Page 88 of Here With Me

The front of the store would look fresh and new once the window was replaced. Gary had ordered the replacement and the new front counter yesterday after the check from Mrs. Allen’s insurance came through. They wouldn’t have the grand reopening this weekend like planned, but David had put out new flyers announcing it would take place in a month’s time. Hopefully, the store would see a boost in holiday sales. Sadie had approved everything while she’d been gone in the one conversation she’d had with Gary.

David still hadn’t talked to Sadie. He hadn’t called again since the hearing, hoping a little space would be good for them. Besides, Sadie should be able to enjoy Lottie this week. It had taken everything in him not to rush forward to Sadie and hug her after the favorable ruling. He doubted there’d been a dry eye in the entire courtroom, and he’d wanted to be there with her. Celebrate the win. But he’d meant what he told Caroline, he’d been there for support that day, not answers.

He could support from a distance.

But he’d sure like some of those answers soon. If only the entire town hadn’t turned out to watch him lay it all on the line tonight. Maybe he’d wait and try to catch her later.

Gary walked next to David as they skirted around the edge of the crowd.

“Won’t be long now. Sadie messaged a while back when they stopped for gas. She said it was a straight shot home.” Gary looked over the crowd of people. David had noticed him rubbing his muscles as they’d worked side by side in the hardware store cleaning up yesterday. But he seemed to have good movement and rotation, had healed up just fine. Not that he would ever hear Gary complain. “You don’t have to stay in the back. She’s not going to make a scene in front of people. Plus, you’ve gone to a lot of work for her this week. She’ll want to talk to you.”

Doubt settled in David’s gut. He had worked hard—first on the letters, then the clock and the cleanup around the store. He’d do it all over again. “I don’t want to embarrass her in front of the whole town. And besides, I don’t want her to feel like she owes me something. I did it because I care for her.”

“No one doubts that, son.”

A car drove down Richard Street, but it wasn’t Sadie’s. David let out a breath and rubbed his chin. His hand held a slight tremble, but nothing like the shaking he’d been fighting. As soon as he’d started moving on the path God had for him, as soon as he’d picked Sadie, the shaking had stopped.

A game of soccer took place across the square, next to the library. Maybe if he joined in, he could burn off some of his nervous energy.

Nate waved and walked up to join them. “I’ve been looking for you. Left a voicemail on your phone.”

There hadn’t been time to return the call. Or even listen to the message. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve heard how busy you’ve been. I wanted to talk to you, though, after we had our annual budget meeting at church. We’ve approved a youth pastor position, and I wondered if you might be interested.”

Working with teens? Staying in Heritage? It almost sounded too good to be true, but if David had learned anything, it was that God always had a plan in place.

Nate waved at Colby Marc as he walked by, carrying a little girl in his arms. “I don’t need an answer today. In fact, take some time to pray about it. We can’t start paying someone until January, so there’s time to decide.”

“I’ll definitely pray about it.” And talk to Sadie, hopefully, because he wanted her input. Although, ideas were already forming. Dreams coming together. Possibilities exploding.

Sadie’s blue Honda drove slowly down Richard Street, and David’s heart sped up. She was finally back.

Craning his neck, he watched the car pull behind Hoover’s Hardware. Romee and Anna hurried behind the building. Anna had arrived after the hearing, insisting on coming even though her flight had been canceled. Although Anna had been distant this week as they cleaned the store, she had eventually told him that if he could convince Sadie he’d stick around, she’d accept that.

Not exactly an open-armed welcome, but Romee had made up for it with constant encouragement to not give up.

The crowd seemed to close in around the clock, and David stepped back, and back again, not wanting to get carried away with the group. But he also didn’t want to be so far outside he was easy to spot.

After an eternity, or what was probably a few minutes, Lottie skipped around the front of the hardware store. He wiped his hands on his jeans and waited.

And waited.

He’d seen Sadie Tuesday at the hearing, but he hadn’t spoken to her for a week. Seven days. How he’d gone ten years without talking to her, he would never know, because this week had gone on for an eternity.

Finally, Sadie walked around the side of the building, her sisters on either side of her. He stayed back as she talked to people, touched shoulders, hugged Mrs. Allen, even when her hand slid into her jeans pocket, like she needed a moment to ground herself. When she scanned the crowd, he stepped back farther, staying out of sight. Eventually, the crowd absorbed her.

Mayor Jamison cleared his throat and tapped on a portable microphone, making it screech. The crowd quieted. Sadie stood next to the mayor and the clock with Lottie.

Sadie waved at people, her posture stiff. Probably uncomfortable being the center of attention. Mayor Jamison clapped one hand on his protruding belly and the entire crowd seemed to lean forward.

“When little Miss Lottie started asking questions about an old clock tower on the square, our historical person”—Mayor Jamison walked over and clapped Hannah on the shoulder—“dug up some pictures of this old clock here. We haven’t figured out why it was removed, but it has been our goal to have a clock tower on the square since we cleared it. David, where are you?” The heads of the people in front of him started looking around.

“David Williams? Don’t be shy, throw your hand up in the air.” Heat climbed David’s neck. This wasn’t part of the program.

“Back here,” Jon’s familiar voice called out in the crowd, and people started moving as Jon pushed his way to stand next to David. The crowd murmured, but Sadie’s expression froze him in place. He couldn’t read her emotions this far away, couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

“Come on up.” Mayor Jamison gestured with his arm. “That’s it, everyone make room.”

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