Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Chloe held her son’s hand as they walked toward The Welcome Center’s after-school program. Oscar was excited as he chattered non-stop about the trucks he wanted to play with and the friends he was eager to see.

“Do you think Tommy will be here?” he asked. “Miss Daniels said we’re making bird feeders, and Tommy wanted to be here for that.”

Chloe smiled at another parent before turning her attention back to Oscar. “I’m sure he’ll be here if he’s feeling better.”

As they arrived at The Welcome Center, she kneeled to give Oscar a tight hug. “Have a great time. I’ll be right here teaching my class. If you need anything, you know where to find me.”

Oscar nodded, his eyes bright with excitement. “Okay, Mom. See you later!” He dashed off to join the other children, his laughter blending with theirs.

Chloe watched him for a moment, feeling a surge of pride. He was such a good boy, kind and full of life. She hoped she was doing everything she could to nurture that goodness.

Turning toward the main hall, she spotted Shelley, Pastor John’s wife, cradling their baby. She walked over and smiled. “Hi, Shelley. How’s Karen?”

Shelley adjusted the blanket around her daughter. “She’s such a blessing, but I didn’t realize how little sleep I’d be getting.”

Chloe laughed softly. “It gets better. Is she sleeping through the night?”

“Almost. John says I fuss too much, but he’s worse than me.” The expression in Shelley’s eyes softened as she looked down at her daughter. “How’s everything at The Lakeview Café?”

“It’s busy, but I love it,” Chloe said. “It’s good to have a steady job, especially now.”

Shelley nodded, understanding the unspoken weight of Chloe’s words. “You’re doing an amazing job. Oscar is such a wonderful boy.”

“Thank you,” Chloe said, her voice tinged with emotion. “After everything that’s happened, I’m trying to give him a normal life.”

“You’re doing that and so much more.”

Shelley’s words brought a lump to Chloe’s throat. When she’d first arrived in Sapphire Bay, feeling lost and vulnerable, Shelley and John had found a room for her at The Welcome Center. It gave her and Oscar a warm and safe place to stay. And when a cottage on Anchor Lane had become available to rent, Pastor John had vouched for her, helping them feel as though they were part of this special community.

Chloe glanced at her watch. “I’d love to stay and talk, but I have to get everything ready for my baking class.”

Shelley grinned. “Enjoy yourself. I’ll look forward to the delicious smells coming from the kitchen.”

Chloe smiled as she made her way through the dining room. The kitchen was bustling with activity as her adult students arrived for her budget-friendly baking class. During the day, while Oscar was at school, Chloe worked part time at The Lakeview Café. Two afternoons a week, she taught these baking classes to give back to the community. With the ingredients supplied by the church, it was a welcome addition to the activities Pastor John organized. The food they created was tasty and nutritious, and gave everyone a chance to learn new skills.

With the students’ help, she put the ingredients they’d need onto each table and added copies of the recipe they could take home.

As the last student came into the kitchen, Chloe clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Welcome, everyone! Today, we’re going to bake banana oat muffins. If you have a sweet tooth, you can add some chocolate chips.”

The students gathered around, eager to begin. Chloe started with a brief introduction, sharing tips on how to stretch a grocery budget and make the most of some basic ingredients. She showed them how to do each step of the recipe, answering their questions along the way.

As the class progressed, Chloe moved from table to table, speaking with each of the students. “Hi, Marcy. Your batter looks great.”

“Thanks, Chloe. I could’ve used this recipe on the weekend. The boys wanted something different in their lunch boxes.”

“It’ll be perfect for next week’s lunches. The muffins will keep really well in the freezer if you make a double batch.”

As Chloe moved to the next table, she felt a sense of fulfillment. She was doing more than teaching people how to bake; she was helping her students learn valuable skills that could make a real difference in their lives.

She glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost time to check on Oscar. “All right, everyone, let’s get ready to put the muffins in the ovens. I just have to make sure Oscar’s okay. When I get back, I’ll share my favorite cookie recipe with you.”

While the students were busy preparing their muffin tins, Chloe peeked into the room where the after-school program was being held. Oscar was concentrating on his bird feeder. She watched him for a moment, feeling a profound sense of gratitude. Despite everything, they were finding their way, one step at a time.

Returning to the kitchen, she answered her students’ questions and helped them when they weren’t sure what to do. The smell of baking filled the air, and she smiled, knowing these simple muffins would make many people happy tonight.

Liam sat in the dining room of The Welcome Center, his laptop open in front of him. The steady tapping of keys was a comforting sound as he worked on his book. Trixie was lying contentedly at his feet, snoozing in a pool of light coming through the window.

