Page 86 of Chasing the Sun

“Sure. Follow me,” Mary said, and they disappeared into the kitchen.

Bryce felt the loss immediately, but he took a seat next to his dad on the couch and across from Seb and Angel. Molly had already run off to the bedroom that his parents had designated as hers for whenever she came to visit. They’d decorated it to her taste and filled it with plenty of dolls and books.

“How’s business, son?” Don asked.

“Good. I treated your buddy Mac the other day.”

“That old goat? I’m surprised he has any teeth left!”

Bryce laughed. His dad referred all his friends to Bryce’s practice, which was his dad’s way of letting him know how proud he was.

“Isn’t it almost time for your checkup?” While his dad sent everyone else to him, he was less enthusiastic about making his own appointments.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get there.”

“You better, or I’ll sic Mom on you.”

Don chuckled.

Seb had been quiet since they’d sat down, and Bryce ventured a glance at the loveseat where he and Angel were sitting. Seb’s hand was on her thigh, and she was leaning all over him while playing with his hair.

Bryce was equal parts annoyed and envious at the display, and he immediately thought of Chloe. He wasn’t a big fan of PDA, but he missed her affection in private. It hadn’t been that long since they’d been intimate, but it felt like forever.

Just then, Chloe poked her head in the room and said, “Lunch is ready.”

Bryce popped up first, anxious to get away from Seb and Angel. Everyone piled into the kitchen, and Molly came in too, carrying one of her beloved Barbie dolls.

“Seb and Angel, you can sit over here,” Mary said. “Bryce and Chloe, I put you over there. Molly, you can sit between me and Papa.”

For once, Bryce was happy about his assigned seat. He pulled out Chloe’s chair and motioned for her to sit first, and then he squeezed in beside her. His parents’ house was much smaller than his, and the furniture was proportional. Today he didn’t mind the tight space, since it allowed him to sit close to Chloe, so close their legs touched. He noticed she didn’t try to move away.

“Who’s turn is it to pray?” Mary asked.

“My turn!” Molly shouted.

“I think it was actually my turn, but you go ahead,” Seb said with a smile.

Everyone clasped their hands and bowed their heads, and Bryce took a quick peek at Chloe to see if she’d done the same. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and a tendril of reddish-brown hair grazed her cheek. He admired her profile while resisting the urge to reach over and brush the hair off her face.

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the food that Nana made for us, and thank you for Nana, Papa, Daddy, Miss Chloe, Seb, and—”

“Angel,” Seb provided.

“Angel,” she repeated. “Also, happy birthday to the best daddy in the whole world. Amen.”

“Amen,” everyone chorused.

Bryce smiled at Molly and said, “Thank you, sweetie.”

Then they started passing the endless dishes of food his mother had prepared.

Each time Chloe passed him something, he purposely grazed her fingers, anxious for any contact with her. She never pulled her hands away and simply smiled at him every time.

Once everyone’s plates were filled, his mom started in with her interrogation. He’d anticipated this and hoped Chloe would be okay with it. Mary would have done the same thing with any newcomer to a Bradshaw family dinner.

“Molly tells us you were a dance teacher,” Mary said.

“Um-hmm, and I’d like to get back to it someday,” Chloe replied.