Page 33

Sadie frowned. He deflected smoother than Garrett had when he didn’t want her digging too deep.

She wanted to press him, but clenching in Asher’s jaw told her she would be wasting her breath.

He cleared his throat. “By the way, I’ve been thinking about what you said regarding my need to put myself out there for the tour.”

“Oh, yeah? So, you want to sign up for the talent show, after all?”

His face twisted. “Would you let that go? I’m not singing.”

Sadie’s eyes widened at Asher’s sharp tone. She wrapped her arms around her waist. “Sorry. Won’t mention it again.”

Asher took a step toward her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so harsh. It’s just…a touchy subject.”

Sadie backed up and bumped the table. She cleared her throat and forced a neutral tone. “About putting yourself out there…with the tour, I mean.”

“Right.” He opened his mouth to say something, but her ringing phone cut off his words.

She pulled it out, looked at the screen, and saw her mother’s name and number. She glanced at Asher. “Excuse me a moment. It’s my mom.”

Moving into the dining room, she answered, “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”

“Hey, honey. I was at the commissary when you called. It was packed and tough enough to maneuver a cart with two hands. I’m home now and putting away groceries. How are things on island? How’s Gran doing?”

“Both are going well.” Sadie filled her in on the events of the past couple of days. Well, minus her walk with Asher. And the work on the bakery. “Have you and Dad made a decision about the festival? It’s coming up in a couple of weeks. I know Gran would love to see you. And me too, of course.”

Mom paused, and Sadie’s shoulders slumped. She knew that pause all too well. Too often through the years, Mom had paused before giving bad news. Her tell.

Sadie forced enthusiasm into her voice. “I knew it was a long shot since you and Dad are super busy. Don’t worry about it.”

“Honey, we really want to. Your dad put in leave, but you know how those things go. Depends on his schedule.”

“Right.” How many times had she heard that through the years?

“You okay, honey?”

Sadie leaned forward and rested her elbows on the front counter and balanced the phone between her ear and her shoulder. “Yes. I guess.”

The heaviness of her burdens pressed her elbows harder onto the table. She couldn’t share about Gran’s finances. Or the bakery. Keeping such a significant decision from her parents felt almost deceitful, but she’d given Gran her word. And that had to mean something.

She was out of a job and living in Gran’s guest room. She had only her integrity to hold on to right now.

“Any ideas of what you plan to do once Gran is up and around?”

Sadie hesitated, glancing around the bakery etched in cobwebs and memories. “Not really. Now that my lease is up in Florida, I don’t have an apartment anymore. My furniture is in storage in Port Joseph. Once I figure out where I’m going next, I’ll have to move everything again. I’ve got enough savings to last another month or so. After that, who knows what’s next?”

“Take it to the Lord, honey. He’ll provide. Your dad and I really appreciate you caring for Gran. I’m sure she loves having you there.”

“I’ll do anything for her.”

Even including lying by omission to her parents.

After a little more chitchat, they ended the call.

Even though Sadie talked to her parents almost daily, she hadn’t seen them in person since they arrived at Hickam. And that seemed like half a lifetime ago now.

Her shoulders sagged as a wave of homesickness swept over her.

But how could she be homesick without a home?