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Charlotte countered, wishing Lilah would see her own value. But Lilah’s eyebrows scrunched together… She would get there in her own time.

“Come on, Bug. We’ll be late if we don’t get going.”

Lilah hopped down and looped her arm through Charlotte’s. “I have a good feeling about today!”

“Cricket, right on time,” Diana called from across the boutique in one of the cushioned arm chairs.

Charlotte strolled forward, bending down to hug her mother’s neck. “You’re early?”

“Yes. I had brunch with an old friend.”

“Anyone I know?”

“Leah Coleman” Diana said.

Charlotte got the distinct sense she was under a microscope from the way her mother’s gaze fixed on her. The name rang some long-forgotten bell in the back of her mind. Her head cocked and she stared across the boutique, following the trail the name led into the recesses of her memory.

“I know that name.”

“She was my very best friend in college. She helped deliver both you and Lizzie. Your father was out of town and you two just had to come early.”

“Aunt Leah...” Charlotte mused. The woman’s face and the sound of her laugh curled up from the very depths of her mind like smoke, blurred and faded around the edges. There was warm affection woven like thread throughout. But there was a strand of sadness, too.

“That’s the one,” her mother said, glancing away too quickly.

Charlotte moved toward the empty chair.

“What happened there?”

It was unlike her mother to show so much ache when discussing old friends. Something happened that still hurt to this day.

“Oh, she had a falling out with her family. You and Lizzie were so little, you probably don’t remember. But she moved across the pond to London, met her late wife and just… never came back.”

“Until now?”

Diana’s gaze swept toward the door, some of the ache fading. “Until now.”

Charlotte went to press more, certain her aged memories wouldn’t fill in the blanks on their own. But Diana was already changing the subject.

“Where is the baby? I thought she was with you?”

“She spotted Lizzie parking down the street,” Charlotte settled into the chair beside her.

“Ah. And how’s sweet Ali?”

“A little stressed. An artist dropped out of an upcoming group show and Ali stepped in. But it’s rather last-minute, so she’s in a time crunch.”

Charlotte took one of the flutes of champagne before leaning back in her chair.

“Still working at the coffee shop?”

Charlotte dipped her chin, thoughts drifting toward the freckled artist who occupied far too much of her thoughts.

“My, she stretched herself thin,” Diana mused, leaning closer, her focus locked on her. “She’s different, isn’t she?”

Charlotte’s silence was an answer all on its own, as yearning swelled in her chest. Ali was. In every way. It was terrifying.

“She’s—exceptional,” Charlotte managed just as Lizzie and Lilah waltzed in, arm in arm.