Page 84 of Here With Me

David stood a little taller. Lottie was a bright kid, smart, intelligent, observant—like her mom.

“The clock is great, Chet. Thank you.” Jon had already warned David not to offer to pay Chet, it would only offend him, so David stuck out his hand. “This might be the big thing you were talking about.”

Chet gripped his hand and held tight. “No. You need to think bigger. You know Hannah, she pulled the whole town together to petition for Luke to keep his house.”

“Sadie doesn’t need me to bring everyone together to petition for her home.”

“No. But think big, like Hannah did. Really show her that you love her.”

Wow, Chet really was a romantic. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“See that you do. Now, let’s get this loaded up.” Chet picked up the box David had brought it in and set it on the bench. “You load it up.”

David thanked Chet again after situating the clock in the truck. Off to a good start. He had fulfilled a promise he’d made. Maria said to show up every day, and so far, he hadn’t even been home and he’d managed to succeed in one area. One small step—in the right direction.

The ringing of his phone had him pulling over. His heart rate picked up as he dug his phone out of his pocket. Maybe it was Sadie.

No such luck.

Romee.

His heart rate didn’t slow. This couldn’t be good. “What’s wrong?”

“Well, it depends on how you look at things. But I think you might be able to turn things around, if you’re willing to help out.” Romee’s light and airy voice chimed like bells, sounding just as musical as she was.

“If it means helping Sadie, I’m all in.”

“I knew you would come through.” He could picture Romee throwing a fist bump from the smug sound of her voice. “I’ve been talking to Anna and Toby, and we’re not there to do this, so we need boots on the ground. You willing?”

“If there was ever a time for a Hail Mary, this is it.”

“You know Doris and Patrick are contesting the adoption tomorrow. We’d like to get as many people as possible to write letters to the judge, speaking on Sadie’s behalf. Also, maybe while you contact people, you could mention the need for them to pay off their line of credit. I haven’t seen the books, and Dad can’t remember all the names, and he can’t find where she’s moved it, but you’ve seen it.”

“I know where she keeps it. It’s in her desk.”

“Dad didn’t see it. But I’ll have him meet you at the store. How soon can you be there?”

“Ten minutes?”

“Perfect. If we can get those names, we can ask people to take their payment directly to the bank. Dad got it approved that anything deposited into the store’s account can be applied directly toward our loan. If you encourage them to do it before the month’s end, it might save the store.”

They talked over a few more details before David pulled back onto the road. Chet would love this—two gestures at the same time.

And if this didn’t work, he’d show up every day until he convinced Sadie that this time, he wanted a partner.

This time he wanted it all.

The plastic seats in the sterile hallway outside the courtroom weren’t meant for comfort. Still, Sadie pulled Lottie closer, offering what support she could as her daughter twirled a yellow leaf between her thumb and forefinger. The single leaf had blown across their path outside the courthouse this morning and Lottie had picked it up. “It makes me think Daddy’s here, too.”

The white marble walls rose behind the seats of the group—Sadie, Lottie, Romee, her parents. Anna’s flight had been canceled, and Sadie had insisted that Toby not spend the twelve hundred dollars on a last-minute flight. They all waited for the lawyers to arrive.

Small windows at the top of the wall allowed the sun to shine in, the only indicator that the storm raging in Sadie’s heart wasn’t ravishing the outside world.

Surrounded by family, she clung to her daughter. Her mom’s hand rested on Lottie’s knee, while her dad occasionally leaned forward as though he were taking a mental picture. Romee hummed a tune, low and slow.

“Oma? Do you think my letter will be enough for the judge?” Lottie’s voice trembled as she snuggled into Sadie.

Sadie’s mom patted Lottie’s knee. “Lottie girl, God will keep watch over you no matter what. We can always trust Him. But I think you telling the judge your wishes can only help.”

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