Page 68 of Fierce Hope
Jade slid the phone into her coat pocket. “Looks like we’re roommates for a bit. Couch is all yours.”
He gave a half-smile. “Great.”
She nodded. “Grab your backpack. I just need five minutes to finish up here.”
He followed her to the main area, relief evident in the way his shoulders relaxed. Jade turned to find Sarah collecting her own belongings.
“Everything okay?” Sarah asked, noticing the exchange.
“We’re good,” Jade answered, managing a brighter tone. “Deke’s headed out of town, so DJ’s crashing at my place.” Then she lowered her voice with concern. “How about you? Holding up okay?”
Sarah’s eyes flicked downward. “I’m not … great. Everything with the Wycoffs and Chad …” She shook her head. “It’s dredging up memories I’d rather keep buried. But I’ll manage.” She forced a small smile. “Thanks for asking.”
They parted ways. Jade gathered the last few paintbrushes and tidied stray construction paper. A few minutes later, she and DJ stepped outside into the crisp evening. The parking lot was nearly empty except for her sedan and one other car. Church security lights cast long, flickering shadows over the snow.
She unlocked her car, and DJ slid into the passenger seat, tossing his backpack onto the back seat. The heater sputtered to life as she started the engine. “Might take a minute to warm up,” she said apologetically, turning on the wipers to brush away the dusting of snow.
“Better than waiting in the cold,” DJ said, pulling his jacket tighter around him.
Jade eased the car onto the street, the tires crunching through slush. “I can drop you at school on my way to the office each morning,” she explained. “You’ll probably finish earlier than me, so you’ll head back to my place on your own. I’ll give you a spare key.”
He nodded. “That’s cool.” His gaze drifted out the window. Then he cleared his throat. “I hope I’m not, like, inconveniencing you. I know your place isn’t big.”
She stifled a smile. “It’s small, sure. But it’s fine. You’ll have some quiet—no six-year-olds with mermaid obsessions.”
That earned another snort of laughter from him. “Exactly.” He paused, a note of earnestness creeping in. “You’re … chill, Jade. Thanks for letting me crash.”
Warmth bloomed in her chest at his words—though a pang followed as she thought of Deke. She had no idea how he truly felt about her caring for DJ now that he knew about her past.But at least he’d trusted her enough for this. “I’m glad you think I’m chill. That’s not always how I feel on the inside,” she admitted softly.
He didn’t comment further, and she let the matter drop. They arrived at her condo complex soon after. It was a modest place, lights glowing behind drawn curtains. She parked in her usual spot, noticing how the fresh snow made everything eerily silent.
They hurried inside, the condo’s warmth enveloping them. Jade flicked on a lamp, revealing the cozy but undeniably cramped living space—a couch, a small TV, and a kitchen tucked in one corner. She caught DJ giving it a once-over, but his expression remained relaxed.
After some pizza and root beer they’d picked up on the way, DJ settled onto the couch.
Rummaging for a blanket from the closet, Jade watched him out of the corner of her eye, relieved he seemed at ease. Still, her mind drifted to Deke’s departure. She tried to banish the uneasy swirl that came from mixing her newly admitted criminal background with DJ’s presence.Would Deke change his mind about all this if he thought too long about my old life?
By the time she finally crawled into bed, Jade felt physically exhausted but mentally buzzing. She slipped under the covers, the faint glow from a streetlamp seeping through her curtains. DJ’s occasional movements on the couch in the next room reminded her she wasn’t alone. She welcomed that small comfort—the knowledge that at least someone was near.
But it didn’t stop her from thinking about Deke. He knew her darkest secret, yet entrusted his son to her. She prayed it was a sign he believed in her redemption, not just a snap decision he might regret. Rolling onto her back, she stared at the ceiling and breathed a silent prayer: for Deke’s safety on the emergency job,for DJ’s sense of belonging, and for her own fragile hope that she could be more than her past mistakes.
Tomorrow, she told herself. Tomorrow she’d figure out how to navigate each new challenge—DJ’s routine, the ongoing church investigation, and her still-lingering questions about where she stood with Deke. For now, she had to trust that she hadn’t broken everything beyond repair when she’d finally revealed her past. And if she had … well, at least she could keep caring for DJ, doing her best to prove she deserved the faith Deke had placed in her.
With that resolve, Jade closed her eyes. The condo was quiet, save for the soft hum of the heater and DJ’s muffled movements. Outside, the wind kicked up a few more flurries. She lay in the dim glow, heart full of conflicted gratitude and an ache she couldn’t name.Please, God, let me do right by this kid,she thought.And please, don’t let Deke’s trust vanish just because I told him the truth.
37
Jade checkedthe front door deadbolt, for the tenth time since she and DJ had arrived back at her condo, and turned back to the living room. Outside, snowflakes danced in the glow of the amber streetlamp across the lot. Inside, the condo felt hushed and relatively safe—though Jade couldn’t deny how much she missed Deke’s steady presence.
The air was thick with the scent of pepperoni and cheese. They’d made a dent in the extra-large pie, but Jade calculated there was enough left for at least one more meal. DJ sprawled on the couch, legs hanging off one arm, a game controller in his hands. The TV flashed vibrant hues of some fantasy adventure, cartoon monsters bouncing across the screen. Jade couldn’t help but smile at how quickly he’d settled in, despite this being only his first night here. It was as though he instinctively claimed the couch as his territory, the worn blankets crumpled around him in a comfortable nest.
“Hey,” she said softly. “You all right? Need anything?”
He glanced up, half a grin ghosting his lips. “I’m good. This game’s weird but kinda fun. We can co-op if you’re brave.”
“Let me work up to that.”
Her heart gave a small twinge as she surveyed the modest space—a single lamp glowing on the side table, the small TV stand, and DJ’s backpack leaning against the wall. She and Deke had never planned for this arrangement, yet here DJ was, perched on her couch while Deke was off somewhere in the wide unknown. She inhaled slowly, telling herself it was only temporary. All the same, she felt strangely protective of him, determined to do right by the trust Deke had placed in her.
