Page 38 of Reconcile
“I tried to wake you up, Mommy, but you didn’t want to. So I found Swearer.”
He grins at that. “I was up already. It’s no big deal.”
I nod, surprised I didn’t wake up when Audrey tried to wake me. I’m usually a light sleeper. And maybe I should be worried that I didn’t, but I know in my gut that I trust Sawyer.
With Audrey, at least.
“Thank you.”
His smile is briefly directed at me before he hands Audrey the turner. “You ready to flip ’em?”
She gawks at him, which pulls a small laugh from me, causing her to look over at me for approval. I nod. “Go on. You can do it.”
Sawyer shows her how, and then she almost perfectly turns one of the pancakes over. “I did it!”
“He—” Sawyer catches himself quickly. “Heck yeah, you did. High five!”
Her little hand slaps his, and there goes my stupid heart again.
When they finish making a stack of pancakes and placing them on a plate, Sawyer sets the table and invites me to join them. “You going to eat with us?”
Audrey tugs on my hand. “Sit next to me, Mommy.”
I don’t argue and sit down, loving to see her so happy.
“What’s on the agenda today?” Sawyer asks as he sips from his coffee mug.
I stand up and grab my own cup of coffee. “I need to find a babysitter.”
“What about Angela?” Audrey whines as she stuffs a huge piece of pancake into her mouth.
I smile at her as I take a seat again, watching her chew the massive bite. “She lives pretty far away, sweetie.”
She told me she’d babysit the last time I talked to her, but she also said I should give this a real try and do what I needed to do.
“What about Viv?” Sawyer interjects, and I look over at him, shaking my head already.
“I can’t ask her to do that. She has a job and is pregnant and has Baz.”
“She’d love it. It would give Baz someone to play with during the summer and hopefully keep that little monster busy.” He winks at Audrey, who giggles.
Don’t melt stupid, stupid heart.
I take a sip of my coffee, relishing how good it tastes. “What about her job?”
“She doesn’t work as much in the summer. But Ash is a teacher, so his lazy as—” he corrects himself, “butt is home a lot during the summer too. They’d both happily watch Audrey.”
I have no doubt they’d take good care of her, but I shift uncomfortably in my seat. This has always been my struggle with Audrey.
Wanting to do it all on my own but not wanting to let her down. Not wanting others to raise her but needing to provide for her.
“Or you could quit and just stay with her.”
My eyes snap to Sawyer, fire burning inside me. “What?”
He shrugs his shoulders. “It’s just a suggestion.”
“I have a job.”
