Page 24 of The Maine Event (Romancing the Workplace #2)

TWELVE

“Rachel, my tummy hurts,” Chloe whimpers, curled up on the couch, still wearing her pajamas, with a small stuffed animal clutched to her chest.

I pause in the midst of hanging a garland, my heart sinking. The party is just hours away, and everything was going so smoothly. I can’t let a stomachache derail all my careful planning.

“Oh, sweetie,” I say, settling beside her and smoothing her hair. “Where exactly does it hurt?”

Chloe sniffles, her big brown eyes glistening with unshed tears. “My stomach feels all twisty and achy. I don’t think I can go to the party.”

A pang of concern mixes with a flicker of frustration. I know Chloe’s health comes first, but the timing couldn’t be worse. I remind myself to prioritize her well-being.

“Chloe, I promise we’ll do whatever we need to make you feel better,” I assure her, my mind already racing with potential solutions. “Why don’t we start with some peppermint tea and see if that helps settle your tummy?”

She nods, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

As I head to the kitchen to prepare the tea, I can’t help but wonder if Chloe’s stomachache is more than just physical. The party, the excitement, her friends all coming… It’s a lot for a young girl to process. I make a mental note to have a heart-to-heart with her once she’s feeling better.

For now, I focus on the task at hand, determined to find a way to make both the party and Chloe’s well-being a priority.

I return to Chloe with a steaming mug of peppermint tea, the soothing aroma already bringing a sense of comfort.

“Here you go,” I say softly, handing it to her. “Careful, it’s hot.”

Chloe takes a cautious sip, her face scrunching up as she adjusts to the temperature. “Thanks,” she murmurs, her voice small and vulnerable.

I sit on the edge of the couch, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “Chloe, I know there’s a lot going on with the party and everything. It’s okay if you’re feeling overwhelmed.”

She looks up at me, her eyes wide and glistening. “I just… I don’t want to let Dad down.”

“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 one has to be peanut 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.”

I hold my hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. But be warned, I will think a lot less of you if you don’t choose maple syrup as one of the sauces.”

Chloe giggles, tapping her chin in thought. “It might be too early for that much sugar. I think I might stick to fruit. Maybe blueberries and kiwi.”

“Smart thinking,” I say, setting my menu aside. “Why don’t you choose for me too, little miss sensible?”

As we wait for our order, I take a sip of coffee and glance at her. “So, tell me something. What’s the best thing about being twelve?”

She tilts her head, considering the question. “I was allowed a phone. That’s pretty cool. And, I guess… that I get to do more stuff on my own? But also… that kind of makes it harder too.”

I nod. “I get that. You’re old enough to know what you want, but people still treat you like a kid.”

“Exactly!” She leans forward, resting her arms on the table. “Like, I want to do things by myself, but I also want Dad to be there… just in case. But not in a ‘hovering’ way.”

“So… present, but not too present?”

“Yeah.” She sighs dramatically. “It’s a very delicate balance.”

I chuckle. “Sounds exhausting.”

She grins. “It really is.”

I stir my coffee absentmindedly, watching as she fidgets with a napkin. It’s a small thing, but I can tell there’s something on her mind.

So, instead of diving in with a heavy-handed question, I nudge her silverware toward her. “Okay, serious question. What’s your take on diner forks? Too heavy, or just right?”

Chloe picks one up, turning it over in her hands like she’s assessing a precious artifact.

“Hmm… a little heavy. But also sturdy, you know?”

I nod, solemn. “Exactly. You don’t want a flimsy fork. Not with pancakes at stake.”

She giggles, shaking her head. “You’re kind of weird.”

“True,” I admit, “but you laughed, so technically that makes you weird too.”

She huffs, pretending to be outraged, but I see the smile she’s trying to fight.

The server drops off our plates, and just like that, everything else melts away.

Chloe digs into her pancakes like she hasn’t eaten in days, the earlier stress in her shoulders gone. She takes a huge bite, then lets out an exaggerated groan of happiness.

“Ohhh my gosh. These are so good.”

“Better than peanut butter?” I tease.

She chews thoughtfully, then nods. “Probably. But don’t tell the peanut butter I said that.”

“My lips are sealed.”

She grins, licking a piece of kiwi off her thumb. “You’re okay, you know that?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Wow. That’s the highest honor I’ve ever received from a twelve-year-old.”

She rolls her eyes but laughs, and I can’t help but feel… something shift between us.

Like maybe we’re not just two people in a diner anymore.

Maybe we’re friends.

As we pull into the driveway, I notice Dan waiting for us on the front porch, a concerned expression on his face. He rushes over to the car, pulling Chloe into a tight hug as soon as she steps out.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” he asks, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.

Chloe beams up at him, her earlier worries now a distant memory. “I’m great, Dad! Really.”

Dan’s eyes meet mine over Chloe’s head, and I see a mixture of gratitude and surprise there. “Thank you. I was worried we’d have to cancel.”

I shrug. “It was my pleasure. She’s a great kid.”

As we head inside, Chloe chatters excitedly about the party, her enthusiasm levels back up to psyched . “I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces when they find out about your big announcement, Dad!”

Dan freezes, his eyes widening in panic. “Announcement? What announcement?”

I quickly jump in, hoping to smooth over the moment. “Oh, just a little surprise we have planned for later. Nothing to worry about.”

Dan looks at me skeptically, but Chloe’s excitement is impossible to ignore. “Come on, Dad, it’s going to be amazing! Rachel’s been working so hard to make this party perfect.”