Page 83 of Here With Me

God would work things out. He would be with her to carry her through whatever came next. And she’d trust Him to take care of the flies, because she couldn’t do it herself. She trusted that, not because she didn’t have a choice, since she had nothing left to lose, but because she knew God had never left her, and He never would.

seventeen

David had been home a few hours on Monday, and Sadie hadn’t taken his calls, sending him directly to voicemail. His small truck bounced over the dirt driveway as he pulled up in front of Chet’s house. He had barely landed this morning when his phone had buzzed with a voicemail from Chet—he’d finished the clock. Maybe it would be enough for Sadie to talk with him. She might not. She might never give him another chance, but regardless, David would be there for Lottie.

He picked up the Styrofoam container of breakfast he’d brought and hurried up the porch.

David knocked, and after a few minutes, the front door creaked open. Chet grabbed the food and waved David in. “Follow me.”

Chet’s gruff tone didn’t surprise David, as the man’s message had been just as short and to the point as he was in person. Chet sat in an armchair near a TV tray and started eating the biscuits and gravy. The room was clean, except for a few cobwebs in the corners, the furniture well cared for. The place could be a model home from the 1960’s. A picture of Joseph—Luke and Hannah’s youngest son—sat framed on the coffee table.

“Finished that clock up. Figured you wanted to give it back. Shame it’s not in the square anymore.”

David rocked back on his heels. “Agreed.”

Chet motioned at the couch. “Have a seat. You’re making me nervous. Jon said you were in Costa Rica.”

In the voicemail, Chet had said Jon gave him David’s number. “Just got back.”

“For good?” Chet picked up a mug, looked inside, sniffed it, then shrugged and drank from it.

David scooted back on the couch and rubbed his hands on his knees. As long as it took to convince Sadie he was all in. “That’s the plan.”

“Good. So, you’re gonna fight for the girl?”

David pulled at his collar. “With everything in me.”

“About time, boy.” Chet cut another large piece of biscuit and stuck it in his mouth. “Have a plan?”

“Never took you for a romantic.”

Chet froze. His glare could freeze boiling water.

David sat up straight. “I mean, I just…didn’t…well, I guess I could say…”

A slow grin spread across Chet’s face. “Easy there, just teasing. It can go both ways.”

Unsure if he really was teasing, David tried to relax on the couch without offending the man any further.

“What are you planning to do to win her back?”

Okay, so maybe Chet did have an interest. “I don’t know yet, but I thought maybe I could get this clock to them. I promised Sadie I’d fix it, or find someone to, and I’d like to come through for her.”

Chet hummed and chewed. “You need one of those big hoopla things. You know, like the ones in the movies.”

Chet watched movies?

“You mean like a…” Picnic? A party?

“A gesture!” Chet slammed the fork down on the TV tray. “You need a grand gesture.”

“Like showing up every day? Bringing the clock?”

Chet scratched his chin. “I don’t know if that’s big enough. Let’s go see the clock.”

Moving the TV tray aside, Chet stood up and shuffled out of the house. David followed him outside and to the barn.

Inside, Chet stood at the tool bench, the clock sitting upright, telling the correct time. “Stretched me. Had never worked on a clock. Lottie was right, there was a twig inside, between the gears.”

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