“Do you think Tommy will be here?” he asked. “Miss Daniels said we’re making bird feeders, and Tommy wanted to be here for that.”
Chloe smiled at another parent before turning her attention back to Oscar. “I’m sure he’ll be here if he’s feeling better.”
As they arrived at The Welcome Center, she kneeled to give Oscar a tight hug. “Have a great time. I’ll be right here teaching my class. If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
Oscar nodded, his eyes bright with excitement. “Okay, Mom. See you later!” He dashed off to join the other children, his laughter blending with theirs.
Chloe watched him for a moment, feeling a surge of pride. He was such a good boy, kind and full of life. She hoped she was doing everything she could to nurture that goodness.
Turning toward the main hall, she spotted Shelley, Pastor John’s wife, cradling their baby. She walked over and smiled. “Hi, Shelley. How’s Karen?”
Shelley adjusted the blanket around her daughter. “She’s such a blessing, but I didn’t realize how little sleep I’d be getting.”
Chloe laughed softly. “It gets better. Is she sleeping through the night?”
“Almost. John says I fuss too much, but he’s worse than me.” The expression in Shelley’s eyes softened as she looked down at her daughter. “How’s everything at The Lakeview Café?”
“It’s busy, but I love it,” Chloe said. “It’s good to have a steady job, especially now.”
Shelley nodded, understanding the unspoken weight of Chloe’s words. “You’re doing an amazing job. Oscar is such a wonderful boy.”
“Thank you,” Chloe said, her voice tinged with emotion. “After everything that’s happened, I’m trying to give him a normal life.”
“You’re doing that and so much more.”
Shelley’s words brought a lump to Chloe’s throat. When she’d first arrived in Sapphire Bay, feeling lost and vulnerable, Shelley and John had found a room for her at The Welcome Center. It gave her and Oscar a warm and safe place to stay. And when a cottage on Anchor Lane had become available to rent, Pastor John had vouched for her, helping them feel as though they were part of this special community.
Chloe glanced at her watch. “I’d love to stay and talk, but I have to get everything ready for my baking class.”
Shelley grinned. “Enjoy yourself. I’ll look forward to the delicious smells coming from the kitchen.”
Chloe smiled as she made her way through the dining room. The kitchen was bustling with activity as her adult students arrived for her budget-friendly baking class. During the day, while Oscar was at school, Chloe worked part time at The Lakeview Café. Two afternoons a week, she taught these bakingclasses to give back to the community. With the ingredients supplied by the church, it was a welcome addition to the activities Pastor John organized. The food they created was tasty and nutritious, and gave everyone a chance to learn new skills.
With the students’ help, she put the ingredients they’d need onto each table and added copies of the recipe they could take home.
As the last student came into the kitchen, Chloe clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Welcome, everyone! Today, we’re going to bake banana oat muffins. If you have a sweet tooth, you can add some chocolate chips.”
The students gathered around, eager to begin. Chloe started with a brief introduction, sharing tips on how to stretch a grocery budget and make the most of some basic ingredients. She showed them how to do each step of the recipe, answering their questions along the way.
As the class progressed, Chloe moved from table to table, speaking with each of the students. “Hi, Marcy. Your batter looks great.”
“Thanks, Chloe. I could’ve used this recipe on the weekend. The boys wanted something different in their lunch boxes.”
“It’ll be perfect for next week’s lunches. The muffins will keep really well in the freezer if you make a double batch.”
As Chloe moved to the next table, she felt a sense of fulfillment. She was doing more than teaching people how to bake; she was helping her students learn valuable skills that could make a real difference in their lives.
She glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost time to check on Oscar. “All right, everyone, let’s get ready to put the muffins in the ovens. I just have to make sure Oscar’s okay. When I get back, I’ll share my favorite cookie recipe with you.”
While the students were busy preparing their muffin tins, Chloe peeked into the room where the after-school programwas being held. Oscar was concentrating on his bird feeder. She watched him for a moment, feeling a profound sense of gratitude. Despite everything, they were finding their way, one step at a time.
Returning to the kitchen, she answered her students’ questions and helped them when they weren’t sure what to do. The smell of baking filled the air, and she smiled, knowing these simple muffins would make many people happy tonight.
Liam satin the dining room of The Welcome Center, his laptop open in front of him. The steady tapping of keys was a comforting sound as he worked on his book. Trixie was lying contentedly at his feet, snoozing in a pool of light coming through the window.
He enjoyed working from the dining room at this time of the day. The sound of the after-school program and the hum of the conversation from the staff and the guests was so much better than being alone in his room.
Liam stretched and looked down at Trixie. “What do you think, girl? Should we take a break soon?”
