Chapter 6

six

T he idea of a relaxing evening at the park on Tuesday, enjoying the cool temperatures, had sounded ideal when Sadie suggested it, but as Lottie held Sadie's hand and yanked her across the playground to the monkey bars, Sadie realized she'd made a fatal mistake. Empty parks were not relaxing with an energetic child.

And energetic children wouldn't just sit and swing. Sadie glanced at the empty swing set. Her aching feet could use a break.

Even her daughter's excitement and energy couldn't help her outrun her thoughts of David. No matter what she'd done since Friday's conversation with him, she hadn't been able to escape the memory of his understanding gaze, the supportive way he stepped in to clean up without making her feel like she was helpless. The way he'd affirmed her skills as a mother when she'd wondered if she was failing.

Nothing could stop her thoughts from returning to David. Not the happy squeals of Lottie as she jumped down from the monkey bars. Or when she climbed to the top of the ladder and slid down, laughing. Or her energy as she raced toward the swings, her arms above her head.

Sadie had spent the day hauling boxes from the back room, but no matter how many trips to the dumpster, she hadn't been able to stop David's kind words from replaying in her mind.

Sadie stretched her neck, letting the cool evening air blow the hair from her face as Lottie jumped off the swing and climbed up to the top of the slide again.

At least the back room was fairly clean, thanks to David running the front of the store today. They'd been able to work without any mention of Friday night. Partly because she'd kept busy in the room that she'd found filled with mislabeled boxes.

It had almost been a relief to find a project she could take on alone, because she needed some space from her new employee . Simply being near him had made her long for things that would never be. The excess number of boxes had provided the perfect reason to stay out of his way.

"Mom! Mom! Watch me!" Lottie's voice rang out with all the happiness of a carefree child, but the volume had Sadie rubbing her temples as she watched her daughter sitting backwards on top of the slide. She pushed off and slid down, landed with a thud, and then ran to the monkey bars.

Advil. If she could make it materialize in her pocket, she'd swallow it without any water.

"Look, Mom!" Lottie grabbed the bar, pulled herself up and worked herself into a sitting position on top of the bar.

Talk about making Sadie's heart pump fast. All she'd wanted was to sit and swing for a bit, not get dragged all over the playground.

"Hi, Mr. Williams!" Lottie waved frantically, and Sadie followed her line of vision. David stood next to a gold Subaru Brat and returned Lottie's wave.

Lottie landed with a thump next to Sadie, kicking up some sand, which pelted Sadie. Thank goodness for jeans.

Lottie ran to greet David, giving him an energetic high five.

A deep laugh sounded, and the light breeze carried it over to Sadie, doing funny things to her stomach. She hated to admit that the old pull toward David hadn't died, and instead, it reignited with a stronger tug each time she saw him.

In his forest green flannel shirt that made Sadie want to run her fingers over his shoulders—just to find out if the shirt was as soft at it looked—jeans, and work boots, he did cut a fine figure. The perfect boy-next-door good looks only made him more appealing as his lips parted into a breathtaking grin. He could be on the cover of any outdoor magazine.

Sadie inhaled—she would calm her heart rate before he reached her. There was no reason it should be racing right now. No reason at all.

When deep breathing didn't work, Sadie turned and walked toward the swing that she'd wanted to sit on all night and used her foot to push herself forward and back.

"Hey." David's velvety soft voice sent a thrill through her. "This seat taken?" He held the chain of the swing next to her.

Sadie shook her head and he sat down, swinging in time with her. The perfect relaxing moment she'd pictured in her head.

"Watch this, Mr. Williams!" Lottie jumped up, grabbed the monkey bars, and then pulled her legs through to skin the cat. She let go of the bars and landed on both feet with her arms in the air like a professional gymnast.

David's eyebrows shot up, and he clapped. "Nicely done, Lottie."

Lottie bowed dramatically then pointed at the old one-room schoolhouse across the square. "Can I go to the library? It's closing soon."

Sadie barely nodded before Lottie took off at top speed toward the library.

"I'll be right behind you," Sadie called after Lottie, who raised one hand without pausing her stride. At least Lottie had given her an easy out. A few minutes' chat, and she could follow.

"I didn't expect to see you still in town." He'd gotten off a few hours ago.

