A wave of tenderness washed over me, so strong it made my throat ache.

I looked back at Daniel, and he was watching us with an expression I could not quite define.

It was a mix of sadness and a quiet, budding hope.

After the library, we went to a small diner around the corner.

The windows were steamed up, shielding us from the cold wind outside.

Chloe ate silver-dollar pancakes, getting syrup on her chin.

“She usually doesn’t warm up to people this quickly,” Daniel said, wiping her face with a napkin.

“I work with children every day,” I said. “Maybe she can tell.”

“Maybe,” Daniel said, looking at me. “Or maybe she just knows a good person when she sees one.”

I looked down at my coffee, feeling a flush creep up my neck.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

“I mean it,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her this happy.”

The next Saturday, we went to the science museum.

Chloe held my hand as we walked through the butterfly garden.

A blue morpho butterfly landed on my shoulder, and Chloe gasped in delight.