As they searched for the movie, Avery’s brow wrinkled, something she always did when she was thinking about something she wanted to say. He didn’t push her, knowing the question would come when she was ready.
“Daddy?”
He smiled. “Yeah, princess?”
“Do you think Mom will be back for me?”
“No.” His answer was instant, but it wasn’t a lie. Even if Jamie made a full recovery, she’d be tried for kidnapping and a few other things. Jail time was certain, and after what she’d done, no judge in the country would give her custody. “You’re safe with me and Sadie.”
The relief in her eyes felt like a sucker punch to his gut.
He grazed her shoulder. “I’m sorry about your mom.” He wasn’t sorry about what happened to Jamie—that was on her—just that she wasn’t the mother Avery deserved.
She shrugged. “I don’t really see her as my mom, anyway.”
“You don’t?”
“No. Sadie’s always been more of a mom to me than her. And I love that you two love each other, and we can be a family.”
“I love that too.” He wrapped an arm around Avery’s shoulders and kissed her head. “And I love you, kid.”
“I love you too, Daddy.”
The movie was just starting when he glanced out the window, already counting down the minutes until Sadie got back.
CHAPTER 28
Sadie parked out front of Sugar and Spice. Her heart was so full that she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. Eastern loved her. Then, afterthatlife-changing news, they’d spent the day as a family.
Images of the two of them waiting for her on the couch with hot cocoas made her heart beat just that bit faster. She was happy. So unbelievably happy that she almost didn’t want to blink in case it wasn’t real.
She climbed out of her car, noticing the closed sign on the door of the Misty Peak Liquor Store.
Strange. They were usually open until late. But whatever they did or didn’t do was none of her business.
When she stepped inside Sugar and Spice, Anna glanced up from behind the counter. “Thank you so much for coming in. I’m so sorry to ask. We were quiet when Marjory went home, and neither of us were thinking about a key to lock up.”
Anna was a newer staff member, and only the more senior staff had keys. “It’s totally fine. I’m glad you called me and not my grandmother.”
“She was in all morning, but she had to leave in a hurry around lunchtime. Do you know if everything’s okay with her?”
Sadie cringed. Her departure was probably because she’d received the voicemail from Sadie, asking her to call. She hadn’t wanted to tell her grandmother about the previous night because, of course, she’d worry…but she knew she had to.
“I spoke to her this afternoon. She’s okay.” She wasn’t ready to share what had happened with the other employees. Thanks to town gossip, they’d find out about Avery’s crazy alcoholic mother soon enough.
She scanned the clean store. “Looks like you’re all done.”
“Yep. We were quiet.” Anna’s phone rang and she glanced down at it, frowning. “Oh, it’s my sitter for my daughter.”
“Take it.”
Anna answered the phone, her frown deepening. “Okay. Yes, I’ll be home soon.” She hung up and lifted her bag. “My daughter’s sick. Is it okay if I—”
“Oh my gosh, yes, go. I’ll lock up.”
“Thanks, Sadie.”
As Anna left, Sadie walked around the counter, checking that everything was as it should be. It wasn’t until she reached the kitchen in the back that she noticed the bag in the trash was sealed but hadn’t been taken out.