"Unca David?" A young voice called across the square. A tiny little girl ran toward them with David's sisters a few feet behind.

David stood and scooped up the little girl, who squeezed him around his neck.

"I can't wait to come play in my fairy house. What kind of dessert are you making?" The little girl pressed a sloppy kiss on David's cheek. His entire body seemed to soften with the girl's embrace. The adoration between the two was clear as the child pressed both her hands on his cheeks and pushed his lips out, forcing him to make a face.

Rather than fight her, he wiggled his brows and spoke in a deep and silly—yet still somehow swoony—voice. "What kind of dessert do you want?"

The little girl giggled. "S'mores. Mommy said that's what we'd have."

"As you wish, Vangie."

Be still her heart. David on his own was attractive, but David holding a little girl who obviously adored him? Wow.

Just wow.

Sadie's unruly heart picked up speed again.

Caroline and Leah joined them, saying a brief but friendly hello to Sadie before turning their attention to their brother.

"You guys finished Bible study early." Leah bumped David's shoulder.

"Yeah. Grant was going to hang with Nate until Caroline was ready to head home." David shrugged and set his wiggling niece down.

"What brings you to the square?" Leah stepped to the side as the little girl raced toward the slide.

David sat back down next to Sadie. "Donny's."

"Are you ready for all of us this weekend?" Caroline watched her daughter climb the ladder to the top of the slide.

"As ready as ever. There's not much for me to do. You guys are bringing the sides. Meat's bought, and the fire pit and fairy house have been finished for a few weeks."

Caroline's attention fell on Sadie. "We're all having a cookout at David's on Saturday. You should come. Bring your daughter."

Spend time with David outside of work? With his family who clearly adored him? That would only give her more thoughts to attempt to outrun. Maybe she should take up running as a hobby.

Sadie stood up, brushing her hands down her jeans. "Thanks for the invite, but the store is open on Saturday. I'm going to get Lottie. She's at the library."

"We're going that way, and we'll get her for you. Why don't you come out to David's after you close Saturday? We're meeting for dinner anyway. David built a fire pit, and we're roasting hot dogs."

"And s'mores!" The little girl ran up and climbed into David's lap. He kicked off, swinging slowly.

"Please come," Leah chimed in.

Sadie glanced at David. He'd know how uncomfortable this would be. His brows turned down slightly, and a brief flash of something, maybe hesitation, clouded his eyes. "Of course you should come."

Did David's voice sound flat? That right there was why she couldn't go. "I appreciate that, but?—"

"Lottie would have a blast. Think on it. But seriously, David, don't take no for an answer. Come on, Vangie, let's hit the library before it closes. We'll check on Lottie. You stay here and chat." Caroline held out her hand to Vangie, who kissed David on the cheek and jumped off his lap.

Leah lifted her eyebrows at David as if sending him a message, but David just sent an annoyed look back. "I'm gonna go with them. Have fun, you two."

Caroline and Leah walked away, swinging Vangie between them. Apparently, there was no escape from David.

Sadie sank back into the swing and David's knee bumped hers. Her face heated as he studied her.

He was close enough that the lighter brown flecks in his eyes were discernible. How many times had she dreamed about those eyes over the years? Even with a few lines around the outside corners, the intensity of his gaze stole her breath.

"Sorry about them." His deep voice was quiet. Soothing.

"Siblings, right?" Hers could be just as crazy. Demanding information and begging for secrets where none existed. Especially Romee. Okay, only Romee. She couldn't remember the last time she had talked to Anna, didn't even know where her sister was right now. Her job kept her moving around. And her brother? Well, Toby kept mostly to himself.

David's lips tilted upward, drawing Sadie's attention. Nope—not that.

Sadie stood, the gazebo an easy escape. There were no memories of David in a gazebo. His hand moved like he might take hold of hers, but he quickly dropped it before he made contact.

"Wait." His quiet, deep voice sent a chill down her spine. "I'm sorry."

"For?" Sadie sat back down and pushed her swing back gently.

"You were right. I don't have any right to ask you about Jeremy. And I could have…" he seemed to be weighing his next words "handled Costa Rica differently. Better."

"David, I don't think?—"

"I know." He held up his hand. "I'm not trying to get you back. You have your life, and I have mine. I just wanted you to know I am sorry for how it went down. And I want…to be friends again. After all, we do have to work together. It would be nice not to always be?—"

"On edge?"

