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"How were the pancakes?" Chloe interrupted, as she sat down on the other side of Leo and immediately reached for a napkin to wipe his sticky face. "Are you ready to look for Easter eggs?"
Leo nodded and immediately climbed off his chair, throwing himself into Chloe's arms. "Decker said I'm a good hunter."
"He's right. And I can't wait to see what you find." She paused, turning to him and Joel. "Do you guys want to come to the hunt?"
"Sure," he said.
"Uh, yeah," Joel said, still distracted by his phone. "Let's do that."
"Okay." Chloe pushed Leo off her lap and stood up.
As Chloe grabbed her bag off the table, Leo slid his hand into Decker's.
Decker felt a little awkward, thinking that Leo should hold Joel's hand, but making a big deal of it would probably make it an even bigger deal than it was. Then Joel moved around Decker and grabbed Chloe's hand.
Decker found himself following them out the door, holding the still sticky hand of a little boy.
ChapterTwelve
Chloe felta little awkward holding Joel's hand as they headed to the starting line of the Easter egg hunt. She didn't know why it felt awkward, because it should feel good. She'd been going to so many things alone the last few years. It was nice to be a part of a couple.
But it was the couple behind them that made her feel strange. Leo was getting attached to Decker when he should be getting attached to Joel. And having Decker watch her stroll hand-in-hand with Joel… That didn't feel good, either. She told herself to just relax and enjoy the morning. Joel was finally free of meetings, and it was a beautiful day. All was right in her world. She didn't need to make up problems.
They were almost at the starting line when they ran into Gianna and Zach, who were with their eleven-year-old stepdaughter, Hailey.
"Hi," Gianna said, giving her a quick hug. "Happy almost Easter."
"You, too," she replied. "Hi Zach, Hailey."
"Is Leo doing the little kid hunt?" Hailey asked.
"He is," she said.
"I'm volunteering to help with the younger kids," Hailey said. "Is it okay if I take him to the starting line?"
"Sure." She turned to Leo. "Do you want to go with Hailey?" She'd barely gotten out the words when Leo let go of Decker's hand and grabbed Hailey's.
Hailey laughed. "Your hand is sticky. You must have had pancakes."
"With a lot of syrup," Leo said.
She gave Decker a pointed look.
"It was just a little," he said with a laugh. "I swear. He just picked up his pancake with his hand."
"It's fine," Hailey said. "Come on, Leo."
As the kids ran off, she smiled at Gianna and Zach. "I can't believe how big Hailey is. When she first came to Whisper Lake, she was such a little thing."
"They grow up fast," Zach said. "Which is why…" He paused, smiling at Gianna. "I know you said brunch tomorrow, but…"
"It's fine," Gianna said with a laugh. "I'll tell her."
"Tell me what?" she asked, pretty sure she knew, but she needed to hear it.
"I'm pregnant," Gianna said.
"That's wonderful. Congratulations." She gave Gianna another hug. "How far along are you?"
