I wandered around the venue looking for Chloe. I thought the Easter Bunny would be easier to find. Of course, having to stop and chat was slowing the process down. Then I spotted her, made my polite excuses, and hurried away.
“Hi,” Mia said, “I figured you’d find us over here.”
“Hi,” I said.
Chloe spun around, nearly tripping over several baskets full of eggs as she fell right into me. “Crickey!” Chloe blurted. “Good on ya, Trey. I was going to be on the floor, and I would have been devo for sure.”
“I’ll have to look up what devo means,” I said, fully showing my obvious amusement at her Aussie slang.
“Sorry about that,” she answered quietly. “I said I would have been devastated, falling in this dress.”
“Would you like to have a dance with me?” I asked, letting go of her and taking a step back.
“I want to, I really do. You’re a lot of fun, but I need to spend time with Sophie right now.” She wouldn’t make eye contact. “Find me later.”
Sophie ran over and clung to Chloe’s dress. I watched as a few too many expressions crossed Chloe’s face.
“You don’t have to look like I asked you to clean the floors,” I said to Chloe. “Is everything okay? Did something happen?”
Chloe started to speak, then stopped and stared at me.
“Sophie, since your mom doesn’t seem to be able to answer, how about you come dance with me?”
“Wait, what do you mean I can’t answer you?” I heard her say while I was bent over talking to Sophie.
“Yes, I want to dance like the big girls on the dance floor,” Sophie said, putting her hand in mine.
“Sorry, Mummy. It’s my turn now, so don’t be crook on me.” Sophie was already walking away and giggling with me.
“What can I tell you? They all love me,” I called back to a stunned Chloe.
Chapter 24
Chloe
The tiniest of a flutter started, and my heart did a little dance. I hadn’t felt like this since Sophie’s father, too many years ago. I wasn’t sure I was even ready for anything, with Sophie’s health issues, but I was starting to realize maybe I finally was open to the possibility of love. I looked up and caught him staring at me and gave him a small smile before looking away.
“Sophie, since your mommy can’t answer, would you like to dance with me?” I heard him say and then they walked away.
“Wait, what do you mean I can’t answer you?” I sputtered into the air because they were walking away already.
“Look at all the women in this room staring at him out there with your daughter,” Murphy said, coming up beside me. “He’s always been the favorite, but this is too adorable for any woman to resist.”
“He does seem to be well-liked,” I offered, not knowing what else I trusted myself to say. “Sophie likes him too.”
“He has a way with kids. I’m so glad he followed his own path, instead of cardiology like Dad wanted him to.” Murphy grabbed two drinks off a platter as a waiter went by. “Here, you look like you need this.”
“What makes you think I need a drink?” I took the glass from her.
“I don’t know, maybe something to do with the way you can’t take your eyes off of my big brother.” Murphy chugged her drink. “You should go dance with him and have fun tonight.”
“I can’t with Sophie here, but maybe I’ll get in one dance.” I tried to get out of the discussion. “What about you? Who are you dancing with tonight?”
“Nobody, since my boyfriend didn’t show up.” She waved a waiter over and took two more glasses. “Here, have another.”
“I still have this one but thank you. I’m not a big drinker.” I sipped on the drink to appease her. “Why don’t you ask any one of those men over there to dance with you?”
“Mostly because at least four of them are cousins and the other two I’ve known since grade school, so not interested.” Murphy was now slurring her words a tad. “You know what, why not dance with my cousins? I feel like dancing.”