Chapter 5
five
I t had only been four days since Lottie had met David Williams after they’d blown up their past and fought in the middle of the store, and Sadie hadn’t had a moment of peace since.
Mom, did you know Mr. Williams knew Daddy?
Mom, did you know Mr. Williams speaks Spanish?
Mom, did you know Mr. Williams takes kids on rafting trips?
Yes. David knew Jeremy. And she’d taken Spanish with him in college, although Sadie hadn’t used it much since. She had no idea about the rafting trips.
At least things had gotten easier with David. It was like the blowup had brought a truce. They hadn’t shared anything personal since, but at least they weren’t tiptoeing around the tension now.
How he could have believed that she hadn’t wanted him back then was still a huge mystery to her.
Then again, she often held her cards a little too close. Just like her dad and the state of this store.
Speaking of which, she forced her mind to the problem at hand.
The curser blinked unrepentantly on the laptop screen. The numbers were still in red, and the bank note still sat in the top desk drawer, rather than a bag of chocolate. There was no need to waste money on non-essentials.
Sadie rubbed her fingers in circles at her temples. She might have to give in and take some Advil.
Even with David, who could sell water to a drowning man, and their increased sales this week, she had no idea how she’d make up the rest of the money. Maybe David could sell out the store.
Lottie’s giggles filled the shop. But underneath her happy, light-hearted belly laugh, David’s deep chuckle reverberated. Lottie couldn’t wait to see David after school each day.
The man could make a sale to anyone who walked in the store. He chatted with the elderly, making them feel welcome, carrying their purchases to the car, and he made her little girl laugh.
It was like the man could do it all. He had to have a fault.
Maybe he snored. Or drooled.
The welcome bell jingled, and Sadie left the office to greet her newest customer, letting David know she’d take care of this one. He didn’t need to do it all—even though he certainly made it look like he could.
Mrs. Allen stood inside the door of the store, looking around the shop. Her gray hair curled around her face, and her thick glasses settled on her nose.
“Hello, Mrs. Allen. What can I do for you today?”
The elderly woman shuffled forward, her sensible white sneakers peeking out from under her rose-colored, velour pantsuit. “Pastor Nate said he’s found a young man who can paint my kitchen for me. For free. I’d think it was a scam, but he’s a pastor. So, I’m here to look at paint colors.” Mrs. Allen looped her hand around Sadie’s arm.
“Do you have a color in mind?”
“My dear Roger loved yellow. So maybe a cheery daffodil color.” Mrs. Allen’s husband had died almost twenty years ago, and they’d had no children. Most all of Heritage had adopted her since.
Sadie led Mrs. Allen slowly across the front of the store to the back side wall where David had set up to repaint it, a fresh off-white color called Swiss Coffee that Sadie had picked out.
The section was a bit of a mess with a tarp spread across the floor.
Lottie held a paint roller and had it pressed against the wall. David stood behind her, his hand guiding the roller in the correct W pattern. They finished, and David returned the roller to the paint tray.
“That was great. I think you’re ready to try it on your own.” David held out the roller to Lottie, motioning for her to step forward.
Lottie took the roller carefully and pressed it against the wall. A soft squish sounded as she pressed the roller up and then down in a wobbly W movement.
“Perfect, Lottie. Keep going.” David patted the girl on the shoulder.
The child stuck her tongue out the side of her mouth as she continued to roll the paint on the wall, filling in the gaps, maintaining the W formation he showed her.
Mrs. Allen let go of Sadie’s arm and pressed her hands to her heart. The paint counter had been pushed further into the aisle to make room for David and Lottie to paint. Sadie stepped around them and pulled out the paint sample ring flipped to the yellows.
“It’s so good to see a father spending time with his daughter.” Mrs. Allen’s voice cracked, and she wiped her cheeks.
Oh no. Even though it had been almost ten months since Jeremy died, Sadie never knew how Lottie would respond to mentions of her father.
Sadie stepped closer to Lottie, trying to gauge her reaction.
