I must eventually fall asleep because I wake to early morning light and the sound of Ruby bouncing on her bed.
"Mom! Mom, wake up! It's pancake day and Dad is coming!"
I pry my eyes open to find my daughter fully dressed. Mismatched socks and inside-out shirt, but dressed, standing on her bed with more energy than should be legal before eight a.m.
"Ruby, it's—" I squint at the clock. "It's seven-thirty. We don't need to be downstairs until—"
"But I'm hungry! And Linda said there would be chocolate chips! And Dad is coming at nine and I need to be ready!"
There's no arguing with that logic, apparently. I drag myself out of bed, pulling on jeans and a sweater, running a brush through my hair without really looking in the mirror. I don't want to see the dark circles under my eyes, the evidence of a night spent half-asleep and worrying.
The dining room of the Blackwater Inn is a sun-filled space with four tables covered in cheerful yellow tablecloths. Only one other table is occupied, an elderly couple sharing the newspaper and coffee. Linda is in the attached kitchen, and the smell of pancakes makes my stomach growl despite my nerves.
"Good morning!" Linda greets us with a warm smile. "Ruby, I have your chocolate chip pancakes ready. And for you, Sierra? I have blueberry, plain, or I could make chocolate chip for you too."
"Blueberry sounds perfect, thank you."
Ruby digs into her pancakes with enthusiasm while I sip coffee and try to wake up properly. The elderly couple leaves, nodding politely as they pass our table. Through the window, I can see Main Street coming to life—shops opening, people walking dogs, a jogger passing by.
It's a nice town. Quiet, peaceful. The kind of place where people know their neighbors and look out for each other. I can see why Cade stayed here, why he built a life in Blackwater Falls.
I can also see why leaving it would be hard.
The thought comes unbidden, unwelcome. I haven't let myself think too much about the logistics, about how we're actually going to make this work. Weekends? Holidays? Ruby spending summers here while I stay behind? Or—
"Mom, you're not eating." Ruby's voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts.
I look down at my pancakes, untouched. "Just thinking, sweetie."
"About Dad?"
"About everything." I take a bite of pancake, not really tasting it. "Big changes ahead for us."
"Good changes though, right?" Ruby's face is so hopeful, so certain that this will all work out perfectly because that's how she needs it to work out.
"Yes," I assure her, even though I'm not certain of anything. "Good changes."
We're back in the room, Ruby brushing her teeth again because she's determined to have perfect breath when Cade arrives, when my phone buzzes. A text from a number I haven't seen in eight years but still recognize instantly.
**Cade: Morning. Running a few minutes early. Would it be okay if I came by at 8:45 instead of 9?**
I text back: **That's fine. Ruby's been ready since 7:30.**
**Cade: She gets the morning person thing from you.**
I stare at that text, at the acknowledgment that he remembers I was always an early riser while he preferred to sleep until the last possible moment.
He remembers. After eight years, he remembers these small things about me.
**Sierra: Some things don't change.**
**Cade: Some things do though.**
I don't know how to respond to that, so I don't. I just tell Ruby that her dad is going to be here in ten minutes and watch her face light up like I've just told her Christmas is coming early.
When the knock comes, Ruby sprints to the door, yanking it open to reveal Cade standing in the hallway. He's wearing jeans and a dark blue henley that makes his eyes even more striking, and he's holding two coffee cups from what looks like a local café.
"Morning, Ruby." He grins at her enthusiasm. "Ready for your tour?"
