I stare at her. There would be an entire crowd chasing after her, and she doesn’t see it. I want to stick around as long as she’ll let me.
Her beautiful face lights up with a small smile. “Feel like helping me wrangle two kids into the bath?” she asks, saving me from going home to my quiet house with all this swirling through me.
I nod, my lungs expanding with air and hope.
She pops the door open. “Good. Do you think you could teach Ollie how not to pee on the wall while you’re here?”
I smile, climbing out of the truck to follow her into the house.
“Mama!” Ollie yells, running into the kitchen and looping his arms around her legs. Grover dodges them to sniff my hand. “Swade, can you come play cars with me?” He grabs my hand and tugs.
An older woman appears in the kitchen doorway, holding Frankie. “Hello, dear.”
“Hey, Helen.” Frankie leans toward Sarah, and she takes her. “Thank you so much for staying.”
“It was no issue at all.” Her smiling eyesmove to me.
“Oh, this is Slade,” Sarah gestures to me. “He lives across the street and gave me a lift home.”
“Very nice to meet you.” She clasps her hands in front of her. “I should scoot and see if I can make the last round of BINGO.”
“C-come on, Swade.” Ollie tugs harder.
We follow Sarah and Helen into the living room, and I sit on the edge of the couch. Ollie dumps his basket of cars at my feet as Helen pulls on her coat.
“They both ate a good dinner, and this one took a long nap this afternoon.” Helen tickles Frankie’s side, and she giggles, curling into Sarah.
“Thank you so much,” Sarah says, hugging her.
“We had the best day. Oh,” Helen stops before opening the door. “This was delivered this afternoon. I had to sign for it.” She picks up an envelope from the bench and hands it to Sarah. “I’ll see you on Monday. Make a list of anything you’d like me to help get ready to go see your mom.”
They say goodnight, and Sarah locks the door but doesn’t move.
“Everything ok?” I ask, watching her.
She stares at the unopened envelope. “He’s going to take them from me.” It comes out in a breathy whoosh.
“Swade, wook at dis one.” Ollie places a car in my hand.
“Hold on, partner.” I set the car aside and move to her.
“What?”
“He’s actually doing it.” Her gaze slowly drifts up to mine. “He’s suing me for custody. He warned me, but I didn’t . . .” She blinks, and I see her swallow.
“How do you know?”
Her gaze drops to Frankie.
“Maybe it’s not—”
“You don’t understand.” It comes out in a rush, and there’s an underlying panic in her soft tone.
She steps away to set Frankie down amongst the toys. Ollie digs through his pile and lines his cars and trucks along the edge of the couch.
She turns back to me, her body rigid as if bracing herself for a blow, and her eyes are wide with fear. “He took everything when I left. I had nothing. He changed the locks. Tossed all our clothes and belongings as if he could just throw us away. It was a game. He tried to starve us out.” Her eyes press closed, trying so damn hard to suck it all back, but I catch her trembling hands.
I take them in mine and ease her closer. “It’s going to be ok.”
