The windows must’ve been tinted because the couple didn’t see Sadie. Good thing. As soon as they came into view, Sadie gasped. “What in the world... ?” Her words had been a whisper, an attempt to catch her breath. Sadie had frozen in place. She could do nothing but watch because Cami had been right.
Chestnut ponytail bouncing behind her, the woman walking hand in hand with some guy was indeed her mother. And the man... Sadie had no idea who he was. But they were holding hands like they were the only two people in the world. Sadie hadn’t ever seen her mom look so happy—or at least not in four years.
They reached his truck and they hugged. For a long time. It looked like they might kiss, but one of those bell-ringing Santas seemed to interrupt the moment. And then the guy got in his truck and drove off.
So what was this? Sadie leaned on the window frame so she wouldn’t pass out. Her mom was dating someone? All this time? Without telling her?
In a rush Sadie remembered her mom’s question the other day.What if she wanted to see someone? Could it maybe be time?And Sadie had refused to talk about it.
That wasn’t her mother’s fault—it was hers.
Sadie stood and gathered herself. She pushed her feelings aside. Her friends would wonder what was wrong if Sadie didn’t act normal, and she wasn’t about to tell them what she’d just witnessed. Not until she talked things out with her mom.
Which was what she should have done the other night,no matter how shocked or hurt Sadie was by the idea. Because clearly it wasn’t a matter of whether it wastimefor her mom to date again.
Rather, the question was,whowas she dating?
And how could she so quickly forget about Dad?
Chapter 12
Something was off with Sadie, Vanessa could tell that much. She just had no idea what it was. Hudson, maybe. The danger he’d been in lately. Whatever her problem, they’d have to talk about it later.
The Columbus Cares Annual Christmas Military Dance was in two days, and this morning was the first time they were allowed into the Veterans’ Hall to bring the place to life. Sadie seemed happier once they started working. They brought ten bags in from the car and then stood in the entrance watching dozens of volunteers scramble in different directions.
“Okay, Mom.” Sadie looped her arm through Vanessa’s, the way she’d done when she was younger. “What should we do first?”
Vanessa checked her list. Maria was overseeing the assembling and decorating of the Christmas trees, and Leigh was helping a team of college kids set up thirty round tables that would frame the dance floor. In the next two days the other women on the committee would bring tablecloths, centerpieces, and garland.
The hall was about to be transformed into a Christmas wonderland.
Along one wall a series of tables had been set up for the team working to assemble the baskets for the sponsored families. “Let’s start there.” Vanessa walked toward the tables and Sadie followed.
Vanessa glanced at her daughter. “Thanks for helping.”
“Of course.” Sadie pushed up the sleeves of her sweater. “I look forward to this every year.”
It was true. The dance was something they always pulled off together.
The first annual military dance had taken place right after they had returned from Breckenridge, that vacation they took months after Alan had been killed. The one when she had lost her Christmas ring.
They made that first dance in late December so they could always take the Colorado Christmas trip earlier in the month. And even though they hadn’t gone back to Breckenridge since Sadie was a high school sophomore, prepping for the dance was fun for them both.
“Getting the baskets ready will take all day,” Vanessa said. “So many donated items this year.”
They unpacked one bag after another, setting out the largest items first. Old Town Market had donated a ten-pound bag of organic flour for each family. Vanessa and Sadie started there.
They lined up ten empty baskets. Then one at a time they put a flour bag at the center. “This is going to work.” Sadie laughed. “Nothing else we give them could possibly be bigger than that.”
There were other food items and books that framed out the back side of the baskets. They were about to open the bag of teddy bears when Leigh and Maria came running from across the hall.
“Mrs. Benson needs us.” Leigh waved her arms. “Something terrible happened!”
Vanessa and Sadie left the baskets and met Leigh and Maria. Vanessa faced her friend. “Slower, Leigh. What is it?”
“The wind! Mrs. Benson was hanging garland, and that wind we’ve had lately was just too much. Too windy.” Leigh took a quick breath.
They were getting nowhere. Maria held up her hand. “Let me tell it.” She turned to Vanessa and Sadie. “Mrs. Benson fell off her ladder. She went to the hospital last night and turns out she broke her ankle. The high school group is already at the house, but they need a few adults to supervise.”
