the shock of warmth that traveled down my arm when my fingers met his or the way my heart raced, but it was undeniable, how my body reacted to him.
Once again, I tore my gaze away and focused on the ground. Sarah exited the car and flew into Mason’s arms, already in a fit of tears. He picked her up, hugging her close to him, as though she were a toddler. It was so dear that I almost teared up myself. I wondered if she knew how lucky she was to have people who cared so much for her that they were there to comfort her when someone was leaving her. A sharp pang hit me square in the chest as I thought of my lack of caring people, growing up. I shoved it away as I normally did and reminded myself to be in the present. A present I was extremely grateful for.
Patty kissed Mary’s forehead over and over, getting the little one to stir awake.
When her puffy eyes opened, she took in her surroundings and began to wail, “Don’t go. I promise to be good, Nana. I promise I’ll be so good. I promise.”
My heart seized as I saw her break down. I barely knew them, and already, their pain was tearing me apart.
It was a full-on tear-fest.
As soon as Charles had to peel poor Mary off of Patty, I bit back tears.
I will not cry. I will not cry.
But it was too late.
I blew out a few shallow breaths as everything started to hit me.
Patty stepped out of the car. “Stop.” She placed one palm on my face, gently wiping away my tears. “Don’t cry.”
My arms wrapped tightly around her, and my head went to the crook of her neck. I owed Patty my life. She’d taken me in like her own daughter, trusted me to care for her mother, given me my livelihood, and now had found me this job. I was forever indebted to this woman.
“It’s not like I won’t visit. I have to see all my girls, you included.”
“Thank you, Patty. You’ll never know how much I appreciate you.”
“Just take care of my girls,” she whispered so softly that I barely heard her. “And take care of Charles. Out of all the men, he needs the most care.” There was a pointed meaning to her words.
I blinked back my tears, and when I pulled back, she patted my cheek.
Charles handed a distraught Mary to Brad before stepping into Patty’s embrace, lifting her in a fierce hug where her feet dangled from the ground, and then he kissed her cheek in the sweetest way.
After placing her on her feet, he leaned into her, getting in her line of sight. “You’re family … you hear that, Patty?” He placed one fist on his chest and one on her shoulder, peering down at the much shorter woman. “I owe you so much. You’ve loved my girls, our family … and I am just so grateful that you came into our lives.” His voice choked with emotion. “Whatever you need, whenever you need it, it doesn’t matter what it is, you come to us, okay?” He brought her in again, patting her back. “If there is one thing you’ve learned about us, it is that we take care of family, no matter what the cost. And you, Patty, are family.”
I took a few healthy steps away, giving everyone time to say their good-byes.
Truth be told, if I heard Brad and Mason and Sarah’s proclamation of love and gratitude and their sad hugs, I’d be a goner, in a bucket of tears again.
When Brad encased Patty in a hug and shook her as though she were a tiny doll, Charles walked toward the far end of the van.
I watched him a good distance away. He turned the opposite direction, his back toward us. He pinched his nose, his chin dropping to his chest. After a long beat, he placed both hands on his hips and lifted his eyes to the open blue sky, as though searching for an answer written in the clouds.
He turned around, and I purposely focused my eyes on the group congregated around Patty. It was either that or admit that I’d secretly eyed him when he wasn’t looking.
Suddenly, Charles made his way toward me. The lines of his jaw were tight, his shoulders raised, back straight, as though he was disconnected from what he was watching in front of me, though I felt how distraught