"Exactly."

Sadie nodded and pushed off again. "And I am also sorry. I could have handled Costa Rica better. And a friend would be nice. Lottie adores you."

David matched her pace, swinging next to her. In elementary school, they would have been "married" because their swings were in sync.

Great, why had her mind gone there? She leaned back in her swing, giving it a little more oomph, but David matched her move.

"Do you remember the last time we were on swings together?" His gaze could light her skin on fire.

Oh, she remembered. She remembered everything when it came to David. And that was why she should've gone to the library with Lottie.

"It was the night before our last Christmas." There had been a park near the university, and they'd walked over, hand in hand.

"I'd stuck around school so we could drive back to Heritage together." David stretched his legs out, mirroring Sadie's movements.

"It was cold that night." She'd had her heaviest coat on, and still the air had nipped at her.

David slowed his swing.

Sadie let her foot touch the ground, scraping the dirt enough to stay in sync with him. She shouldn't, but she wanted to know what David would say. Had he ever thought about her after he left?

"I don't remember the temperature." David's voice was barely audible. His cheeks bloomed red.

Sadie stopped her swing. She hadn't been cold that night once David had felt her shiver—mainly because his kisses had kept her plenty warm. She rubbed her damp hands down her pants. Even the memory heated her.

What David didn't know? That she'd returned to that park after their breakup. Sat in the swing. Bonnie had found her there, sobbing.

"Maybe I don't remember that night." Sadie stood up. She couldn't do this again. Memory lane was overrated. "I appreciate the invite to dinner on Saturday, but —"

"I thought we agreed on friends."

Sadie gestured at the swing. "Friends don't walk down romantic memory lane. Friends don't look at each other like…"—she waved in the direction of his face—"that."

"You're right. I'm sorry. I'll be good. Just come."

"I don't think?—"

"Mom!" Lottie's voice and running footsteps pulled her attention away from the man in front of her. "We're going to dinner at Mr. Williams's? Did you know he built a fairy house? And I get to see it. Vangie says it's gonna be awesome. And s'mores? I love s'mores!"

"Have you ever even had s'mores?" Sadie walked toward Lottie, a welcome break from David and their past.

Lottie shook her head, her red curls bouncing behind her. "Nope. What are they?"

David's deep chuckle rumbled behind Sadie, and she hated the goosebumps that broke across her neck. He'd moved closer, and she hadn't even realized it.

"They're delicious," he said. "You'll find out on Saturday."

So much for offering an excuse. She hadn't considered that Caroline and Leah would talk to Lottie about dinner. There was no way out now.

Lottie skipped around Sadie to David and latched on to his hand. "Did you really build a fairy house?"

David held up his free hand. "With my own two hands."

"That's so cool!"

David nodded to his truck. "That reminds me. I found something this weekend I thought you might like to see. It's in the bed of my truck."

Lottie's head bobbled up and down. "Can I see? Oh, did you see Otis? The librarian let me read a book to him, as long as I promised to bring the book back before I left. I did."

Sure enough, Otis sat next to the library, looking toward the updated one-room schoolhouse. Sadie had been so consumed with David she'd missed an incredible photo op.

She would not miss out on anything else tonight, so she hurried to catch up to Lottie as she skipped next to David, holding his hand. Once Sadie caught up, Lottie held her hand too, connecting the three of them.

Like a family.

As they neared the back of David's small truck, he let go of Lottie's hand and opened the hatch. He picked the little girl up and set her onto the bed of the truck.

Next to a large, dusty…box. Hadn't she cleaned out enough boxes today?

David peeled it open, and Lottie sat on her knees and looked inside.

"Wow!" Lottie pulled some old newspaper from inside the box.

Curiosity won, and Sadie stepped closer to David. Her arm brushed against his, sending all kinds of mixed feelings over her skin as she stood on her tiptoes and looked into the box. Inside, a good-sized, round clock—probably close to two feet across—filled the entire thing.

Sadie traced the words Heritage, Michigan welded into the metal at the top of the clock. Filigree surrounded the large face where the outline of a familiar building was painted.

"That's the old Manor." Sadie's breath caught. She'd forgotten how beautiful the Manor had been, even in its dilapidated state. But it had been painted on the clock face in all its beauty.