He enjoyed working from the dining room at this time of the day. The sound of the after-school program and the hum of the conversation from the staff and the guests was so much better than being alone in his room.

Liam stretched and looked down at Trixie. “What do you think, girl? Should we take a break soon?”

Trixie’s tail thumped against the floor, her warm brown eyes looking up at him with unwavering loyalty.

“Okay. Ten more minutes, then we’ll head to the kitchen for a coffee.” As Liam returned to his work, a small figure walked into the dining room. It was a little boy, his eyes wide with curiosity as he took in his surroundings. Spotting Trixie, the boy’s face lit up with excitement.

“Hi,” the boy said, approaching cautiously. “Can I pat your dog?”

Liam smiled. “Of course you can. Trixie loves making new friends.”

The boy grinned and kneeled beside Trixie, who immediately wagged her tail in greeting. Gently, the little boy stroked her head, his small hands moving with a mixture of excitement and tenderness.

“What’s her name?” the boy asked, his voice filled with wonder.

“Her name is Trixie,” Liam replied. “And I’m Liam. What’s your name?”

“I’m Oscar,” the boy answered, still focused on Trixie. “She’s really soft.”

“She sure is.” Liam watched Trixie lean into Oscar. “Do you like dogs?”

“I love them,” Oscar said softly. “But we don’t have one. Sometimes I get to pat Rex, but he’s not here today.”

Liam wondered if Rex was the same toy poodle who belonged to his friend, Steve. “What are you doing at The Welcome Center, Oscar?”

“I go to the after-school program. My mom’s teaching a class right now, so I get to play with my friends.”

“That sounds like fun,” Liam said. “What kind of class does your mom teach?”

“She teaches people how to bake,” Oscar explained. “She makes really yummy food.”

Liam smiled. “That sounds great. What do you like to do when you aren’t here?”

“I like playing with my dinosaurs and building things,” Oscar replied eagerly. “And I like learning about new stuff. What do you do?”

Liam paused, thinking of how he could explain his work to a boy who must only be five or six years old. “I write stories. I’m working on a book about all the interesting things that happen in small towns like Sapphire Bay.”

Oscar’s eyes widened with interest. “What kind of things?”

“Stories about old buildings, fun events, and amazing people,” Liam told him. “I’m trying to find out what makes Sapphire Bay special.”

Oscar wiggled a little closer. “Are you writing about Trixie, too?”

Liam laughed. “Maybe I will. She’s definitely an important part of my life.”

A woman with blonde hair walked into the dining room, looking worriedly around the tables. Her eyes immediately softened when she saw Oscar happily petting Trixie. As she approached them, Liam saw wariness and relief in her hazel eyes.

“Oscar, there you are,” she said, her voice gentle. “You were supposed to wait with the other children.”

Oscar looked up with a huge grin on his face. “It’s okay, Mom. This is Liam and his dog, Trixie. Can we get a dog like Trixie one day?”

“Maybe one day, but it won’t be for a while.” Chloe’s gaze shifted to Liam. “Thanks for letting Oscar play with your dog.”

Liam stood up, extending his hand. “Trixie enjoyed it as much as Oscar. It’s nice to meet you.”

Chloe shook his hand. Her grip was firm, but her eyes still held a hint of caution. “Oscar loves animals. We’d better leave you to finish whatever work you’re doing.”

“It’s all right,” he said quickly. “I was ready for a break, anyway.” Liam searched Chloe’s face. There was something about her that intrigued him. “Oscar was telling me about your baking classes.”

Chloe placed her hand on her son’s shoulder. “I volunteer here twice a week. It works out well with the after-school program that Oscar goes to.”

Liam smiled, trying to put her at ease. He didn’t blame her for being cautious. There were a lot of weirdos in the world, but he wasn’t one of them. “If you ever need an extra taste tester, I’d be happy to volunteer.”

Chloe laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind. Bye.”

As she guided her son toward the doors, Oscar looked back and waved enthusiastically. “Bye, Liam. Bye, Trixie. See you later!”

“Bye, Oscar. Take care.” Liam smiled. Oscar was a bundle of curiosity, energy, and affection—just like his nephew back home.

After they’d left, Liam returned to his laptop. With the research he’d done so far, the book was slowly taking shape. The people he’d interviewed had been generous with their time and open about their family’s involvement in the history of Flathead Lake. He just hoped he could relay the excitement and sense of adventure that had brought their ancestors to this part of Montana.

But, as he typed, a small shadow of doubt crept in. There was still so much to do, so many stories to uncover and write about. He looked at his growing list of interviews and locations to visit. “We have our work cut out for us, Trixie,” he said softly. “All I have to do is focus on writing one story at a time.”