Palmer’s eyes lit up a little, and a tiny shaky smile appeared on her face.
“Do you want to join us?” Miss Samantha asked, holding out her hand.
Palmer looked up at Beau for reassurance. He smiled and held out his hand, letting her know she wasn’t alone.
After a few moments of wiggling nervously, she took both of their hands and together the three of them stepped into the classroom. Beau hoped later he would be able to help Palmer realize how much Miss Samantha cared about her too. The list of people who cared about his Little one was longer than the list of people who had hurt her and he was so thankful for that.
“Hi, Palmer!” a little girl shouted from across the room. “I was so excited when I heard you might be coming today!” Palmer’s face brightened, and she waved back.
“Look, you already know one friend,” Beau whispered, squeezing her hand.
She nodded. “That’s Becky. I met her at the library one time!”
“Hello, Palmer!” another Little called, running over to her. “I’m so glad you’re here to make pies with us today!”
Beau recognized the brunette from one of his seminars. She had come in with the university students. He wondered how Palmer knew her.
“Hi, Hayleigh!” Palmer greeted. “Are you going to help your Daddy make pies with us?”
Ah, that explained how they knew each other. Hayleigh was Chef Connor’s Little one.
“Daddy, I know two people here,” she said, peering up at him.
“You do, pretty baby!” Beau encouraged. “And it seems like they’re very happy to have you here.”
“Yeah. Palmer’s so nice!” Becky said, bouncing on her toes. “I couldn’t find a book I was looking for in the library and I was too nervous to ask for help, but she helped me find it!”
Beau’s Daddy heart swelled in his chest with pride.
Unable to resist, he bent down and picked up his Little one. “You’re such a sweet girl, baby.”
“That’s how Palmer and I met for the first time too!” said Hayleigh. “Well, not in the library, but by her helpingme. I dropped my lunch tray in the cafeteria and I was so embarrassed. Everyone turned and looked at me, but Palmer just got up from the table and helped me pick up my mess. Then she walked me back to Daddy to get a hug.”
Palmer blushed and shrugged. “I was just being nice.”
Beau set her back down on her feet. “You’re such a good girl, pretty baby. I’m so proud to call you mine.”
“And how is your Daddy heart doing?” Catherine teased.
Beau chuckled before taking a sip of his coffee. “I want to go get her and promise her she never has to go back.”
“You sound like Sam the first time we had to drop Pippi off at school after she became ours.” She laughed. “He was a mess too.”
Beau studied the dark liquid in front of him. “She just looked so small when I left.” He knew logically Palmer was fine, but that didn’t stop the tug in his chest.
“She’s probably elbow deep in apples right now and living her best life,” Catherine soothed.
He appreciated her words. “She doesn’t like to be messy, but I’m sure she’s having fun baking pies.”
“I’m glad you stopped by. We’ve missed you.”
Beau looked up, his apology ready on his tongue, when his friend shook her head and said, “I’m not saying that to guilt you. I know you’ve been busy getting Palmer settled.”
He nodded. “It happened so fast. Hell, stuff is still being delivered for her as we speak.”
Catherine smiled. “It’s good to see you… living.”
Nodding, Beau agreed. “I finally feel like I’m living, not just going through the motions.”
