“Mine too,” Sadie adds, her voice thick with emotion. “You won’t have to do this alone.”
“We’ll be there for you, and for Lukas, in any way you need us to be, honey.”
Pulling back, Sadie swipes her hand over her cheek. “You need a sitter, I got you.”
“Really?” Pressure builds behind my eyes. It’s what I was hoping she’d say, but hearing it makes it more real. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.” She smiles. “If Lukas is going to be your family, then he’s ours too.”
A weight lifts off my shoulders at hearing her say that. “Thank you,” I say. “Both of you.”
For the first time since I met that boy with the sad eyes and clenched jaw, the tightness in my chest loosens. I know I’ve got a long road ahead of me, and I know my life is about to change exponentially, in more ways than I probably even realize, but knowing I have their support—and hearing Gentry and Hollis tell me they believes in me—makes me think I can really do this. Like I can really make a difference in Lukas’s life.
I couldn’t save his dad.
But maybe I can sit outside his door.
I’m parked outside Misty’s Diner, my heart in my throat, as I work up the courage to walk inside and meet Lukas and his grandma. I’ve been sitting on this decision for a couple of days now, and even though my head is still screaming at me that I don’t know the first thing about taking care of a teenager, my heart, overwhelmingly, wants to do this. Lukas needs somebody, and for whatever reason, he thinks that someone is me.
And so does Gentry, which took me by surprise.
So, here I am… About to change my entire life, anxious as all hell, and my stomach a tight, twisty, uncomfortable knot, but I’m doing it.
I don’t know if they’re already here yet, because I don’t know what his grandma drives…nor do I know what she looks like, or even what her name is.
This is so bizarre. Never in a million years did I think I’d be walking into a diner, knowing I’m going to walk back out with a kid I’m now responsible for who I met three months ago.
Stepping inside, I scan the restaurant, my heart pounding hard against my ribs. It takes a minute, but I spot Lukas. He waves me over to a table in the far back corner. Next to him is a woman who looks like she’s seen better days. Her silver hair is tied in a knot on the top of her head, and her eyes are tired, with dark bags underneath that I have a feeling are from more than just lack of sleep.
She meets my gaze as I approach, and my stomach dips. Her smile is barely there, but it seems genuine as I extend my hand across the table. “Hi, ma’am. You must be Lukas’s grandma,” I say. “I’m Remi. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Please, call me Wynona.” Her voice is hoarse, and if I had to guess, between that and the slight orange stain on some of her fingers, I’d say she’s a pretty heavy smoker. “Handsome fella, aren’t ya.”
“Grandma,” Lukas hisses as I chuckle and sit in the chair across from them.
“What? I’m just bein’ honest, Grandson. Look at him.” Wynona gestures toward me. “The blue eyes and dimples? Bet he’s quite the ladies’ man.”
Lukas shakes his head, his cheeks flooding a deep shade of red. “I’m so sorry about her,” he murmurs. “Apparently, the older you get, the less of a filter you need to have.”
I chuckle. “That’s okay. I don’t mind.”
He chews on the inside of his cheek for a moment. “I’m… I’m surprised to see you.”
My chest aches, but I flash him a warm smile. “Well, who am I to turn down such a fine dinner invitation?”
Lukas huffs a breath and nods.
If this is as awkward as it is for me, I can’t even imagine what he must be feeling. I have no clue how this is supposed to go, or what I’m supposed to say. Part of me feels like I’m interviewing for the part, like I should put my best qualities on display for this woman. But the other part of me gets the feeling this is more of a formality than anything else, because when Lukas showed up at the firehouse the other day, it seemed like his grandma wasn’t too concerned about where he ended up, so long as he hadsomewhereto go.
But maybe I’m wrong.
Clearing my throat, I look at Wynona. “I’m not too sure how this is supposed to go, but I’m open to sharin’ anythin’ about myself that you’d like to know.”
“I’ve already done a little diggin’ on you, son,” she quips with a rough chuckle.
I raise my eyebrows, the corner of my mouth twitching with amusement. “Is that so? And what kinda diggin’ are we talkin’ about?”
“Asked around the firehouse about you.”
