Page 54 of Here With Me

It was a nightmare come to life.

But Meredith said Sadie had a lot going in her favor. She’d keep it that way. A happy little girl, glowing grades, well-adjusted with piano and ballet lessons. Not to mention Sadie had a support system in place with her parents across the street. They had a great apartment and the store—if she saved the store.

She would save the store. She had to.

Please, Lord, I try not to ask for much, but I’m asking for this. Let me keep Lottie.

Sadie had tried praying when Jeremy was sick, but it’s like her prayers had gone unanswered. After his death, what little trust she still had disappeared. How could she let go and trust after God took Lottie’s dad? Her best friend and husband? But in this moment, she could only hope that the Good Lord would hear her. That He would indeed step in. Because she needed all the help she could get.

Please.

Four hundred dollars and fifty cents—David ran the total in his head again just to make sure. It wasn’t huge, but at least it was something. A bigger day than they’d had all week, and two more people had dropped off checks to pay off their lines of credit.

The sun sat low on the horizon as David slipped the key into the door of Hoover’s Hardware to lock up. Children laughed as they played at the playground in the town square. And a game of soccer looked like it was in full tilt beyond the playground.

David checked his watch—five-thirty—he could probably join in before he made his way to the gym. Otis still sat by the playground, surrounded by children climbing him and sliding down his back.

The date last week had been great—or so he’d thought. He hadn’t kissed her goodnight, but he’d wanted to. They’d talked—a lot. About important things. Maybe he’d misread all the signs. While things had been great in the store—larger than average sales, people paying their tabs—Sadie seemed…off. Distracted. Upset. She hadn’t said what had happened, but David could see it in her shoulders, in the worry lines that had appeared. She put on a good face, but when she thought no one was looking, it was clear to see—something was wrong.

“Hi, Mr. Williams!” Lottie waved wildly and skipped toward him. “All done with work? What are you doing now?”

“Maybe joining that soccer game over there.” David gestured to the square.

Lottie shook her head, placing her hands on her hips. “You need dinner. Come with me!”

Dinner with Sadie and Lottie? That was a big step. David glanced around. Dawn, Sadie’s mom, stood on her front porch watching. Lottie must have been over there. He waved, and she did too.

“You can’t say no, Mr. Williams. Mom’s making spaghetti. It’s my favorite.” She spoke with just enough nine-year-old sass that David let her pull him up the stairs to Sadie’s apartment.

“Spaghetti was your dad’s favorite too. Every Friday night in college, he’d make a big batch in the dorm. Made the whole floor smell like garlic and oregano.” David’s stomach rumbled.

“And garlic bread?” Lottie slowed down as she looked back at David. “Daddy loved garlic bread.”

“Of course. I always brought ice cream. A couple of the guys would bring pop or something. Your mom came too.” David paused. Both Bonnie and Sadie had joined in those dinners.

“That’s why Mom makes spaghetti on Fridays, but we don’t have it every Friday.” Lottie flung open the front door, and David was met with the overwhelming smell of garlic, oregano, and yeast—all the delicious scents of his memories. There was nothing quite as appealing as a homecooked meal. “Mom, I brought company.”

“That’s great, Lottie. Hi, Lu—” Sadie’s words died as she stepped out of the kitchen. She had changed since she left the hardware store, and now she wore black leggings, which only highlighted her shapely legs. Her oversized maroon sweater hung off one shoulder—her soft, freckled shoulder.

“Hi, David.” Her cheeks flushed a becoming pink, and she stepped closer to him, like she was glad to see him.

He stepped toward her, but Lottie spoke and reminded David they weren’t alone.

“I’ll go get Cuatro. He’ll want to see you.” Lottie skipped off toward the hallway.

Maybe he should have said no, because the moment Lottie left, Sadie’s shoulders tightened, and the stress lines appeared again.

David leaned against the doorframe of the kitchen, watching Sadie as she moved about. Comfortable, confident, adorable. “I can go. I don’t need to stay.” But if she turned him out, he’d be making spaghetti at home, because the aroma of the cooked meat, garlic, Italian seasoning… Mouthwatering.

“It’s fine you’re here. I just would have made something nicer if I’d known. But if I remember correctly, you liked spaghetti, so make yourself at home.” She dismissed him with a wave and stirred the sauce on the stove.

He made sure he spoke low so Lottie didn’t hear. “Maybe it was just you I liked.”

Sadie didn’t respond, but by the way her neck reddened, he had no doubt she’d heard. He settled into the sofa. Or at least he tried. He pulled an oversized pillow out from behind him and settled against the blanket arranged behind it. At least she didn’t have a gazillion pillows on the L-shaped couch.

His gaze drifted to the photos decorating the wall in a collage. He paused at the one of Bonnie and Jeremy holding who he could only assume was a newborn Lottie. There was a picture of Bonnie and Lottie at a lake, and another of Jeremy, Sadie, and Lottie at what looked like the same lake. His friend and his girl. He wanted to hate the picture, but he couldn’t bring himself to. Instead, he was thankful they’d been there for each other during that season. They’d needed each other. For support. For comfort.

Lottie stood behind him and touched him on the head, then she crossed to the dining table and set the kitten on the table next to her.

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