“I wanted to take dance, but my mom said there wasn’t enough money. I probably wouldn’t be good at it anyway.”
“I bet you’d be great at it,” Charlotte said. “Maybe I could show you a few steps before we leave.”
“Really?” The little girl smiled.
“Sure, if it’s okay with Miss Hildy.”
Hildy dished two sticky buns onto plates and smiled. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”
“I’m going to go get ready.” Jewel ran out of the kitchen, and Charlotte turned back to face them.
“That’s about the happiest I’ve seen her since she’s been here,” Hildy said. “She’s a little young for us, only seven years old, but her mom came through here once upon a time, so when she showed up last week, I couldn’t say no.”
“Been doing a lot of that lately, have you?” Cole asked.
Hildy gave him a wry look. “You know I wasn’t about to turn Connor away.” The older woman pushed a plate toward Charlotte, whose hands went up instantly.
“Sorry, I should’ve told you I already ate this morning.”
“What did you have, a piece of spinach and a cup of black coffee?” Hildy gave Charlotte a once-over. “You look like you could use a good homecooked meal.”
Judging by the look on Charlotte’s face, this wasn’t a topic she wanted to discuss.
“How are the kids?” Cole asked, steering the conversation away from Charlotte.
“Quiet,” Hildy said. “Amelia especially. AJ’s warmed up to the West boys—they’re out in the yard with Steve.” Hildy’s gaze returned to Charlotte. “Now, I would love to know why you brought this beautiful, interesting girl to my door.”
Charlotte straightened. The uneaten sticky bun sat in front of her, next to a cup of black coffee, which she picked up and sipped.
She inhaled, glanced at Cole, as if gearing up to pitch a big idea to a perfect stranger required a bolstering of her resolve.
But as she started talking, Cole found it impossible to look away.
And realizing that fact made him very, very nervous.
19
From the moment she walked in the door at Haven House, something inside Charlotte settled. It was almost as if the inside of this house was like a hug from a wise old grandmother, someone who would accept her straightaway, no questions asked.
Maybe it was Hildy and that slightly awkward hug she’d given her as a means of welcome. Maybe it was the little girl working on her letters at the table or the smell of sticky buns or the dogs in the yard. Maybe it was all of those things. All of those things together made this place feel like a home.
And Charlotte had never had one of those.
Now, with a mug of fresh coffee in her hand and a handsome man watching her from the opposite side of the table, Charlotte found herself unable to speak. She wanted Hildy to agree to be a part of this tribute to Julianna, of course, but mostly, she wanted to prove she belonged here—to be accepted without question.
“I’m all ears.” Hildy’s smile was warm and kind, but she was sneaky. Charlotte noticed that the longer they sat there, the closer the plated sticky bun moved to her.
Charlotte cleared her throat just as the screen door opened and three boys stormed through, followed by an older man and two teenagers.
Cole straightened, and they stopped at the sight of him.
One of the boys, a mop-headed teen, tall and lanky stopped in the doorway. “Hey, Coach.”
The other boys grew instantly wide-eyed. They rang out a chorus of “Hey, Coach,” making it clear that he was the star in that room. Cole seemed unaffected. She, for one, appreciated the shift in attention.
AJ lifted his hand. “Hi, Uncle Cole.” AJ bore a striking resemblance to Julianna’s older brother. They shared the same eyes. And the same sad expression.
“Coach is your uncle?” one of the other boys asked, wonder in his voice.
AJ grinned. “Yep.”
Cole tousled the boy’s hair. “Boys,” he said. He extended a hand toward the older man. “Steve.”
The older man smiled as he reached out and shook Cole’s hand. “Help has arrived.”
“Are you here to play football with us?” one of the younger kids asked.
“Uh, no,” Cole said.
“Would you?” another boy asked. “Show us a few plays?”
Cole’s shoulders drew tight like a knotted rope.
“You should go, Cole,” Hildy said. “The boys would love it. I’ll get the scoop from your girl, while you guys throw the ball around.”
“Your girl.” The words hung there, and Charlotte tried them on for size. Just for a fleeting moment.