The paint roller stopped moving as Lottie froze. Tears filled the little girl’s eyes and spilled over, streaming down her cheeks in silent rivers as her lips trembled. The paint roller began to shake in her hand. “He’s not my dad. My daddy is dead.”
Lottie dropped the roller and ran toward the front door of the store.
Sadie followed her to the top of the aisle to see her exit and turn toward their apartment door at the back of the building. The jingling bell quieted, leaving the store silent.
Sadie looked from the closed door to Mrs. Allen, and then to David.
Paint splattered all over the tarp and surrounding floor, polka-dotting David’s jeans and the wall. Thankfully, Mrs. Allen stood far enough back that she remained paint free.
The older lady blinked, shock written across her face. “I didn’t know.”
“Of course not, Mrs. Allen.” Sadie couldn’t blame her. David did look like he could be Sadie’s father. Still, Sadie thought that most people had heard all the town gossip by now. “I’m sorry. Lottie’s still processing the emotions of losing her father. Let me go check on her. David can go over the colors with you.”
Sadie handed the color selection ring to David and hurried after Lottie.
After jogging up the steps to their apartment above the store, she opened the front door to find her daughter snuggled into the center corner of the sectional. Amber, Lottie’s American Girl doll from her dad, sat next to her as Lottie played her Nintendo switch. “You okay, kiddo?”
Lottie barely looked up. “Sorry.”
“There’s no need to be. Grief is a unique journey for each of us. Do you want to talk about it?”
Lottie paused her game and looked up. “Not right now. Can I play my game for a little bit?”
“Can I sit with you?”
Lotte shrugged. “Maybe later?”
Sadie nodded. “Can you come down in about twenty minutes? Then we can close up shop early and head to Oma’s. You can play your piano for me.”
“Ok, Mom.”
Mom. The word had brought so much joy, but today Sadie understood better the weight of responsibility that came with that title.
“Mom?”
Sadie paused at the door, looking back at Lottie.
“I left my history folder on the table.” She pointed to a yellow folder a few feet away. “There’s a big project this year about the history of Heritage, and I want to pick a different subject from anyone else.”
Sadie nodded. She’d read the info, and they could talk it over during dinner tonight. “I heard you talking about it with Mr. Williams. Did he have any ideas?”
Lottie just shook her head and didn’t look up.
“We’ll come up with something amazing.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Sadie pushed out of the apartment and closed the door behind her. She pulled up her phone and checked the camera she’d set up inside. The connection worked just fine, and she could see Lottie. She’d just let David know she was going to close up early and be right back up.
She found David kneeling on the floor, cleaning up the paint that had flung off the roller.
He looked up as she approached. His eyes kind, worried. “Is Lottie okay?”
“We’re working through it. Did Mrs. Allen pick out a paint color?” Sadie knelt down next to David. He’d scrubbed a lot of the paint, but there were still spots.
“No. She said she’ll be back later.” David leaned back on his heels. The understanding that seemed to emanate from his very core melted the defenses Sadie kept in place.
Warning bells rang in her head.
Why did he still affect her? Hadn’t her past history with him taught her to keep her walls up? She held her hand out for the rag. “I’ll finish.”
David shook his head. “I am sorry, Sadie.”
She let out a long sigh, closed her eyes, dropped her hand. How many years had she longed to hear those words?
“I’m sorry for how things ended ten years ago. And I’m sorry for bringing everything up this week.” His warm voice oozed sincerity, and when she opened her eyes, his entire body leaned forward toward her.
It would be so easy to touch him. To cup his face and feel his smooth skin. Physical chemistry had never lacked between them, and obviously it still didn’t. But there was so much more to think about now—Lottie, her future, the store.
Sadie cleared her dry throat and looked away. “David.”
“Maybe it’s better if I’m not here when Lottie is around.”
That wouldn’t change anything. Sadie shook her head. “Lottie likes you. She’s talked about you non-stop since she met you.”
David’s lips lifted in a quirk, but Sadie looked away. She would not focus on his lips. “She’s a good kid.”