Lottie plunged her small hands into the box and tried to lift the clock. It didn't budge.

David leaned even closer to the box, brushing past Sadie and filling her senses with his clean, soapy scent.

"The clock is pretty heavy. I left it in here to keep it safe."

"It doesn't work." Lottie pointed at the hands.

"Maybe that's why it's not displayed anymore. But I thought maybe you could look into it for your history paper."

Lottie clasped her hands in front of her. "This will be awesome! I'm going to be like Nancy Drew. I'll call it The Case of the Square Clock . Get it? The Heritage Square clock, since that's what this is." Lottie pointed at the square. "But the clock is round?" Lottie giggled at her own joke.

"What if the clock wasn't displayed on the square?" Sadie couldn't help but tease Lottie, whose excitement was contagious.

"Then I'll rename my case." Lottie moved to the edge of the truck and sat down swinging her legs.

David ruffled Lottie's hair as she passed by, and Lottie—who would normally fuss if anyone touched her hair—launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his shoulders. He caught her and carefully set her on the ground.

"Thanks, Mr. Williams. I'm gonna win the contest for sure."

"You will. No one else will have a paper on the missing clock."

"Contest?" How was it that David knew more about Lottie's schoolwork than she did?

"Miss Pimpermill says that the top three projects will be displayed at the fall festival to celebrate the 150th birthday of Heritage. I'm so going to win. Mom, can we take the clock inside?"

Sadie shook her head. "I don't have a place for the clock."

"The back room, Mom. It's clean now. We could leave it there. Please?"

If ever a kid had mastered the puppy dog look, it was Lottie. "If the clock is coming in, it's not coming in that box." Sadie drew the line in the proverbial sand, and she'd die there. No more boxes today.

"Want me to take it in for you?" David pulled the clock out of the box. The back of his shirt stretched tight against his muscles as he lifted it.

Sadie's mouth dried out. So much for the relaxing night she'd hoped for.

Now she had a clock she didn't want, dinner plans she couldn't get out of, and a daughter who had more energy now than an hour ago when they went to the park.

Next time she wanted to relax, she'd take a bubble bath.

On Saturday, laughter rang across his grandparents' property. His nieces ran around the kid-sized fairy house he'd built, and his sisters and cousins gathered around the fire pit.

And yet, David couldn't bring himself to join in. His hands were damp as he wiped them on his jeans. His conversation with Lance from moments ago like flashing neon lights in front of him.

Bring someone with you. Not only did he need to drop everything for a friendly dinner with Lance and Marco next weekend, but they wanted him to bring someone with him?

They'd said they were going to check up on him, be in touch. Lance had even mentioned coming in person, but a dinner? With a plus-one? That's not what David had pictured. They knew he wasn't dating, so why ask for a plus-one? If they wanted Nate to be there, they would have just invited him.

"Vangie, you're it." Lottie's familiar voice rang out as she ran around the yard.

David immediately searched the group and found Sadie talking to Leah. She must have arrived while he'd been in the house, and he hadn't heard her car pull up.

His heart squeezed. More than anything, he wanted to go greet her. Simply stand next to her, feel her soft hand brush his arm as they talked—about their day, the store. Find out how Lottie's history project was going. Anything to be near her and enjoy the calm that surrounded her.

But he couldn't. He didn't have the right.

"You found it. Good." Nate took the fire poker from David's hand—the reason he'd been in the house. He'd completely ignored everything around him as he stood and watched Sadie. "You know, you could go talk to her."

But he couldn't. She was right. Their lives were different. Their futures didn't line up. It was easier, healthier, to keep his distance.

David grabbed the poker back and walked toward the fire. "Lance called while I was in the barn. He and Marco are coming into town next weekend. Want me to meet them for dinner. Are you free?"

"No. Mr. Washburn passed away earlier this week. His funeral will be next weekend. Besides, if they wanted me there, they would have asked me."

David ran his hand through his hair. It had been worth a shot.

"You could ask Sadie."

David stumbled and slowed his pace. He didn't want anyone to hear this conversation. "What? No. Why would I ask Sadie?"

Nate slowed next to him. "I could think of a few reasons. I mean, look at you. Are you blushing? What are you, sixteen?"

