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Chapter 5
Kane answered the door and saw Sariah standing with Mrs. Tate on the front porch. Sariah looked beautiful with her hair swept back into a swishy ponytail that he longed to touch. Her hair looked so glossy and soft. He still wasn’t used to seeing her as a brunette, but he couldn’t deny that he was even more attracted to her that way.
“Hey, you two. Thanks for coming over to help.”
“No problem,” Sariah said. “We’re glad to pitch in.”
He’d been shocked when his grandmother had announced that she’d decided to move into a retirement community. Kane worried that she was being too hasty in her decision-making process. Hopefully she wasn’t letting the grief talk.
Sariah’s call had caught him off guard that morning. He hadn’t expected her to offer to help or even to check in with him. It warmed his heart to know that she still cared even after all these years.
Sariah and Mrs. Tate stepped into the living room. They already had piles of photo albums scattered across the sofa. His mom had been going through them, deciding which ones she wanted to take to her house for safekeeping and which ones she wanted to use for the slideshow they were planning at the get together after the funeral.
His parents had arrived the night before. The funeral was in a few days, and they’d decided to come down to help with the preparations. Now they found themselves with a big project on their hands. His grandma was completely overwhelmed with all the changes happening around her. Kane had tried to convince her that she didn’t have to make any hasty decisions, but she seemed determined to start cleaning out her house. She was a force of nature when she put her mind to something, and there was no talking her out of it.
“What should we do?” Sariah asked.
His mother came in from the back of the house with another armful of photo albums. “Sariah?” she looked over the stack in her arms. “I thought I heard your voice.”
His mom adored Sariah. She’d never liked Orchid. She’d always thought he should have married Sariah instead. He hoped she didn’t say anything to make him feel awkward. He felt like an insecure teen all over again with the two of them standing in the same room again.
“Hi there, Mrs. Leland,” Sariah said.
His mother set down her stack of albums on the couch and then pulled Sariah into her arms. “Hi there, honey.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Sariah said.
His mother squeezed Sariah tighter. “I appreciate that. We miss him so much. It’s not the same coming home without him here.”
“We came over to offer some helping hands,” Sariah’s grandmother said.
“Lois, that’s so nice of you.” His mom let go of Sariah and gave Lois a hug. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“You, too, dear. We’re both here for you.”
“Where’s Mr. Leland?” Sariah asked.
“He’s out back, sorting through the shed,” his mom told her. “Where would you two like to work?”
“We can go wherever you need us,” Sariah said.
“Kane was just helping his grandmother clean out the kitchen. You can help him in there,” his mom said.
“I can give you a hand with those albums,” Lois said.
Was his mom purposely trying to push him together with Sariah? He wouldn’t put it past her, knowing how much she’s favored Sariah over the years.
He headed toward the kitchen with Sariah on his heels. His grandma was on her tiptoes, trying to pull a tray down from an upper cabinet.
“Let me help you with that.” Kane rushed forward to help her before she dropped the glass tray. He took it from her and set it on the table.
“Hey there, Mrs. Edwards,” Sariah said.
“Hi, Sariah.”
“I’m here to help. What can I do?”
“We’re getting some of my lesser used dishes out to divvy up between family members. I’ll probably donate most of this stuff.”