In true Snowdrift fashion, the prayer chain and meal trains got to work, making sure the young widow was fed, prayed over, and loved on from the moment the news broke. It was a tragedy of the highest degree, but not one Trinity would have to endure alone.
Sarah’s grip tightened on the paper bag. “I should probably get this over to her while it’s still hot.” Standing to go, she used her other free hand to zip Laney’s diaper bag before sliding the strap up her shoulder. She motioned toward her brother for the sweet little girl still happily coloring away on her snowman masterpiece. “I can take her from you.”
“You know what? I’ve got a few hours until my next snowmobiling run. How about I take Laney with me to the shop? That way you can spend some time with Trinity without having to keep this little gal wrangled.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out.”
“You’re not. I offered.”
Sarah supposed that was true. She also supposed she needed to start being better at accepting the help of others, especially when it was her own family graciously offering their support. She’d had a solid year of doing it all by herself, so learning to lean on her community didn’t come naturally.
“I really appreciate that, Hold. I’ll come by before two to pick her up.” She passed off the diaper bag, then leaned to plant a kiss on Laney’s rosy cheek. “You be good for Uncle Holden, sweet girl.” She looked at her brother. “Hey, if you happen to have time and it’s not too much trouble, would you mind fitting her for some new snow boots? She can’t even get her big toe in the ones from last year, and with this much snow on the ground, she’s going to need a warm pair.”
“I absolutely can do that. We just got a shipment in that I still need to unpack. We’ll find her the perfect fit.”
“Thank you again, Holden. I’m not good at asking for it yet, but I really do appreciate the help.”
Holden grinned at his sister fondly. “I know you do. And I’ll just keep offering it until you become comfortable asking. It’s what family’s for, sis. We’re here for one another.”
As she said her goodbyes and stepped out of the café and onto Main Street, lunch bag in hand and gratitude in her heart, Sarah was convinced coming home had been the right choice. Her dearest relationships only seemed stronger despite the months apart.
And she genuinely hoped that held true forallof her relationships.
CHAPTER 4
Lance didn’t expect to see his best bud walking through the door of their shop with a baby on his hip. For a split second, the image appeared as a mirage, some fuzzy, future version of Holden with a child of his own. And for an inexplicable reason, a surge of jealousy wove its way through Lance’s chest at the very thought. Once his muddled brain finally came to and he registered the scene for what it truly was, he had to laugh. He’d never looked at young dads with a sense of envy before. Why now?
“You good, bro?” Holden stepped closer to deposit a bulky cream-colored bag onto the cash wrap, a puzzled look on his face as he sized up his gawking friend.
“Yeah. Sorry. It took me a second to recognize little Laney. She’s sure grown in the last year, hasn’t she?”
“Like a weed. Which is one of the reasons I’ve got her here with me today.” Holden tugged the bag open and fished a squeezable pouch of applesauce from within its depths. With a twist of the cap, he settled his niece down and passed her the yummy snack. “We’re on a mission to get this little gal a pair of properly fitting snow boots.”
“She’s in luck because I just got around to unboxing that shipment from earlier in the week. I’m pretty sure over half of it was kid’s sizes.”
“Gotta stock up after the holiday frenzy. It seems like every child in Snowdrift got a new pair under their tree last Christmas. That was always the case for me growing up. You?”
“Same,” Lance agreed, remembering the many styles he’d had throughout the years. From bright, primary colors as a young boy to the neon, flashy boots he’d sported as a teenager. Even now, he appreciated the coordinating styles of winterwear that decked him out from head to toe.
The business phoneline suddenly trilled beside them, but Brady was quick to retrieve it. Still, the chiming reminded Lance of an earlier call that he needed to relay the details of. “Forgot to mention we got a last-minute reservation for a trio of snowmobilers. They’re coming in within the next half hour. I’ve got the mobiles gassed up and ready in the back and was just going to suit up to take them out.”
Holden’s mouth pinched. “You sure that’s a good idea?”
“It’ll be fine.” Lance didn’t need his business partner policing his work activities. “I iced my knee and I’m good to go.”
“Lance, the fact that you have to ice your kneebeforeengaging in physical activity isn’t a good thing. Do you really think you’re up for this?”
Was admitting that he couldn’t wholeheartedly assure Holden he was at peak performance a bad sign? Because as he struggled to form the words to put his friend at ease, he realized he just couldn’t give him that guarantee. And truth be told, the thought of spending another night recovering in his recliner with a plastic bag of melting ice draped over his throbbing kneecap wasn’t a welcome one.
“I think I’ll be okay,” was all he could muster.
“How ‘bout you let me take this group?” Holden offered.
“You’ve already got one this afternoon.”
Setting the receiver back into the phone’s cradle after finishing the call, Brady chimed in. “I can cover the afternoon run. That was the group on the phone that I was supposed to take out later today. Something came up and they had to cancel, so my afternoon is now totally free.”
Well, this gave Lance no other option than to agree. He didn’t want to argue, and it seemed as though the two men weren’t giving him much choice but to go along with the plan they’d quickly devised to keep him off the slopes entirely.
