“What if he does?”
“Then we’ll go over there after him. Whatever it takes.”
“So you agree that this has gone on long enough.”
“I woulda said that a couple weeks ago, but he’s not my kid.”
“You said to wait him out.”
“For a while, maybe, but not forever.”
“I’m glad you agree.” She turned to face the man who’d changed her life in every possible way by giving her proof that true love really did exist. “I hope you know you can say whatever you want to me about any of them.”
“Normally, I would, but this feels… I don’t know. It feels a little different for some reason, and I don’t know him as well as I know the others. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, it does, but if you’ve got a thought about any of them, feel free to share it with me. I’ve been guilty in the past of overlooking things I should’ve paid more attention to. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
“You’re a wonderful mother, Sarah, and I have no doubt you always have been.”
“I should’ve taken my kids away from him. I’ll always regret that I didn’t.”
“You survived a horrific situation, and every one of those kids loves you and lives near you and is in your house every other minute. They don’t blame you, and you shouldn’t either.”
“It’s hard not to when I see each of them dealing with things they brought from their difficult childhoods.”
“From where I’m sitting, they’re all doing extremely well, except for Johnny. We’ll figure out what’s up with him and get him the help he needs.”
She rested her head on his chest. “What’d I ever do without my Charlie to make me feel better about everything?”
His gruff laugh made her smile as he tightened his arms around her. “What would I ever do without my sweet Sarah to make every day the best day I ever had?”
“Okay, you win.”
“It’s not a contest, sweetheart. We’ve been around long enough to know how lucky we are, and we’ll never take this for granted.”
“Not ever.”
Jeff came into the kitchen on the crutches he still used after his pelvis was shattered during the roof collapse.
Sarah pulled back from Charlie.
“Don’t let me interrupt the lovebirds,” Jeff said.
“Oh hush. You and Kelsey are the lovebirds around here.”
“Not just us, Mama,” Jeff said with the quick grin that came right from his father, not that she’d ever tell him that.
“Can I get you something?”
“I’m looking for some water, and I’ll get it myself.”
“Don’t be silly. I’ve got it.”
“Let her dote on you, son,” Charlie said. “She loves every minute of having you here—and so do I.”
“Thanks for having us. Not sure what I would’ve done without you guys, Kelsey and the rest of our amazing family these last few months.”
“We’re thankful to see you standing upright again,” Sarah said as she handed him the glass of water.
