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could so she could have a break. When Chloe was older, Taylor was able to

work part time because her mom babysat for her.

“Mom?”

“Hmm?” Taylor jerked out of the past with a jolt. “Sorry. I was

thinking about the farm, I guess. About Meemaw and Peepaw too.”

“Is the farm your favorite place out of anywhere on earth too?”

Chloe had yogurt smeared on her chin and both cheeks. She grinned at

Taylor and Taylor’s heart fluttered.

“Yes,” she admitted. “I’ll tell you what. I really want to try and

make it work here. I want to make some new friends and see some new

things. But if, at the end of the year, it really isn’t working or we really want

to go back, we will. How does that sound?”

Chloe’s eyes got big and round. “Deal,” she said solemnly. She

stuck out one grimy, yogurt covered hand.

Taylor didn’t hesitate to shake it. She laughed afterwards and called

for Peppy. The dog came running into the kitchen, wagging his tail madly.

She’d taken him out for a walk when she got home, but he could stand

another. She was so distracted she could

barely remember where they’d

even gone.

Chloe put down her hands and laughed hard when the dog’s huge

pink tongue eagerly licked her off. Taylor got up and grabbed a cloth from

the sink. She ran the water until it was hot, then added a squirt of soap and

cleaned up Chloe’s face and hands.

“Mu— um!” Chloe groaned and thrashed her head from side to side,

trying to escape the cloth. “Peppy already did that.”

“Not your face,” Taylor said dryly. “Can you put your dishes on the

counter and grab Peppy’s leash?”

“Okay!” Chloe jumped down, took her dishes to the sink area, then

scampered off.