David sat close enough that his clean scent mixed with the paint. “Do you remember when we knocked a gallon of paint over?”
Sadie couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped.
Oh, she remembered all right. She’d just finished mixing a gallon of paint for a construction company and hadn’t gotten the lid on tight enough after she’d checked the color. David met her behind the counter, kissing her hello. When he finished saying hello, she stepped back, knocking the entire gallon on the floor. They’d had a huge mess to clean up. Her dad had taken the price of that gallon out of her salary, but David’s kiss had been more than worth it.
“Things are a lot different now.” No longer young or naive or willing to sneak kisses. “ We’re different. Different time in life, different futures, different dreams. My life is here, with Lottie. Your life is full of adventure, a long way from here.”
David nodded, but the carefree look that had crossed his face vanished. His shoulders tightened and then relaxed, like he was forcing himself to be calm. “You’re right. Things are different. But I’m here.”
“For now.” She had to remember this was only temporary. “As long as we both remember that you’re leaving, and I’m staying.” The words hurt. They shouldn’t—she’d given up her dreams of a future with David years ago.
David stood up, nodding toward the door. “I’ll close tonight. You need to be with Lottie.”
Standing, Sadie wiped her hands on her jeans. “You don’t mind?”
“Not at all.” David stepped back, creating space between them. Necessary space.
Sadie’s cell phone buzzed, and she pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the screen—Doris, Lottie’s aunt. “Thank you. I need to take this call. See you tomorrow.”
Sadie left the store and stepped onto the sidewalk before answering the call. The cool evening air wrapped around her, calming her nerves. The town square in front of the store was peaceful, and Otis sat in the midst of the playground, thankfully facing away from the hardware store.
Sadie swiped the screen of her phone to answer the call. Doris’s crisp, nasally voice breathed irritation through the connection. She could almost picture her sitting at her stately desk looking like she’d just sucked on a lemon. “Lottie missed her scheduled call with me this afternoon. I’ve been waiting.”
Sadie rubbed her forehead. She’d completely forgotten that today was supposed to be their first video call on the iPad. Doris had bought the device for Lottie for the sole purpose of video chats once a week. “I’m so sorry, Doris. Lottie had a busy day at school, and this afternoon has been tough. Can I have her call you tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow doesn’t work for me. That’s why we picked Fridays. I want to talk to her. Now.”
Not after Mrs. Allen’s comment. Doris was the last person that could help Lottie right now. “I’m sorry, but Lottie’s not able to chat today. Name another day, and I promise we will connect you two.”
“Today works for me. It’s on you to make your schedule work on our agreed upon times. You assured me we would be able to visit when you moved my niece away from the only blood relatives she has. We’ll have to wait until our next scheduled time.”
Sadie made an appointment in her calendar, with three alerts, so next week she didn’t forget the video chat with Lottie’s aunt.
If only saving a store, supporting a grief-stricken nine-year-old, and keeping her treacherous heart from speeding up around her ex could be as easy as setting a reminder on her phone.
He should let it go.
David’s hand shook as he picked up another box in his grandpa’s barn Saturday morning. The sun shone through the open barn door. Dust danced in the light. Much the way the light had streamed through the now clean window at the hardware store yesterday. The way it had haloed around Sadie when he’d held her hand.
Sadie carried the grief she felt so tightly wrapped away it still had David wanting to race back to the hardware store and offer his shoulder for her to cry on. It wasn’t David’s fault someone thought Lottie was his daughter.
But the picture of happily ever after that came wrapped up with that—well?—
Not another second could be given to that thought.
Even if things had changed with Sadie since their conversation on Monday. As foolhardy as it had been to bring up the past, hashing everything out had changed things. Gone was the lonely bitter feeling every time David thought about Sadie, replaced with gut-wrenching thoughts of what if .
What if he’d talked to her before he left for Costa Rica?
What if he’d verbally extended his offer to join him?
What if he’d reached out over the years?
Regret was a horrible companion.
