie stood and offered her hand to Eddie. She wouldn’t cry in the bank. It wasn’t Eddie’s fault she’d failed. He squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.”

She nodded and left the bank, walking toward her parents’ house. She had to tell her dad. She paused in front of Hoover’s boarded-up window. Romee had been true to her word, helping to clean up and organize the store as best they could. They’d been making a list of all the merchandise ruined in the accident, trying to figure out what was left, and pulled the glass out of the walls. Sadie had found a company she could order new windows from but hadn’t placed the order. There was no reason to. She couldn’t pay the bank. There was no money left to replace windows and fix the store.

Walking on, she crossed Richard Street and stepped into her parents’ house. Her dad sat in the living room while her mother played the piano. She drew the old familiar hymn “Trust and Obey” to a close as Sadie shut the front door and settled into the couch next to her dad.

“Looks like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.” Her dad closed his Bible draped over his lap and set it on the table beside his recliner.

“I took the payment to the bank. Eddie says there’s no more time. October thirty-first is still the deadline.” Sadie’s heart picked up speed as her dad let out a breath. “There is one chance. If we could collect the credit due the store, we’d be close enough that we might make the deadline.”

Her mom settled on the couch next to Sadie and stretched out her hand. Sadie held it and took a deep breath. “There’s?—”

“I’m sorry, Sadie. I should never have forgiven the Mathews family’s payment. I knew how much we needed the money. However, I trust God to see us through. I still think He will.”

Maybe God would see them through. Sadie wished she had the faith her dad did. Even with the blow today, he still sat there, confident that the store would be saved.

“I appreciate that, Dad. We do need every payment. But I think it’s time to admit that maybe it’s God’s timing for the store to close.” Sadie let out a shuddered breath. Her mom’s hand tightened on hers. “But there’s something else I want to tell you.”

Her mom placed her free hand on top of their joined hands, her long fingers older and more wrinkled than the hands from Sadie’s childhood. These hands belonged to the woman who had guided Sadie, loved her, pushed her, and comforted her growing up—the hands of a mom.

“Doris and Patrick are contesting the adoption. With the situation at the store, my lawyer says the case could go either way tomorrow.”

Her mom gasped, and she released Sadie’s hands, instead pulling her into a tight hug. Her dad stood and pulled them both up, wrapping his arms around them. Sadie let the warmth of the embrace infuse her with confidence. Her mom’s rose-and-lavender scent mingled with her dad’s leather and peppermint, creating a cocoon of comfort. Of family.

Her dad’s deep voice rumbled through their embrace as he tightened his hold. “You are an excellent mother. The judge will rule in your favor.”

Sadie longed for her dad’s confidence. “Doris and Patrick say I am irresponsible, and they’ve built a pretty compelling case. The situation at the hardware store doesn’t help. Lottie has written a note to the judge, expressing her wishes. But, Dad, what if…”

“No.” Her mom loosened her embrace, her gentle hands moving up to Sadie’s shoulders. “Absolutely no what-ifs.”

“Your mother’s right. God has gotten people out of impossible situations before. Look at Jonah. Three days in the belly of a big fish. I cannot imagine a more impossible situation, and God got him out. God is not going to take Lottie from us.”

“You are what is best for that little girl.” Her mom’s hands moved from Sadie’s shoulders to her elbows and back up. “There is no doubt in any of our minds. Jeremy knew it, too. We are going to trust God in this. He will do what’s best for Lottie, and letting her stay with you—that is what’s best.”

“But—”

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