Page 155 of When Love Takes Root

“Maya, one earbud out when you walk in here.”

Maya slid one earbud completely free. “It was already out.”

“It was spiritually out.”

A tall teenage boy came next, one hand gripping his backpack strap, his eyes finding me before his mother finished smiling. Celeste’s mouth softened when she saw him.

“Hey, Kay.”

He nodded at her, then looked back at me.

A young man entered last with keys in his hand, grown enough to look like he had somewhere to be but young enough to check his mama’s face first.

Celeste nodded toward the door. “JJ, lock that behind you, baby.”

JJ did, then came further inside with his attention already moving over the shop.

Celeste released my hand.

Not like she was hiding me.

Like she was making room for them to understand where I stood.

I respected that.

Skye held up her paper bag. “Mama, I brought my spelling test.”

Celeste bent to hug her. “Did you pass?”

“I got a ninety-eight because Ms. Lin said my S looked like a snake.”

Zuri looked offended on her behalf. “It did not. It looked like a stylish worm.”

Maya sighed. “That’s not better.”

JJ grinned. “It’s creative.”

Kayden said nothing.

His eyes stayed on me.

Seventeen had made him tall. Grief had made him vigilant.

He stood there with too much father in his posture and too much boy in his face. I knew that stance. Grief had taught him to stand like his shoulders could hold the roof up. I respected him.

Celeste straightened and turned toward me. Her hand rested briefly against Skye’s shoulder, but her eyes stayed on mine.

She said, “Everybody, this is Mr. Brooks.” She paused, and the next part came softer. “Josiah.” The pause did the introducing for her.

JJ noticed.

Maya noticed.

Kayden’s jaw moved once.

Zuri looked from Celeste to me, then back to Celeste. “Is he the electrician?”

“I am.”