Page 52 of When Love Takes Root

I turned. “Who is we?”

“Everybody tired of watching you go from work to kids to church to home like you’re on a grief treadmill.”

Cassia nodded. “You need food.”

“I have food at home.”

Leilani opened my water bottle and placed it in my hand. “You have leftovers and responsibility at home. We said food.”

Onyx glanced at Josiah. “You see what I deal with?”

Josiah’s eyes glanced between my sisters and Leilani before looking at me. “Looks like love with instructions.”

The room went still for half a breath.

I looked at him, gratitude rising higher than it had permission to.

His gaze softened.

Leilani noticed because Leilani noticed everything.

Juice noticed too because, apparently, God had given that man foolishness and discernment in equal measure.

Juice leaned toward Onyx and whispered loudly, “Siah stuck.”

Josiah didn’t look at him. “I can hear you.”

“I know. That was for the record.”

Calista’s eyes lit up. “Stuck?”

“Stop,” I said too quickly.

Leilani sipped her water. “Nobody asked you.”

Onyx kissed her temple. “You’re enjoying this.”

“I’m allowed joy.”

Josiah’s mouth twitched.

I pointed toward the panel before I combusted in front of my family and a contractor. “So, tomorrow morning?”

Josiah nodded. “Eight, if that works.”

“It works.”

“I’ll bring a crew. Juice will be with me.”

Juice saluted. “Comic relief with credentials.”

Josiah gathered his tools after checking the back row once more. He labeled breakers and set written instructions on the counter.

“These are the stations you can use. No dryers on the back row, and don’t touch the outlet near shampoo. If you smell heat again, shut everything down, and call me.” He paused. “Directly,” he added. The word settled between us.

“Okay.”

His eyes held mine. “I mean it.”