Page 64 of All Along The Watchtower

She closed her menu. “Can I get the fish and chips? And a chocolate shake?”

“Make that two fish and chips,” I said. “But I’ll stick with water.”

“You got it.”

My gaze strayed to the bar, watching Bree move with practiced ease behind it as she served one customer after another. It was almost graceful, a kind of dance.

After the server left, Peyton propped her chin on her hand. “You know, if you want to go talk to her, you should.”

I dragged my attention back to my daughter. “What?”

“Bree. You keep looking at her like a lost puppy.”

Busted.Heat crept up my neck. “I do not.”

“Do too.” She smirked. “You’re not subtle.”

“When did you get so smart about relationships?”

“I’m thirteen, not blind. Plus, I read a lot of romance.”

I groaned. “That’s not helping your case.” Shit, was that even appropriate reading for a kid her age?

“All I’m saying is, you obviously like her. And she likes you too.”

I would’ve questioned that before The Kiss, but now I was pretty sure Peyton was right. Still. “It’s complicated.”

“Adults always say that when they’re making things harder than they need to be.” She fiddled with her straw wrapper. “I like her. She gets what it’s like, you know? To not know where you belong.”

My heart squeezed. “You belong here. With me. With Grandma Flo and Mimi. Always.”

“I’m getting that. And I’m grateful.” She glanced toward the bar. “But Bree understands what it was like before.”

I followed her gaze just as Bree looked our way. I lifted my hand in a wave before I could think better of it. A blush stained her cheeks, and she quickly turned back to her customers.

“See?” Peyton said. “She’s totally into you.”

“You need to stop reading so much romance.”

She rolled her eyes. “Never. Romance is a lesson to all women in what they ought to expect out of their future partners.”

That was definitely not something I was ready to think about. I wasn’t going to let her date until she was thirty. That was reasonable. Right?

“I take it you got this from your mom?”

“She was a big romance reader. Anyway, I’m just saying, if you want to date her, I’m cool with it.”

I leveled Peyton with what I hoped amounted to a parental Look. “I appreciate your support.” I just wished that Bree herself would be that cool with it.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Ed sit bolt upright in his booth, a pureEureka!expression on his face. He shoved up from the booth, took two steps and keeled right over.

I was out of my seat, racing across the restaurant almost before he hit the floor.

“Pop!”

I dropped to my knees, reaching for him. “Ed? Can you hear me?”

Bree skidded to a halt beside us, her face sheet white. But her hands were steady. “Help me turn him over. Keep him lying down.”

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