The Mechanics of Mistletoe - Liz Isaacson Page 0,33

down on the edge of it. She stroked his hair off his forehead, which caused him to stir.

He opened his eyes, and she smiled down at him. “Sammy,” he said, sitting up and grabbing her in a hug.

“Hello, my boy,” she whispered. She held him tight, grabbing onto the moment and forcing it to stop so she could experience it powerfully.

“Can I come to the shop with you tomorrow?” he asked, pulling back and looking up at her.

“Sure,” she said, smiling as her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry, Link. I don’t mean to leave you here for so long with Grandma and Grandpa.”

“It’s okay,” Lincoln said, sobering. He was usually quite sober, something that came from Heather. The grief Sammy had spoken of several days ago hit her squarely in the chest, and she closed her eyes so she wouldn’t start crying.

“They canceled the rest of school,” she said, opening her eyes. “A lot of your summer classes and camps aren’t happening.” She sighed. “We’ll have to be creative and find ways to keep you busy,” she said. “I’ll need your help.”

“I can help,” Lincoln said. “I’ve got friends I can go play with, Sammy.”

Sammy nodded, though she didn’t think that was quite the option Lincoln hoped it would be. Her phone chimed, and she leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow, at the shop. Okay?”

He lay back down, and she tucked him in. “You go back to sleep.”

“I love you, Sammy,” he said.

“Love you too, Link.” She eased out of the bedroom and pulled her phone out as she continued to her room.

Bear had texted, as she suspected. Make it home okay?

Yes, she sent back. But what a long day.

They’re exhausting, aren’t they?

Sammy sat down on her bed, absolutely every part of her body aching. She didn’t want to text; she wanted to talk to Bear. So she called him.

“Hey,” he said, his voice quiet, as if he shared a room with one of his brothers.

“Sorry to call,” she said, just as quietly. “I’m too tired to text, and I thought this would be easier.”

He waited for her to speak, and Sammy closed her eyes. “They canceled school, and most of Lincoln’s summer activities aren’t happening either. My parents can’t watch him for sixteen hours a day. Maybe two or three, and I’m not sure what to do with him.”

She sighed as she laid back on the bed, the pull through her lower back actually welcome.

“I see the problem,” he said.

“I’m taking him to the shop tomorrow,” she said. “He’s usually pretty good there.”

“Can I bring you two lunch?”

“Sure,” she said. “That would actually be amazing.”

“Great,” he said, a smile in the word. “You’ll figure it out, Sammy. I’ll pray for you. Try to get some sleep, and things won’t seem so bad in the morning.”

“My mom used to say that,” Sammy said. She’d believed her too. But sometimes, things were just as bad in the morning as they’d been the night before.

Bear chuckled. “I bet she did. See you tomorrow, Sammy.”

“Bye, Bear.”

The call ended, and Sammy was too tired to change out of her clothes. Eventually, she did, and she knelt next to her bed, praying the power and water would be restored to Three Rivers very, very soon. As soon as that happened, life would feel more normal. She wouldn’t have to wait in line for water in the mornings, and the moment her parents’ roof got fixed, they could go back to their house.

We need a miracle, Lord, she prayed. “Not just me, either,” she said aloud. “All of us. The Walkers. Liam and his wife. They don’t have a home either. Squire at Three Rivers. That therapeutic riding facility is apparently a mess, and they do a lot of good for a lot of people.” She paused, her desperation reaching a boiling point. “Help me with Lincoln. He’s already been through a lot, and I don’t want to be another person who’s failed him. Please.” She wept into her sheets for a few minutes, and then she managed to pull herself into the bed.

“Oh,” she said as she faced the ceiling, her eyes closed. “And Bear Glover. Bless him, and bless…us.”

She didn’t know how to say it more eloquently, and she’d never had to in the past. So bless us would have to be enough for tonight. She hoped it would be enough for a future with the strong, steady cowboy too, but she’d have to wait