Page 103 of Rescued Heart

Eddie had been right to step away from Bianca now. Her dream had cost those she loved far too much.

TWENTY-TWO

Eddie pulled down a box of double chocolate brownie mix from the grocery store’s shelf. He never did have any of his brownies the other day. Frozen pizza and brownies. A perfect breakup dinner. For both real and fake.

He tossed the box in his empty cart and then eyed the peanut butter swirl brownie option. Tomorrow already felt like it would need a double portion of a pick-me-up. He would start researching more fundraiser ideas for the youth center.

My money’s not tainted, Eddie. You keep thinking my kind gestures are something they’re not. We had a deal, and I’m going to keep my end of the bargain. Relationship or not.

But if there was no future between him and Bianca, he couldn’t take her money.

I did the right thing, right, Lord?

“Boo!” a young girl shouted from behind him.

Eddie spun around and knocked another brownie box onto the ground.

The pony-tailed girl, who turned out to be Scarlette, darted to the dropped box while she smiled up at Eddie. “Since I got you, Coach, I think you should have to make these brownies for me.”

Eddie took the box from her outstretched hand and placed it into his cart. “Why don’t I make brownies for the whole team?” He frowned at the empty baking aisle. “Where’s your mom, or grandma?”

Scarlette tilted her head, pointing one of her ears upward.

That’s when Eddie noticed a measured squeaking sound.

Scarlette gestured to the end of the aisle. “Grandma was on the phone. She should be coming in three, two…”

A half-full cart rounded the end of the aisle, but Naomi’s normal smiley greeting was missing. “Scarlette Joy, this is no time to run off. We’ve got to leave right now…” Naomi’s attention flashed over to Eddie. “Well, aren’t you a Godsend, Coach.”

“Momma?” Jade’s voice floated to them from another aisle over. “What’s the plan?”

Naomi lifted her hand. “In the baking aisle. Found Scarlette.”

Jade and Scout arrived, and Naomi grabbed her purse off the top of the cart. “Slight change of plans. Scarlette, why don’t you push my cart behind your momma, and I’ll give you money for my stuff. That is, if I can get Coach to give me a ride? He’s going to take me to pick up Will. That way, Jade, you can take the kids and food home.”

Eddie frowned. “What happened to Will?”

Naomi only gave him a look he couldn’t read.

Jade tightened her grip on her cart. “I can get your stuff, Momma, and Eddie’s too, if he’ll take you.”

Eddie placed the boxes of brownies back on the shelf. “My stuff can wait. Where am I taking you, Naomi?”

Naomi pulled out some folded bills.

Jade waved her off and pushed her cart back down the aisle.

Naomi put the money in Scarlette’s hand and gave her a squeeze, whispering something in her ear.

Then Scarlette dashed after her mother and brother. “See you later, Coach. Raincheck on the team’s brownies.”

Naomi took Eddie’s now empty cart and turned in the opposite direction.

Eddie waved to Scout, who strangely didn’t wave back. “What’s wrong with Will? Did he get hurt?”

Naomi shifted behind the cart as she pushed. “It’s worse.”

Eddie’s feet stopped. His rubber soles squeaked against the polished tile.

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