Page 68 of Love Me Boldly

Along with Trina and Cole. Their friends Sarah and Robbie were foster parents and frequently had kids of all ages in their home, so they were prepared for everything. We were friends now, and Jonah enjoyed playing with Cole’s girls, Ella and June, from his first marriage.

Others in town had come around to help too, some from the church I grew up in, some were older women from Caroline’s occasional sewing club.

“You were here, though. And maybe you had help, but I know how the people treated you.”

He sounded so broken, and that empathetic part of him broke me a little.

“People change and grow, Graham. It hasn’t been all bad. In fact, most of it’s been pretty great considering how wonderful Jonah is.”

His fingers tapped on the table, and his jaw worked back and forth.

Food would be ready any minute knowing Jonah and Caroline, and I’d have to get up and get working. “Tell me more about you, Graham. What have you been up to?”

“There’s not a lot to say. I teach, I coach. I try to get to Tanner’s games every once in a while.”

“He’s doing well, it sounds like.”

“You’ve heard?” It took him a beat, and then he sighed. “Tracey. They still keep in touch.”

“Yeah. She lets it slip every so often.”

He sighed and dropped his head. “I was hoping I could come tonight and see you and realize we had nothing in common and realize that everything I once felt for you was gone, but you’re making it really damn hard, Holly.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

He lifted his head, and his eyes pierced mine, and not for the first time, it seemed like he saw straight into my soul. “You’re being you, and that’s always been enough.”

My heart stuttered in my chest, and my cheeks burned. “Graham?—“

“Onion strings!” Jonah shouted. Behind him, Caroline pushed through the doors with the plate of onion rings piled high and three glasses of water.

“Onion strings,” Graham muttered. “Kid’s cute.”

“He’s the best thing to ever happen to me.”

Caroline delivered the dish and drinks without asking Graham if he wanted anything else and left us alone.

It hurt, only a little, when Jonah shoved his little body into Graham’s side of the booth instead of mine and dug into the onion rings like I hadn’t fed him for days.

“Try one!” Jonah practically shoved the onion into Graham’s face.

He scanned the table. “No mustard?”

Man, he really had remembered so much. “Not with the onions. I save that masterpiece for the fries.”

“I think it’s gross,” Jonah said, munching on a mouthful of snacks. “Ketchup is the bestest.”

“I agree, Jonah,” Graham said. “Mustard on fries is gross.”

I resisted the urge to toss an onion at his face and dug into the plate.

I didn’t stay because I still had that comfortable feeling around him.

I didn’t stay because the thought of walking away again hurt.

I stayed because it was rare I got to see Jonah interact with many good men, and I wanted to soak it up for as long as he was allowed to have it.

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