Page 34 of Here With Me

Lottie and Vangie skipped up again, holding hands. Lottie had a large, dead leaf in her hand. “When can we eat, Mr. Williams?”

Vangie giggled and pointed at David.“Mr. Williams? Call him Unca David. We all do.”

Lottie’s large brown eyes looked up at him. A longing flashed there, but it was gone in an instant. “He’s not my uncle. I have one of those. Uncle Patrick. I don’t want to go visit them.”

David knew the feeling of being hoisted on family. Maybe Lottie had those same feelings. “Why’s that?”

She shrugged. “They always make me eat all the food on my plate. Aunt Doris always makes me eat the vegetables. And even makes me lumpy smoothies. They’re gross and smell like grass. I have to go stay with them next weekend.”

“Next weekend? Did you hear that, David?” Austin’s elbow nudged into David’s side.

Oh, he’d heard all right. But ask Sadie? If she were there, could he get through the meeting without Sadie knowing he was fighting for his job? His calling? How he’d been benched by his mission board?

Vangie tugged on David’s sleeve. “When are we going to eat?”

“How about now?” David quickly and easily got everyone’s attention, and Vangie offered a quick blessing on the food before the parents helped their kids roast hot dogs.

Everyone dished up their food, and dinner quickly flowed into marshmallow roasting. David hung back as the kids ate their fill of s’mores.

After the parents cut off the dessert intake for their children, the adults took their turns. David hung back until Nate handed him a stick. “Your turn.”

Sadie stood next to the fire, keeping her own sugary treat high above the flames as she slowly spun it. David shook his head, his hands trembling.

“Seriously, man up.” Nosy Nate. Maybe it would be David’s new nickname for his cousin. Besides, he couldn’t go over there and let Sadie see his shaking hands.

Before David could brace himself, Nate shoved him toward Sadie. Probably fair payback after earlier, but even so, David still sent his cousin a glare that would have stopped a lesser man. Nate chuckled and walked away.

“Having a good time?” David’s voice squeaked a little. Maybe Nate was right. He’d reverted to a younger version of himself.

Sadie’s lips tipped up on one side, letting David know she’d heard. She’d left her hair down, the long locks hanging over the front of her green sweater, curling up at the ends. “I forgot how much I always enjoyed being with your family.”

David stuck the marshmallow in the fire. It only trembled slightly over the flame. “They are pretty cool. Lottie says she’s going to be with her aunt and uncle next weekend?”

Sadie’s back stiffened, and she lifted her chin slightly as she looked back toward the fire. “Doris insisted that Lottie visit, and what Doris wants, Doris gets.”

David knew people like that.

Bring a plus-one, David.

Lance’s voice echoed in his head. He turned his marshmallow above the flame, working the perfect golden color on all sides, and noticed the tremble was all but gone. Like when he worked at the hardware store.

Sadie’s arm brushed his as she moved to check her own marshmallow. Heat shot up his arm, settling into his stomach. Her simple touch still had the power to turn a fire into an inferno.

Sadie moved her stick back into the fire, creating space between them. That brief, seemingly accidental touch had sent his mind whirling. Would it be better to let Lance down and show up to dinner alone, or ask Sadie?

David took a breath and let the words flow out. “I have to attend a dinner with my field administrator and executive director next Saturday. They asked me to bring someone…a friend. Would you be willing to go with me?”

Sadie’s eyes jerked from the fire to his face. Her eyebrows rose, and her lips formed a cute little O. “Me?”

“We agreed on friends, right?” David motioned to the group. “And everyone is going to Mr. Washburn’s funeral. You’d be doing me a solid favor if you could go.”

Oh, that was smooth. Real smooth. Silence fell between them. He shouldn’t have asked. A solid favor—he really was reverting to an immature version of himself. But before he could correct his blunder, Lottie walked up cradling a bundle of loudly purring fur in her arms.

“Mom, look at how cute she is. Can I take her home?” Lottie stepped close enough to encourage her mom to pet the cat.

Sadie shook her head. “Honey, he lives here with Mr. Williams. You can’t take someone’s pet.”

Lottie’s shoulders slumped.

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