“Yeah. She asked me...” Amber hesitates, glancing between us. “She asked if I could bring my friends. To come watch.”
“Friends?” I ask, my mouth full of potato.
“Yeah. You guys.” She gives us a shy look. “She really wants you there. She thinks you’ll clap loud.”
I look at Knox. He swallows a bite of rib, his expression thoughtful.
“We can clear the schedule,” Knox says. “I’ll close the kitchen for a few hours. It’s not a problem.”
“Really?” Her face lights up.
“Absolutely,” Eli says. “We wouldn’t miss it.”
“And maybe afterward,” I add, leaning my elbows on the table, “we can all celebrate. At the restaurant.”
She blinks. “You don’t have to do that,” she says quickly.
“We want to,” Knox corrects. “It’s settled.”
She looks down at her plate, and I swear I see her eyes shimmer. She takes a deep breath, composing herself.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “She’ll be so excited.”
“How is she doing?” I ask, changing the subject slightly.
“She’s good.” Amber pokes at her potato. “But... she thinks you’re mad at her.”
I straighten up, my fork clattering against the plate. “What? Why?”
She shrugs, looking at me with those big hazel eyes. “She just said you probably didn’t want to be her friend anymore.”
The thought hurts. It physically stings in my chest. The idea of that kid thinking I’m mad at her.
“I’m not mad,” I say, my voice rough. “Far from it.”
“I think she just misses you,” Amber says softly.
Knox clears his throat, looking down at his plate. “I’m jealous. Of the time you spent with her. I have never met her.C’est poche!”
Amber looks at Knox, surprised. “You want to meet her?”
“Bien sûr,” Knox says. “Of course. She’s your daughter.”
“We should fix that,” Eli says, leaning forward. He looks at Amber. “Tomorrow. Can you bring her to the B&B? Before the dinner rush?”
Amber looks between us, uncertain. “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”
“We’re sure,” I say, grinning. “I want to show her the kitchen. Maybe let her help with the muffins.”
“She would love that,” Eli says. “I can make lemon tarts. And maybe cupcakes? Something with lots of sprinkles.”
A slow smile spreads across Amber’s face. It transforms her, makes her look younger, lighter. “She would love that.”
“Then it is a plan,” Knox says, nodding. “Bring her. We’ll make time.C’est tiguidou!”
Amber looks down at her plate, then up at us. Her eyes are swimming now, wet and bright. She sets her fork down carefully.
“You guys,” she breathes out. “I don’t... I don’t know what to say to you.”