Great. He'd spent the week trying to keep his growing feelings under wraps, but he'd obviously failed. Maybe he'd been a fool to agree to being just friends with how he felt, but she was right. With him returning to Costa Rica, there wasn't a future for them now any more than there had been before. And the last thing he wanted was to scare her away.

David used his shoulder and shoved Nate, trying to play the suggestion off as a joke. Thankfully, the guys were already talking, and Caroline and Leah had stepped over toward the fairy house to visit with Sadie. "Don't be ridiculous. I'll ask Leah."

"Hate to break it to you, but we'll all be at the funeral." Nate took the poker and moved the logs in the fire pit around.

Austin turned toward them. "Mr. Washburn always liked our roses. One of our first customers."

"Leah and Caroline signed up to help with the meal for the family after the service." Jon confirmed what Nate had said. Too bad he wouldn't be able to bring one of them.

The flames of the fire lapped up the fresh log Grant added.

Who else could he ask? He'd met Seth at the gym but didn't know him well enough to ask him to come along. Mrs. Allen? He'd started painting her kitchen. She probably would come if he asked, but that would be unusual at best.

The guys laughed, and he looked up to see them all studying him. "What?"

Austin crossed his arms over his chest. "Seriously, man. Don't let your pride rob you of a good time. Libby and I almost didn't happen because of mine."

Grant lifted the can of root beer in his hand. "Pride almost kept Caroline and me apart."

Nate slapped David on the shoulder. "Ask Sadie."

David shook his head. It wasn't that simple. "She'll probably be at the funeral."

Nate scrubbed his face and shook his head."She hasn't been back in town that long. And she was gone for a lot of years. I bet she's not going."

Sadie's head fell back as she laughed at something Leah said. Her shoulders relaxed. Her movements carefree. Something in David's gut twisted—he'd always loved when Sadie had laughed. The sound airy and whimsical. "Then she'd have Lottie."

Austin took a long swig of his Coke. "Guess you're going alone."

Could he though? It seemed everything was a test. A measurement of whether or not he was ready to return to Costa Rica. Lance wanted David to bring a plus-one. He had to figure something out.

Lottie and Vangie skipped up again, holding hands. Lottie had a large, dead leaf in her hand. "When can we eat, Mr. Williams?"

Vangie giggled and pointed at David."Mr. Williams? Call him Unca David. We all do."

Lottie's large brown eyes looked up at him. A longing flashed there, but it was gone in an instant. "He's not my uncle. I have one of those. Uncle Patrick. I don't want to go visit them."

David knew the feeling of being hoisted on family. Maybe Lottie had those same feelings. "Why's that?"

She shrugged. "They always make me eat all the food on my plate. Aunt Doris always makes me eat the vegetables. And even makes me lumpy smoothies. They're gross and smell like grass. I have to go stay with them next weekend."

"Next weekend? Did you hear that, David?" Austin's elbow nudged into David's side.

Oh, he'd heard all right. But ask Sadie? If she were there, could he get through the meeting without Sadie knowing he was fighting for his job? His calling? How he'd been benched by his mission board?

Vangie tugged on David's sleeve. "When are we going to eat?"

"How about now?" David quickly and easily got everyone's attention, and Vangie offered a quick blessing on the food before the parents helped their kids roast hot dogs.

Everyone dished up their food, and dinner quickly flowed into marshmallow roasting. David hung back as the kids ate their fill of s'mores.

After the parents cut off the dessert intake for their children, the adults took their turns. David hung back until Nate handed him a stick. "Your turn."

Sadie stood next to the fire, keeping her own sugary treat high above the flames as she slowly spun it. David shook his head, his hands trembling.

"Seriously, man up." Nosy Nate. Maybe it would be David's new nickname for his cousin. Besides, he couldn't go over there and let Sadie see his shaking hands.

Before David could brace himself, Nate shoved him toward Sadie. Probably fair payback after earlier, but even so, David still sent his cousin a glare that would have stopped a lesser man. Nate chuckled and walked away.

"Having a good time?" David's voice squeaked a little. Maybe Nate was right. He'd reverted to a younger version of himself.

Sadie's lips tipped up on one side, letting David know she'd heard. She'd left her hair down, the long locks hanging over the front of her green sweater, curling up at the ends. "I forgot how much I always enjoyed being with your family."

