1102 Sugar Rd. (Cherry Falls)

“I’ll come back another day when we can finish this up. Maybe next time, I’ll bring ice cream and get here earlier. How about that?”

“Yes!” He jumps up and does a dance before putting all his bins away. I carry our building to the table he has set up in the corner.

“You two have quite the calendar,” Faith says.

“Yep, we boys have to stick together. Alright, Logan, I’ll see you on the flip side.” I turn to give him a hug then decide to wait in the living room to go over my plan with Faith.

“Mommy, can Mr. Graham stay while you read to me?”

“Oh, I’m sure, if he’d like to.” Logan gets into bed.

“That sounds like a good plan to me.” Seems our boy is giving me a much-needed in, and I’m going to take it.

Three

Faith

“You’re eating this up, aren’t you?” I ask Graham as we walk out of Logan’s bedroom together. He was fast asleep by the time I hit the second chapter of the book he chose. My son, he’s wise beyond his years. The school is already talking about moving him up a grade level if he continues on this path.

“That was all Logan. Not going to deny how good it feels to know he likes me being a part of both of your lives.” He holds his hands up in mock surrender, that devilishly good charm of his sneaking out in his dimples that show when he smiles. There’s no denying how handsome he is, with his hair cut short, his golden tanned skinned, and the tattoo that wraps around his forearm, but I promised myself a long time ago that my number one goal was to raise Logan, to never fall as deep as I did for Logan’s father. That’s why I’ve firmly placed Graham in the friend zone, yet he keeps sneaking his way further into our lives.

“I know, which I’m fine with. Logan could use a male role model in his life, but, Graham, this thing between the two of us can’t happen.” I plop down on the couch once we’ve made our way into the living room.

“Any particular reason why?” Graham makes himself at home, heading to the front entryway to slip off his boots before sitting in the chair across from me.

“There are too many to get me started on tonight.” I lay my head back, put my feet on the coffee table, and try not to think about the disaster that is becoming my work schedule.

“Then we’ll start with this. Logan has time off from school, right?” Graham knows this already. I swear he knows our schedule better than I do.

“He does,” I reply.

“Good, I have time off, and the days I can’t take off, he can hang with me. I know Mrs. Mary will be going home soon. This way, he gets that male figure in his life, and it takes some of the stress off your back.” I sit up, my elbows going to my knees. I probably look more haggard than normal. I hate to take his offer, but it’s either that or bring Logan to The Manor House with me, and what kid wants to do that?

“What’s the catch? Not that I’m not considering it, because believe me, I am. I’m out of options. Beau and Lily are busy in their newlywed bliss. Linc and Jodie are doing their thing. I could ask Caleb and Wren,” I mutter more to myself.

“There’s no catch, Faith. Christ, I don’t know what it’s going to take to show you just how much I care about you, but I’m about done being your punching bag because of whatever fuckface destroyed you.” Graham stands up and marches to the front door, and, oh boy, I think I really did it this time.

“It’s not that.” I go after him. He arches his eyebrows at me, essentially calling me a liar, which I am. “Fine. I’m not used to taking handouts or someone expecting nothing in return. Yes, my past sucks. But I don’t want to go down memory lane right now.” Truth be told, if I never had to share my past again, I wouldn’t. Telling the girls and Mrs. Mary is one thing, anyone else, I’d probably crumble.

Graham’s hands find their way back to my cheeks again, lifting my face so we’re eye to eye. “Not looking to take over. Just want to be a part of yours and Logan’s lives. I know you have a shit past, but let me do something for you. I have plenty of time to take off, and this town could use a deputy a time or ten.” He’s not wrong, which another reason I’m so apprehensive. He’s being called out every other day. I couldn’t even fathom being a cop’s girlfriend or wife, not with the high stress and him being called out at all hours of the day.