Metal clinked loudly as David set the box on the workbench. Saw blades—but not lawnmower blades, which is what he was looking for.
A low rumble of a car motor sounded before it shut off and doors closed. David grabbed a rag sitting on the workbench and wiped off the dust coating his hands as he walked to the barn entrance. He wasn’t expecting any company today.
Nate walked toward him as Olivia unbuckled their two-year-old daughter, Charis, from her car seat.
“You brought Olivia for backup. Something must be on your mind.” David didn’t have enough energy to tag team an argument with his cousins.
Nate chuckled and looked back at his wife. “We stopped to see Mr. Washburn. Do you remember him?”
“Not really.”
“He’s been in charge of our summer Bible camps for years. Well, until the last few. His daughter and son-in-law have been caring for him, but the end is near. Olivia wanted to make sure they had some dinner since the whole family has been called into town. On the way home, Charis said she had to use the potty, and when a potty-training toddler says it’s time to go, you stop. So, here we are.”
“Hi, Unca David,” Charis called as Oliva hurried toward the house.
David waved back. “She does know I’m not her uncle, right?”
Nate shrugged. “Probably not. But like Caroline’s kids call Austin and me uncle, I think it’s okay. We’re family, after all.”
Family. A luxury David had given up when he moved to Costa Rica. In so many ways, he’d been a recluse long before he was forced to return to Heritage.
David walked back into the barn. “While you’re here, I need some help. Bent the mower blade and Grandpa had a few extras listed on the log he kept of the items in the barn. I’m hoping they’re still there. Make yourself useful.”
Nate cleared his throat as he opened a box and pulled out a paintbrush. “Oh, this reminds me. Mrs. Allen wants someone?—”
“To paint her kitchen. I know. She stopped by Hoover’s last night for Canary or Daffodil or some kind of yellow. Thought I was Lottie’s dad.”
“That’s why you’re not working today?”
“I closed last night. Sadie said to take the weekend off. I’ll go back Monday. Maybe.” David set another box down. Sprinkler parts.
“Why wouldn’t you go back?”
“Did you know Lottie’s dad passed away? And as a toddler, her mom was killed in a car accident?”
Nate picked up a box and set it on the workbench. He wiped his hands on his jeans and then opened it. “You are in a unique position to understand that little girl’s grief.”
“I wasn’t that young when my mom died. And I’m not sure what happened to my father. He could still be out there for all I know.”
“Even so, you understand loss.”
“Last night when I went to bed, all I could think about was Sadie and Lottie. I need to remain focused.” On Costa Rica. Not on what-ifs and what would never be.
Nate put the brush back in the box and closed it up. “It’s okay to think about something other than yourself, David.”
Returning to Costa Rica wasn’t being selfish. Serving God required sacrifice, and David was giving up everything. Besides, by giving up family, he couldn’t hurt the people he loved. David thrust his shaking hands forward. “I don’t shake at the hardware store. Explain that.”
Nate moved the box and set it down, clapping his hands to remove some of the dust that had collected there. “Human interaction, David. How does it feel? A good woman?—”
“No, Nate. Don’t go there.”
“What happened between you two?”
A complete misunderstanding. “I messed up.” David leaned against the tool bench, crossing his arms against his chest. “All these years I thought when she walked away from me, that she was breaking up with me. Turns out she thought I broke up with her. She said she would have followed me anywhere. I wonder if my mistakes started before I even knew that I was making them.”
Nate opened another box and pulled out a cardboard tube. He held it up and shrugged. David had no idea what was in there. Nate opened the top and dumped the papers on the worktable.
“What’s that?” David looked at the papers Nate unrolled, the edges worn and yellowed, and placed them on the workbench.
“Those look like the old plans or surveys for the farm. Those should really be inside.” Nate rolled the papers back up and carefully put them back inside the tube, setting them aside.
David selected another box and opened it. A huge clock packaged inside with the words Heritage, Michigan printed neatly along the top. The Victorian house that had once sat on the town square was painted a muted black behind the watch hands.
