Page 47

“Oh, Chloe,” I whisper, pulling her into a hug. “You could never let your dad down. He loves you more than anything in this world.”

She sniffles against my shoulder, her small frame trembling. “I miss Mom,” she confesses, her voice barely audible. “She always liked parties with friends. She would have loved this.”

I instantly feel terrible. I didn’t make the connection. Of course, something like this would bring back all the memories. I hold her tighter, hoping it in some way helps.

“I know, sweetie. And I’m sure she’s watching over you, so proud of the amazing girl you’ve become.”

As Chloe’s breathing steadies, I wonder if a change of scenery might be what we both need.

“Chloe,” I say gently, pulling back to look her in the eyes. “I have an idea. Why don’t we…”

Before I can finish my sentence, Dan appears in the doorway, his brow furrowed with worry. “Is everything alright in here?” he asks, his gaze shifting between Chloe and me.

I stand up, giving Chloe’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Chloe wasn’t feeling too well. We were just having a little heart-to-heart,” I explain, offering Dan a small smile. “I think Chloe’s over the worst of it now, aren’t you?”

Chloe nods, a brave little smile on her face. “Yeah, Dad. Rachel’s tea helped a lot.”

Dan’s shoulders relax, relief washing over his features.

“Hey, Chloe,” I say. “I know just the thing to cheer you up. How about we take a little trip to that diner we first met at, the one with the pancakes with all the trimmings?”

Chloe’s eyes widen, a spark of excitement replacing the earlier gloom. “Really? You mean Julie’s Diner?”

I nod, grinning. “That’s the one!”

“But? But what about the party?”

“Party,shmarty, we’ve got plenty of time. I need you in top shape before the guests arrive, and to be perfectly honest, if I never have to blow up another balloon, it will be too soon!”

Dan laughs, “Sure. I’ll drive.”

“Actually, Dan,” I say as I stand. “If it’s okay, this is a girl thing. You’ll need to stay to let the caterers in. They’re due in forty-five minutes.”

“Oh. Right… Well…”

“Please, Dad?” Chloe puts on her best puppy dog eyes. I’m impressed.

“Fine,” he says.

“Then it’s settled!” I declare, clapping my hands together. “Let’s get you dressed, Chloe, and we’ll head out for a pancake adventure.”

Chloe’s earlier malaise seems to melt away as she hurries to get ready, chattering excitedly about the different pancake toppings she wants to try.

As we step into Julie’s Diner, the warm aroma of coffee and sizzling bacon wraps around us like a hug. My mind is immediately taken back to my first night in Portland, of the poor woman who collapsed right here, and of Dan without hesitation dropping to his knees to help. The place is buzzing with the easy hum of morning chatter, the clatter of plates, and the occasional hiss of the griddle. The checkered floors, red leather booths, and gleaming chrome counters give the whole place a kind of timeless charm.

Chloe hesitates at the entrance, biting her lip as she scans the room. It’s not like the house, where she knows every corner, or like school, where she blends in. Here, in the real world, she looks uncertain—like a kid trying to navigate a space that suddenly feels too big.

I nudge her lightly with my elbow. “We’re getting the booth by the window. I called dibs.”

That earns a small smile, and she follows me as we slide into the red leather seats.

Chloe snatches up a menu, her earlier nerves forgotten as she scans the options with the intensity of someone about to make a life-altering decision.

“They have even more choices now!” she says, eyes darting between the different pancake stacks. “Blueberry, chocolate chip, banana… Oooh, but you said I could only have two. But onehasto bepeanut butter, so?—”

“Really?” I smirk. “You’d sacrifice one of your options for peanut butter?”

She gasps, scandalized. “Peanut butter is the best! You just don’t understand.”