David stuck the marshmallow in the fire. It only trembled slightly over the flame. "They are pretty cool. Lottie says she's going to be with her aunt and uncle next weekend?"

Sadie's back stiffened, and she lifted her chin slightly as she looked back toward the fire. "Doris insisted that Lottie visit, and what Doris wants, Doris gets."

David knew people like that.

Bring a plus-one, David.

Lance's voice echoed in his head. He turned his marshmallow above the flame, working the perfect golden color on all sides, and noticed the tremble was all but gone. Like when he worked at the hardware store.

Sadie's arm brushed his as she moved to check her own marshmallow. Heat shot up his arm, settling into his stomach. Her simple touch still had the power to turn a fire into an inferno.

Sadie moved her stick back into the fire, creating space between them. That brief, seemingly accidental touch had sent his mind whirling. Would it be better to let Lance down and show up to dinner alone, or ask Sadie?

David took a breath and let the words flow out. "I have to attend a dinner with my field administrator and executive director next Saturday. They asked me to bring someone…a friend. Would you be willing to go with me?"

Sadie's eyes jerked from the fire to his face. Her eyebrows rose, and her lips formed a cute little O. "Me?"

"We agreed on friends, right?" David motioned to the group. "And everyone is going to Mr. Washburn's funeral. You'd be doing me a solid favor if you could go."

Oh, that was smooth. Real smooth. Silence fell between them. He shouldn't have asked. A solid favor—he really was reverting to an immature version of himself. But before he could correct his blunder, Lottie walked up cradling a bundle of loudly purring fur in her arms.

"Mom, look at how cute she is. Can I take her home?" Lottie stepped close enough to encourage her mom to pet the cat.

Sadie shook her head. "Honey, he lives here with Mr. Williams. You can't take someone's pet."

Lottie's shoulders slumped.

Sadie rubbed a circle on Lottie's back. "But you can play with him here, okay? Just not next to the fire."

Lottie nodded and slowly walked back to the house where Vangie sat on the porch, probably with a kitten in her arms.

Every little girl needed a pet. David stepped closer and dropped his voice. "She can have a kitten."

Sadie's eyes opened wide. "We can't ask for a kitten."

"You're not. I'm offering. They've been inside and raised as pets. I'd like to find them homes before I head back to Costa Rica. If you want one, you can have one. They're old enough to be away from their mom now. Olivia and Nate are taking Cinco. Vangie and Becca have claimed Uno and Dos . Lottie is holding Cuatro. He can go home with you tonight."

"Numbers? Really, David?"

He shrugged. "Easy to remember."

Sadie looked back at the fire, her face unreadable. "Lottie would love a kitten. She's always wanted one, but Jeremy was allergic."

"Then this would be a win-win."

Sadie bit her bottom lip. Finally, she nodded. "Okay. If you're sure the kitten really needs a home. But I need supplies before I can take one home."

The smile that Sadie gave him stole his breath, and his marshmallow dropped a little too close to the flames, its side catching fire. He yanked it up and blew it out. A perfect marshmallow ruined.

"So…next weekend?" David's heart thundered in his ears. But Sadie didn't respond.

Instead, she pulled her roasting stick out of the fire. David followed her to the table with the makings for s'mores. Still Sadie said nothing. He shouldn't have asked. They were finally civil, and he'd ruined it with an invitation to dinner.

David fixed his s'more even though he had no intention of eating the burnt marshmallow. It gave him a little extra time with Sadie.

"I'll go." Her breathy response sent a thrill through him.

David's chest relaxed. "Really? Oh, that's great. I'll pick you up at five on Saturday. We'll have to drive to Grand Rapids."

Sadie nodded and sat down in an open chair between Leah and Libby, carefully nibbling a bite of her s'more.

Nate walked up next to him, chuckling. David handed him the burnt creation. "Don't let it go to waste."

Marshmallow dripped form Nate's mouth as he took a big bite. "Of course not. She said yes."

It wasn't a question. "How can you tell?"

"Her smile. It's a little wider."

Sadie relaxed next to his sister, looking content. There was no difference. There couldn't be. She was the one adamant that they could only be friends. She wasn't going with him as a date, but as a solid favor. He'd made that clear.