Stop it, Sadie. He is an employee. Stop it now. She forced a return grin.
“Maybe you should kiss Jack. He’s the reason she’s playing.”
“I’d do it. God, you don’t even know what this means. She’s playing. Playing!”
Sadie watched the two romping figures. Julietta threw the ball and raced with Jack to retrieve it. The heat stirred by his casual remark about kissing cooled while she watched. Yes, she was playing. But she wasn’t laughing or shrieking like little girls did. She was calling out to Jack, but that was all. Her pretty face wasn’t as guarded, but her expression was still serious. Sadie laced her hands together to hide the tremble.
“What happened?”
Wyatt rocked back, his feet leaving the ground as he balanced for a moment, glancing up into the branches of the oak. He settled back, cross-legged. His eyes remained on Julietta.
“Her mother, Maddie, was a nurse in the emergency room. She’d done helicopter flight nursing but stopped when Julietta got older. But she loved it and still filled in from time to time.”
Sadie couldn’t stop the little gasp that tore from her throat. “The crash outside of Asheville a few months back?”
“Yeah. No survivors. Jules’s whole world was taken away. Her mom gone. New home, new school, new everything. It’s amazing, when you think about it, how well she’s coping. She’s not acting out. She’s not having bad dreams. She’s doing well in school. She’s just still...flat.”
Sadie couldn’t answer. Her throat clogged with suppressed tears and memories. Her breath sounded ragged when she drew it in, slowly. She blinked hard. This wasn’t about her.
“Her mother was your sister?”
“Yes.”
“What about her father?”
Wyatt shrugged. “Maddie never said who he was. She went on a postcollege trip with some of her friends. Italy, Spain, Greece. Came home pregnant.” He let out a small laugh. “Maddie was as blonde as I am. I’m suspecting Julietta is half-Italian.”
“She’s lucky to have you.”
“I hope so. I’m trying. My immediate goal is to not make things worse.”
“No. I think you’re doing great.”
He turned to face her. “Based on what?”
She leaned back and braced her hands on the ground behind her. Seeing his serious expression, she paused to consider her words. Single guy suddenly saddled with a grieving child. A girl child, no less. And he was stepping up to the plate. Had to give him credit.
“One, you took her in. Two, you know she needs time, and you are showing her the respect of allowing her to mourn. Three, I saw the way she clung close to you as you walked up to me. She trusts you to protect her. Four, the look on your face when she asked to play with Jack.”
His eyes darkened and he turned away from her. When he turned back, his voice was thick. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
Her heart melted a little and she fought against it. Yes, a gut-wrenching Lifetime movie moment. Don’t get sucked in. It’s their life, not yours. Jack trotted up to her and collapsed on the ground. Julietta trailed behind him.
“He won’t play anymore.”
“I think you wore him out, honey. And he’s thirsty.”
Sadie reached into her backpack and pulled out a water bottle and bowl. Julietta knelt beside Jack and petted his back while he noisily slurped up water. She looked at Sadie and her lips turned up at the corners. An almost smile that was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
“I like your hair,” she said.
Sadie touched the tangled mass of black curls. She’d put it up in a ponytail, but some tendrils had escaped. “Thank you. I like yours. I wish mine was so straight.”
Julietta reached out and touched one of the tendrils. Sadie had the sudden and unexpected urge to grab her little hand and kiss it. To tell her it would be okay one day.
Julietta moved her gaze from the curl to Sadie’s eyes. Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. “My mom used to curl my hair,” she whispered.
From the corner of her eye, Sadie saw Wyatt’s entire body jerk as if he’d been touched by electricity. Everything else faded away and a buzz filled her ears. She kept her eyes on Julietta’s. This was something. This was important. Tension radiated from Wyatt. Was this the first time Julietta had mentioned her mother? Probably. She was going to completely mess this up. She always said the wrong thing. She took a deep breath.
“Did she curl all of it?”
Julietta looked relieved, which only increased Sadie’s anxiety. It had been a test. She’d mentioned her mother in front of a stranger to see what would happen. She didn’t know whether to acknowledge it or keep talking about curls.
“No.” She touched her temple. “One. Right here. When she was curling her hair in the morning, sometimes she’d give me a curl, too.”
“I bet it was very pretty.”
Julietta’s gaze remained on Sadie’s. The girl wanted her to say something. But what? She was no good at this. What if she said the wrong thing and made her cry? Ruined the progress Wyatt had made? She moved her eyes in a quick glance at him. He dipped his chin in the barest of nods. Keep going, the nod said.
Uh...
“Did you like having the curl?”
Oh, now, what a stupid question. Come on, Sadie. Think.
Julietta nodded. “I miss it sometimes.”
Oh, dear God. She misses her mother. She blinked away the tears stinging her eyes. Think. Her mouth went dry.
“I’ll bet your Uncle Wyatt would be happy to curl it for you if you wanted.”
Jack picked up on her anxiety and leaned against her. His warmth steadied her. Julietta glanced over at Wyatt and back at Sadie as a frown crossed her features. She’d said the wrong thing.
Julietta leaned in closer. “But he’s a boy,” she whispered.
Sadie managed not to laugh, but she couldn’t stop the smile. She caught the girl’s hand in hers. “I know. But you know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think he loves you very much. And I think he’d be willing to learn how to do the curl if it would make you happy. That’s what I think.”
Wyatt took Julietta’s other hand. “This is true, Jujube.”
Julietta glanced between the two of them, her little face serious. “Would you show him how?”
“Sure. Anytime.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll learn curls.” Wyatt climbed to his feet. “Come on, Jules. It’s way past lunchtime. Tell Ms. Sadie thank-you for letting you play with Jack, and go get your bike.”
“Thank you, Ms. Sadie.” She bent to hug Jack’s neck. “Thank you, Jack.”
As she ran to her bike, Wyatt let out a breath. “Wow. Thank you. That was the first time she’s mentioned her mother.”
“I thought so. Scared the heck out of me. I hope I did all right.”
He took her hand and squeezed. “Perfect. Honestly, thank you.”
A pang of regret plucked at her as he let go of her hand. It had felt good. “Anytime.”
“Come on, Uncle Wyatt. I’m starving!”