LITMIR.BIZ

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paid had been steep. “When I look at Chloe and think of all I’ve missed, it feels as if I did lose everything.”

      “Don’t second-guess yourself.” Mitzi stopped in the middle of the dirt path to face Kate. “You agonized over that decision.”

      “I did.” Lots of sleepless nights. Lots of prayers.

      “Now a miracle has happened. You’ve been given another chance to be part of your daughter’s life.”

      It took several erratic heartbeats for Kate to find her voice. “I gave up that right nine years ago, Mitzi. And after being here for so long, it would be too confusing to Chloe to break my silence now.”

      “I’m not saying to tell them who you are. I simply think both Joel and Chloe could use a friend like you.”

      “It makes sense, but—”

      “No buts.” Mitzi placed a hand on her arm, her voice a gruff rasp. “You put Chloe first when you gave her up. You need to put her welfare first again.”

      By the time they finished their hike, Kate and Mitzi were hot, sweaty and so tired that everything made them laugh … including the rumble of Kate’s stomach. Because it was quick and casual, they decided to eat at Perfect Pizza in downtown Jackson. They ordered their pizza at the counter and had been handed glasses for drinks when Mitzi’s phone rang.

      In a matter of minutes she was gone, insisting Kate stay behind and wait for the pizza. Since they’d driven separately, it worked. Kate filled her glass with iced tea, tucked the order number under her arm and ambled into the dining room hoping to find a place to sit.

      She heard her name and Kate’s heart performed a series of flutters at the sound of the familiar baritone. A sense of déjà vu washed over her when Joel motioned her over, his lips lifted in an easy smile. He must have said something to his daughter because Chloe turned and waved, leaving Kate no choice but to head that way.

      By the time she reached the booth, Joel was standing, his steady gaze shooting tingles down her spine. He surveyed her from the top of her disheveled ponytail to the tips of her dusty cross-trainers. “You look lovely.”

      Kate gazed into his eyes, noticing for the first time the green in the hazel depths. Discounting the fact that he was Chloe’s adoptive father, there was something about this rugged contractor that appealed to her.

      “Where’s your friend?” Chloe pushed herself up in her seat and looked around.

      “Mitzi is on her way to my house,” Kate said. “Her niece was in a car accident this afternoon and she had some calls to make. Once the pizza is ready, I’m headed home, too.”

      Kate felt it important to make it clear she wasn’t eating here. Despite her conversation with Mitzi, Kate still wasn’t convinced she should be more involved in Chloe—and consequently, Joel’s—life.

      “You’re welcome to join us while you wait,” Joel offered. “We’ve got plenty of hamburger pizza.”

      “With extra cheese,” Chloe said, sweetening the pot.

      There was a beat of silence as Kate hesitated. She felt Joel’s gaze on her mouth. Her lips began to tingle.

      “Daddy and I were talking about my appointment with the dentist,” Chloe said. “He never had braces. Did you have braces, Dr. Kate?”

      “I did.” Kate moistened her suddenly dry lips with the tip of her tongue and concentrated on the facts. Fact one, she had to wait for the pizza. Fact two, with the dining area so small, it would look like an obvious slight if she sat anywhere else. Fact three, she wanted to sit with them.

      “I can move over.” Chloe scooted across the bench seat, making room.

      Kate turned back to Joel, noticing the five o’clock stubble on his cheeks. A man’s man. “If you’re sure I’m not interrupting …”

      “Sit down, Doctor.” Joel’s smile took any sting from the order.

      He stepped back at the same moment she moved forward and her arm brushed against his. His body tensed at the brief contact, but Kate pretended she hadn’t felt it. Or caught a whiff of his spicy cologne.

      She placed the stand with the number card on the edge of the table so it was clearly visible, then slid into the booth next to Chloe. When she turned to drop her hobo bag on the seat, this time it was the little girl who stared.

      “You have a ponytail,” Chloe said loudly. “Just like mine.”

      A self-conscious-sounding laugh escaped Kate’s mouth. She was about to apologize for her appearance when she saw the pleased look in Chloe’s eyes.

      “I like my ponytail.” Or she had, when it had been all neatly pulled back. Not so much now, with half the strands out of the tail. “Do you like yours?”

      “I do.” Chloe sounded surprisingly serious. “It keeps my hair off my face. And my neck stays cooler in the summer.”

      Kate made the mistake of looking at Joel. When his lips twitched, she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. “So true.”

      Chloe’s gaze narrowed. “You don’t look like a doctor in those clothes.”

      Intrigued, Kate angled her head. “Okay, I’ll bite. What do I look like?”

      Across from her, Joel took a sip of soda. Puzzlement, along with an unmistakable flash of amusement, glittered in his eyes. Apparently he wasn’t sure what was going to come out of his daughter’s mouth. Well, that made two of them.

      Chloe shrugged and took a gulp of milk, suddenly tight-lipped.

      Something in Kate told her to let it drop. But curiosity propelled her to offer an encouraging smile. “C’mon, Chloe,” Kate urged, “tell me.”

      “You look—” the little girl took a deep breath then began, again, her hazel eyes staring straight at Kate “—like my mom.”

       Chapter Five

      Kate inhaled sharply.

      Joel’s pizza slice dropped to his plate.

      “Mommy used to wear those black shorts when she went to the gym. Before she got sick.” Chloe’s voice broke. “Then she died.”

      Kate swallowed a nervous gasp. For a second, she’d thought that like Mitzi, Chloe had looked at her and seen …

      But she hadn’t and Kate was relieved. Still, her heart twisted at the pain in Chloe’s voice. While some might say it’d been two years and it was time for the child to move on, Kate knew better. Time did make such a significant loss easier to bear, but even after ten years Kate still missed her grandmother. She squeezed Chloe’s shoulder. “I can tell you loved your mother very much.”

      “I did.” Tears shimmered in Chloe’s eyes. “I miss her so much.”

      Across the booth, Kate saw Joel stiffen and for a second she thought he might put an end to a conversation. Instead he reached across the table and patted his daughter’s hand. The look he shot Kate was filled with unmistakable gratitude. Her breath caught, then began again.

      “I bet she loved you just as much,” Kate said softly. “I—I know I would if you were my little girl.”

      Kate clamped her lips shut. Where had that come from?

      “She told me that she thanked God every day for me.” Chloe’s voice grew thick. “Didn’t she say that, Daddy?”

      “You were her world, princess.” Joel cleared his throat. “I’ll never forget the look on your mommy’s face when the nurse put you in her arms. You were only three days old.”

      Chloe leaned her head against Kate’s shoulder and Kate stayed very still, afraid to move and ruin the moment.

      Finally

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