Page 127 of Forbidden to Fall

I wanted to spread my wings and see how far they’d take me, however fragile they were. I wanted to try a new thing, even if it was scary. If I didn’t, I’d always wonder.

James’s mouth pulled into a slow, wide smile. “I really hoped you’d decide that.”

Of course he did. He believed in me. He always had.

From a young age, I’d been taught my word was my bond.

Friday morning, I let Morgan Keller know that my word was worth approximately diddly squat when I informed her that I didn’t want the job after all.

She let out a big, long sigh. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.”

I rolled my lips between my teeth, feeling like the worst person on the planet.

“You would have been an amazing asset to Keller’s, Sadie.”

It was all I could do to meet her gaze, grimacing in some sort of mangled non-apology. I felt bad for what I was doing, but that didn’t change anything practically. I still wanted the freedom. I still wanted the box with my own logo on it.

“I’m sad for me,” she continued, “but—off the record—I’m thrilled for you. Of course, I had to see if we could snag you, but secretly, I think you’re making the right decision.”

I stared. “You do?”

She put a hand on my arm. “You don’t need us, Sadie. We need you. But we’ll manage somehow. We’re Kellers, after all.” She winked.

I let out a shaky laugh, then threw my arms around her in a decision that was totally unprofessional but very genuine.

After my shift, James and I worked on cutting up vegetables and making dressing for salad at the sugar shack. I insisted we assemble it at my parents’ to avoid it getting soggy, so we pulled up half an hour early.

I had the fixings on my lap, so James jogged around and opened the door, then took the bowl of lettuce so I could get out.

He shut the door behind me, and we turned toward my parents’ house.

Right as Ryan and Lily walked out the door with Mia.

Four of the five of us stopped in our tracks.

Oblivious to the situation, Mia tugged on her dad’s hand. When she met with resistance, she frowned and looked at him, then followed his gaze to James and me.

Her face lit up, and she dropped his hand like a hot potato. “Aunt Sadie! Mr. James!”

The latter was said with noticeably more excitement, but I hardly took note. I was too tense.

“Mia!” Ryan called, trying to catch up with her.

Part of me wondered if I should hold Mia off, knowing her dad didn’t want her to do what she was doing, but when she ran up to me with her arms out and pure joy in her eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to do anything but scoop her up as I’d always done and twirl her around, my eyes stinging.

“Mia,” Ryan said. “We’ve got to get going.”

“Can Aunt Sadie and Mr. James come?”

Oh, Mimi…

“We’re actually staying here,” I replied, setting her down on the grass.

Ryan was staring at James.

No. Not at James. He was staring him down while Lily hovered a few feet behind him, her body tight, her eyes alert.

“Mia,” Lily said, “can you go find me five pretty leaves?”