She points at me. “You’re on.” She smirks. “Just kidding.”
Dahlia’s already wandering around the store, touching everything.
“She’s adorable,” Erin whispers. “So pretty. And already a hit with your family. Was there ever any doubt?”
“Oh no. No doubt.”
A few minutes later, Dahlia reappears with a small Windy Harbor sweatshirt for Chloe and one of those cute kitchen towels that saysFeeling Superior. It has a drawing of our town with the lake surrounding it.
Dahlia drapes the sweatshirt over Chloe’s head. Chloe smiles down at it.
“So cute,” Dahlia says.
My heart is so full it’s stupid.
I pull up to The Kitty-Corner Cafe and hoist Chloe up on my shoulders. She’s looking drowsy, and we want to feed her before she crashes. We’ve barely gotten out of the car when Ralph—the rooster Juju’s Papa Hector insists on treating like royalty—comes strutting around the side of the cafe like he owns the joint.
“Dylan,” Dahlia whispers, eyes wide. “Why is that rooster looking at me?”
“Uh-oh,” I say. “Ralph’s…particular.”
“Particular?” she repeats.
Before I can explain, Ralph puffs up like he’s about to challenge her to a duel.
“Run,” I say.
“What?!”
“RUN!”
She takes off at full speed, and Chloe shrieks with laughter on my shoulders while the rooster chases Dahlia across the grass. By the time we make it inside, we’re huffing and puffing, and Dahlia’s bent over, hands on her knees.
“I’m—so sorry,” I say between breaths. “I forgot about Ralph. He’s Hector and Hal’s rooster. I hope you get to meet them today. Ralph…he has an issue with women.”
“Why?!” she asks, breathless.
“Hmm. Should I go ask him?”
She swats my chest, laughing. Then she looks around. And her face changes entirely.
“Oh,” she whispers. “This is so dreamy. I love it.”
The cafe glows warm in the morning sun, all wood beams and mismatched tableware and plants hanging from every rafter. It smells like fresh coffee and cinnamon rolls andheaven. Lunch is always great here too. You can’t go wrong at The Kitty-Corner.
Juju’s already behind the counter, wiping her hands on an apron. “There you guys are! Hey,” she says, smiling wide.
“You got over here fast,” I say, smiling back.
“The bonus of living in a small town.” She laughs. “There’s someone I want you to meet. Two someones.”
She glances around us.
“Papa and Uncle Hal,” she calls.
They’re sitting at a nearby table. When they see us, they both get up and walk over.
Hector puts his hand on my back. “Hey there, Dylan. Am I seeing things or…is there a princess on your shoulders?” He winks at Chloe, and she giggles.
