Page 62 of Here With Me

Lottie played on the playground, running with Lucy around the swing set in what looked like a game of tag.

Sadie settled onto a stool behind the register, pulled her phone out, and opened the group chat with her siblings. Funny how they’d never had a group before, but since they’d started texting, it had become so easy to share things with them.

Sadie: Three days without a sale.

Romee: Good thing you’ve got eye candy working for you.

Anna: Or not. Remember he broke your heart once. He can do it again.

Romee: *gif of the witch from Princess Bride shouting “Boo!” Don’t be such a spoilsport, Anna. Besides, you haven’t seen David after all these years. *hot emoji.

Toby: Gross. I did not need to know that.

Sadie: We’ve both changed. Things are different now. But that’s not why I messaged. Focus on the problem—no sales.

Romee: *gif of two penguins wearing hats saying, “I’m sorry.”

Anna: I can place an order. One hammer, please.

Sadie tucked her phone away. Obviously, they wouldn’t be able to help with sales, but it did help that she could talk to them.

The welcome bell jingled, and Sadie’s breath caught—could it finally be a customer? She turned toward the door. Nope, not a customer, just her mom.

“Oh, don’t look so thrilled to see me.”

Sadie stepped out from behind the register and hugged her mom. “It’s not that. It’s just been super slow today.”

Her mom shook her phone. “I heard. Anna said she needed a new hammer and I had to come buy it right now. Right now. She was very emphatic.”

Her mom’s phone chimed as a message from Anna popped up. After opening the message, she typed a response to Anna while Sadie went and picked up a hammer—the one she carried to appeal to women—a pink floral grip on the handle and pink metal for the head.

“Here, let’s send photographic evidence you’re here.” Sadie pulled out her phone and stepped close to her mom, holding the hammer between them, and snapped a selfie. She sent it to her siblings.

Sadie: Finally made a sale after three days. Thanks, Anna. *laughing emoji *golden heart emoji.

Anna: I’ll pay for shipping. Just have her drop it in the mail for me.

Sadie chuckled. Even with her broken—and slightly bitter—heart, Anna was trying to help out.

Her mom walked toward the register and pulled out some cash.

“I can’t believe she really wants a hammer.” Sadie chuckled as she handed her mom her change.

“You’ve been busy in the store even if you haven’t made a sale.” Her mom looked around the shop.

“Until a few hours ago. Now I’m just watching Lottie at the playground.” Sadie’s cheeks heated as she motioned outside. Of course, her mom would see the bigger picture.

Her mom turned to look out the window and then bumped Sadie’s shoulder. “Or David playing soccer.”

“It doesn’t hurt. He’s so good with those teen boys.”

“I ran into Hannah at the grocery store yesterday, and she was telling me David’s been helping Jimmy out at the gym, too. Her son just adores David. I wonder if he could be content working with the kids at church?” Her mom’s voice trailed off.

The church had grown since Nate took over as pastor. And the youth group had grown, too. Maybe David could help out there. Maybe he could be happy in Heritage.

With her.

Of course, she came as a package deal with Lottie included. But so far, David had worked well with Lottie, and the girl clearly adored him.

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