I’d been right. She’d followed me. When we were teens, I was always the one trailing after Adam and Sadie. I was the third wheel, wondering if they would even notice if I were gone. It felt strange to have her pursue me.
“Yeah?” I asked as I forced my head straight and turned to study her.
Her forehead wrinkled, and she had her hand up, shading her eyes so she could look up at me. “I want you to know that our agreement doesn’t extend to Parker.”
I furrowed my brows.
“The whole stay away from me and I’ll stay away from you agreement.”
I nodded. “Ah, that.” Then I felt confused. “That doesn’t apply to Parker?”
She chewed her lip as she avoided my gaze for a moment and then brought it back. The fire-spitting dragon that was Sadie Miller was back. I could feel the heat from her gaze as she stared me down. “Parker likes you.” The words sounded forced, almost like she didn’t believe them herself.
“Okay.”
“And I’m lacking in the men department. He needs a male role model, and for now”—she waved her hand up and down in front of me—“you’re the best I can do.”
It wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement, but she wasn’t telling me to stay away from her son. In fact, she was giving me permission to be a part of his life. Who was I to turn her down? “Are you sure?”
She studied me and then sighed. “Yes. Please, if he asks you to shoot hoops, you have my permission to spend time with him.”
My heart surged with protection for Sadie and Parker. To say I hadn’t wanted this—to have her closer, where I could see her and help her—was a lie. It had been pressing on me, weighing me down since I came home.
It was why, no matter how much she tried to push me away, I wasn’t going to go anywhere.
And if Sadie wanted me to bond with Parker, I was going to.
“Okay,” I said as I turned back to my car and turned the key so that the lock clicked.
“Okay?” Sadie asked.
I pulled open the door and then paused with one leg inside the car. I gave her a quick smile and dropped onto the seat. “Okay. I’ll shoot hoops with Parker.”
She studied me as I pulled the door shut and started up the engine. I could feel her gaze as I drove off. Despite my best efforts, I kept glancing at my rearview mirror until I was so far away, there was no way I could see her anymore.
As I lingered at a stoplight, I let out my breath. That had been intense, and there had been a moment there where I doubted I was going to survive. But I had. And for now, I had the go-ahead to spend time with Parker.
For the first time in a long time, I felt lighter. Like I was finally being the man Adam thought I was. And the fact that I was going to see Sadie—talk to her—helped as well.
Lucky for me, church had already started when I got there. I snuck into the chapel and plopped down next to Liam. He punched me in the shoulder. Mom leaned forward and gave me one of her looks, so I didn’t retaliate.
I needed a minute for my brain to catch up from this morning. I sat back and allowed the sermon to wash over me. I could feel Mom’s gaze. I knew that she wanted to ask me why I was here, but she couldn’t in the middle of the service, and that was nice.
By the time we sang the last hymn and Pastor George said the benediction, I was ready for Mom’s rapid-fire questions. She didn’t waste her time as she cornered me outside where refreshments were laid out.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as she rose up onto her tiptoes and firmly rested her hand on my forehead.
I contemplated pushing her hand away—there were quite a few busybodies watching us now—but I’d been taught to respect my elders, so I just stood there, sipping my sweet tea. She patted my cheeks and then pulled my face down so she could look me in the eye.
“Are you okay?” she asked, holding my gaze.
I sighed and nodded. “I’m fine if I don’t die from embarrassment because my mommy is coddling me in front of the whole church.”
“Brenda, let your son go. He’s a grown man. He doesn’t need you mother-henning him.” Dad’s voice was gruff but spoke with reverence and love.
Mom swiped at his shoulder. “Mason will always be my baby,” she said as she smiled up at me. “Right?”
I nearly choked on the chocolate chip cookie I’d swiped. With my mouth full, I just nodded.
Dad clapped me on the back. “Ready for tomorrow?”
The BBQ. Right.
I nodded. “I’m getting there. I gotta pick up some brats.” It was my turn to host the family get-together, but with my crazy hours and the situation with Sadie, I’d completely forgotten.
Mom wrapped her arm around mine. “Don’t you worry. I knew you were busy, so I went and picked up all the fixin’s we need. You just have the coals ready by one, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
I leaned over and planted a kiss on Mom’s head. She was a lifesaver.
Just then, Walt walked over, his eyes all a twinkle. I had a feeling I hadn’t squashed his ideas about a certain single man and woman. As if having brothers to tease me about the ladies wasn’t bad enough, now I had a next-door neighbor with matchmaking notions.
“How's the new move-in?” he asked.
I swallowed and shot him a look that I hoped said to lay off, but he just stood there, smiling as he glanced between Mom and me.
“New move-in?” Mom asked as she stepped back and glanced up at me. “Did you finally rent out that apartment?”
I coughed and rubbed the back of my neck. Sure, my family was proud of my Citizen of the Month award and for saving Parker, but Mom would have reservations about Sadie and I being close together. She thought I was fragile. I didn’t want her to worry, and I didn’t want to have to defend my choices.
What she didn’t understand was that I could never fully heal. Not from losing my best friend. Not from failing to protect my brother-in-arms. Not for having waited so long to take action on my promise. For the first time in a long time, I was starting to feel good about myself, and taking Sadie and Parker under my protective wing was the reason.
“Yeah, that girl…Sadie something. The poor woman who lost her husband last year,” Walt offered before I could stop him.
Mom’s entire body stiffen. I winced. She slowly turned to study me. “Sadie Miller? Adam’s wife?”
“Miller, that’s right. I keep forgetting that,” Walt said snapping his fingers. Neither Mom nor I looked over at him. From the corner of my eye, I saw him glance between us and then hurry back to Norma, his wife.
Now alone, I shrugged as I offered Mom a weak smile. “She needed a place to stay. What was I supposed to say?” I could feel Mom’s disapproval as easily as the shirt on my back.
“I don’t think this is a good idea. You’ve finally gotten a handle on those flashbacks. You’re sleeping better. You’ve got a job.” She worried her lips. “With Sadie back in your life like this, I’m worried for you.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and that only pulled at my heartstrings more. I didn’t want Mom to cry, but I also couldn’t just walk away from Sadie.
Not knowing what to do, I reached out and pulled Mom into a hug. I felt her shoulders shake as I held her. Mom had struggled so much when I came back broken, and I knew it was hard on her.