Page 145 of With a Cherry On Top

I look down, nodding.

Of course I’m pissed at her. I don’t trust her, and I’m as worried as she is that she’ll mess things up again. For a moment, the words burn on my tongue.This is your last chance.But I don’t say them, because she’s Sadie’s mom, and she’s a human being who’s not perfect and will eventually make mistakes.

Because forgiveness doesn’t come with demands.

“I don’t want to run anymore.” She looks at me, her light green eyes red-rimmed. “I want to be her mom.”

Silence stretches between us. “Youareher mom. You’ve always been her mom, whether you were here or not.”

She steps closer, arms tentatively open. “C-can I give you a hug?”

I wrap my arms around the top of her back. She drops her face against my shoulder, crying, and I wait for her to feel better, because I don’t want Sadie to see her like this.

“I missed you, you know?” When I tense up, she quickly adds, “Not—not that way. Just...you.”

I let her go. “I missed you too.”

She clicks her tongue. “And I missed your pancakes.”

“Pancakes for breakfast tomorrow then.”

“Breakfast?”

I shrug. “You’re crazy if you think Sadie will let you go back to your parents’ place after she sees you.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

Oh,I’mfine with that, but I’m pretty sure the woman who made me spill into her panties because Penny asked me out might not be. “I’ll take the couch or sleep at my parents’.”

With a grateful smile, she points at the door. “Let’s go?”

“Wait, before we—” I begin, wanting to warn her about Charlotte, when the front door opens and Sadie’s big eyes meet Josie.

“Mom?”

Josie sucks in a sharp breath. “Hi, baby.”

For a moment, Sadie doesn’t move. Then, like something snaps inside her, she launches forward. “Mommy!”

Josie drops to her knees just in time to catch her, and Sadie crashes into her chest, her arms wrapping tight around Josie’s neck. “Oh, my sweet girl,” she sobs, rocking her back and forth. “I missed you so much.”

Sadie squeezes her tighter, and her voice is muffled against her mom’s shirt as she says, “You left.”

Josie pulls back just enough to cup Sadie’s face in her hands. “I know, baby. And I’m so,sosorry. But I’m here now.” She brushes a tear from Sadie’s cheek. “If you want me to be.”

“I do, I do, I do!”

I step back, giving them space, my throat tightening at the sight of them together. Charlotte, leaning against the wall near the hallway, she shifts and crosses her arms with a light smile.

What is she thinking? Is she jealous? Worried? Upset?

Josie kisses Sadie’s forehead and pulls back. “She got taller.”

I ruffle her hair. “Yeah. She does that.”

Josie’s expression falters when she notices Charlotte. “Oh. Hello. Charlotte, right?”

“Yes.” Charlotte straightens but doesn’t step closer. “Nice to officially meet you.”