“Is there a chance you and Sadie could pick up where you left off?” Nate set the tube of plans by the barn door and packed up the box they came from.
“Sadie was quick to point out how much we’ve changed.” David ran his fingers along the filagree of the clock inside the box. “Our futures and our dreams. Hers is here with Lottie, and I can’t argue with that. I wouldn’t want to hurt her. Again.”
“Mistakes don’t have to end a relationship, but walking away from one does. Talk to her. Apologize. Move on. People make mistakes, David. Every day. You can ask Olivia how many times I’ve messed up. But you know what? I apologize, she forgives me, and we move on. That’s how relationships work.”
David shook his head. It couldn’t be that simple. Because his dad had messed up. His mom forgave him, and then his dad messed up again. Over and over. David couldn’t fall into that pattern.
“Did you find the lawnmower blades? You’ve been looking at that box for a while.” Nate peeked in the box, the large clock face still frozen in time. Nate let out a whistle. “That’s a piece of Heritage history right there.”
History. In part of Lottie’s rambling yesterday, she had talked about her history project and how she wanted something unique and different to write about. “Know anything about this clock?”
Nate shook his head.
“Lottie says the fourth graders are all writing a paper about the history of Heritage for that town fair in October.” He could take the clock into the hardware store. Show Lottie. Maybe he could even give her the clock and quit his job. “Do you think the board would be okay if I quit my job at Hoover’s?”
Nate picked up another box and let it thud on the workbench. “Why would you quit?”
“Really? We’ve been over this. Sadie and I are in different places. Plus, I’m not sure if I’m good for Lottie.”
Nate nodded. “If we’re playing connect the dots, I’m not following that order. Doesn’t Sadie need help at the hardware store?”
“Of course she does.”
“And you can’t provide that help?”
He’d helped patch up the wall, repaint. And made some pretty decent sales.
He heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet growing louder, and David turned to see Charis running toward him at her two-year-old top speed. “Unca David!”
He knelt and scooped her up. “Hey, Charis!”
“Kittens fun! Want one.”
“You want Uno?”
Olivia laughed. “I think we like Cinco.”
“Vangie and Becca have called dibs on Uno and Dos, so consider Cinco yours. They all need homes before I leave, so feel free to spread the word. I have two more.”
“How are things at Hoover’s?” Olivia stepped forward and started looking around on the workbench.
David shrugged. “I’m not sure if I should continue. Someone thought I was Lottie’s dad. And things with Sadie are…”
“Tense? I get it. It would be weird. But honestly, it doesn’t matter. I think you’ll be good for Lottie.”
David lifted an eyebrow and smirked at Nate. “You guys could certainly tag team.”
“It’s normal after being married. But seriously, we choose how to impact those we love. Sometimes people are only around a short time. But each relationship can have an important impact in someone’s life.”
The clock sat nestled in the box still sitting on the workbench. He could have a positive impact on Lottie if he gave her the clock and if she chose to look into it. She’d have that unique topic she wanted.
And even if it was only a few weeks, David was helping at the hardware store. Sadie knew the arrangement had an end date. She probably had a countdown till his departure. Too bad he didn’t have a number to give her.
“You knew Lottie’s dad, didn’t you?” Olivia’s hand found her hip and she flipped her long hair over her shoulder. “I bet you could tell her about your memories.”
Nate picked up another box and settled it on the table. “Think of the impact that could have on her.”
“Is this what you’re looking for?” Olivia held a lawnmower blade in her hand.
Nate wrapped his arm around Olivia’s waist and kissed her temple. “How did you know?”
“The lawnmower was left in the middle of the yard, only half mowed, David has grass stains on his jeans. And you guys are digging through boxes.”
“Where was it?” David placed his hands on his hips. Nothing seemed to be missing.
Olivia pointed to the wall behind some old Folger cans.
Nate closed up the box and put it back where he’d taken it from. “We should be going now. Let you get back to work.”
Work. David looked down at the clock.
Yes, he’d be going back to work.