Page 89 of In Full Bloom

I chuckle. “I think your picture helped, Lady Sadie.”

I don’t tell her that both Katie and I left the bag containing the picture on the floor in the back of the farm supply store. I have no idea if we’ll ever see it again.

“I want you to know,” I say, smoothing Sadie’s hair back from her face. “You’re number one, okay? If you’re ever worried about something, you can come and talk to me. I love you so much.”

She leans in for another breath stealing hug. “I love you too, Daddy. Can we go tell Katie I love her too?”

I laugh. “Alright, alright. You can tell her, but then are you okay going back to stay at Violet’s tonight?”

“Yep, I’ve got to finish beating Flynn at Go Fish.” She jumps to the ground and takes my hand again. “Is Katie living with us now?”

“She’s not living with us yet, but is it okay if she stays over sometimes?”

“Yeah. But if she lived here then she wouldn’t have to drive to work every day. She could have my room. I don’t mind sharing.”

Warmth floods me. This whole conversation has been wild, but in the best way. “If Katie stays over, she’ll be staying in my room, sweetie.”

Sadie scrunches up her nose. “But I love her too, so don’t we get to share her? Plus you snore.”

I laugh until tears fill my eyes. “We’ll figure it out.”

“Come on,” Sadie tugs on my hand. “I have to tell Katie and go beat Flynn. I’ll bet he’s looked at all my cards by now.”

“I’ll race ya,” I say, dropping her hand and speeding up. A moment later, Sadie racing past me, cackling maniacally.

“I’m going to beat you,” she screeches.

Of course she is. I always let her.

38

KATIE

The bath isn’t even finished runningwhen I hear a vehicle outside the cottage. I turn off the water and head for the front door, peering through the window as I do.

There’s a small red hatchback parked in front of the house. I open the door, relieved I haven’t bothered to start undressing yet. I haven’t seen the car before and I don’t know who I’m expecting to see climb out of it. Maybe Dallas’s ex Abi, even though he told me she was waiting to hear from him.

A person I definitely wasn’t expecting to see get out of the car is Tilly Sheridan.

My breath catches at the sight of her, as memories fire through my brain.

She glances up at the house and spots me, leaning against the door frame. She hesitates, then straightens up and takes purposeful strides across the gravel. She stops at the bottom of the porch steps and holds out a brown paper bag.

“I’m sorry about my brother,” she says, her voice wobbling. “Bothmy brothers. You left this behind. I thought you might miss it.”

“I’m so sorry, Tilly,” I say. My voice is haggard and tears threaten to spill over again. The emotional rollercoaster of the day has almost wiped me out completely.

“It’s not your fault,” Tilly assures me, gesturing at the bag. I step forward and take it, knowing it contains the shirt and Sadie’s picture. “I always really liked you and I never understood what Max was on about. But Toby could be a real jerk sometimes, especially to Max. I think it really messed him up.” She takes a few steps back. “I’m not making excuses for Max, because he was a jackass too, but I am sorry.”

“Thank you, Tilly,” I rasp. “I appreciate that. And you bringing this all the way out here.”

She shrugs. “I’ll see you around sometime. I hope.” She shoots me a little smile, then climbs back into her car and disappears down the driveway.

She doesn’t hate me. She wants me to stay too.

I sit down on the step and pull out the contents of the bag. The shirt spills into my lap, but it’s the picture I’m after.

My family.

---