Page 62 of When Love Takes Root

“And you’ll show me what you find?”

“Pictures, explanations, and any change in price before I replace anything major.”

Her shoulders eased. “I can work with that.”

“I’ll make sure the front stations are safe so you can keep working. The back row stays down until the dryers have their own lane.”

She glanced toward the dark stations. “Their own lane.”

I smiled. “Exactly. Their own lane.”

“See? That makes sense.”

“I told you it would.”

“No,” she said, a small smile touching her mouth. “You told me you’d explain it. That’s different.”

“Then I’ll keep doing that.”

“Okay, Mr. Brooks. Show me what you need to show me.”

I handed her the paper with the initial notes. Our fingers brushed when she took it.

A quick thing. Nothing anybody across the room would’ve noticed. Still, it ran up my hand before I could stop it.

Celeste felt it too. She stilled for half a breath before pulling the paper to her chest. I slid my hand into my pocket before my body got any ideas.

Her phone buzzed on the counter before either of us could speak. Kayden’s name lit the screen. She glanced at me. “Excuse me.”

“Go ahead.”

She answered and turned a little away. “Hey, baby. What’s wrong?” She listened, then sighed through her nose. “No, I told you where the cereal is. Pantry, second shelf. Because if it was on the first shelf, Skye would eat it like communion.”

I looked down to hide my smile. Juice didn’t bother hiding his.

Celeste pressed two fingers to her temple. “And tell Skye if she puts syrup in her backpack again, I’m calling Nana.”

A pause. The business owner stepped back, and the mother took over. Her voice lowered, her shoulders eased, and something in her eyes went warmer than it had been a minute before.

“I love you too. Yes, I’ll text when my first client gets here. No, you do not need to come check the electrician.”

I looked toward Juice. He mouthed, protective. I turned away before I smiled.

Celeste ended the call and set the phone down. “Sorry.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yes. Just morning ministry.”

“With five children, I imagine it starts early.”

“With five children, silence means sleep, sickness, or conspiracy.”

Juice laughed from the back. “Put that on a shirt.”

Celeste smiled, then looked at me. “Kayden is seventeen and currently believes he’s the man of my house.”

I understood that in a place I didn’t expect.