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“Hi Dad. Nice bike.”

Chloe looked a little unsure of herself as she stood before me wearing capri tights, a tank top, and hiking boots. She was so grown up, and looked so much like her mother, it made it hard to breathe.

“Hi Chloe, thanks for coming. Are you ready to go?”

“Yep.”

“You have water? Sunscreen?”

She started laughing. “Dad, I know you haven’t seen me since I was in diapers, but I’m a grown-up now. I know what to bring.”

I shook my head wryly. “Sorry.”

We took off at an easy pace. The trail was pretty empty since it was a weekday. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm, the air thick with the smell of the nearby ocean. I’d forgotten how much I’d loved this area of the country. At Chloe’s suggestion, we started playing twenty questions, sharing favorite colors, food, movies, etc. It was fascinating to see the areas where we were alike.

“Okay, whiskey or tequila?” she asked.

“Whiskey. You?”

“Tequila.”

“Just like your mother.”

I might have left before either of us were of legal drinking age, but we’d still done our fair share of drinking. My ex-wife had always loved her tequila.

“You two seem very close,” I observed.

“We are,” my daughter confirmed. “It’s always been me and mom against the world. Sometimes we feel more like sisters than mother and daughter. Of course, she was only eighteen when she had me, so it’s like we grew up together.”

“Would it be weird if I asked you to tell me more about your mother?” I asked.

Chloe sent me an appraising look but nodded. “Hit me.”

“What’s she like? What’s important to her?”

We came out to the overlook to the ocean, and we both paused to take a drink and look at the incredible view. Chloe sat down on a rock and gestured for me to join her. Her gaze was pensive as she stared out at the ocean waves beneath us.

“Mom is great,” she began. “She’s the smartest, funniest person I know. I never knew the whole story about what happened between you two until you told me at the restaurant yesterday. She’s always protected me. She never once said a bad word about you, and knowing what I know now, she would have been justified.”

She winced a bit, like she thought it would hurt my feelings.

“You’re right,” I assured her. Dawn’s restraint was much more than I deserved.

“She’s always been strong and independent. She saved up the money for the restaurant and refused to take any money from anyone to get it going, other than a business loan. She’s always worked hard and been focused, but on the other hand she likes to have fun too. When I was a kid we’d always find time to go to the beach, or head into the city to do something fun. I never felt deprived or like a burden, the way some of my friends did. I know it sounds ridiculous, but in many ways, Mom is my best friend.”

I touched her shoulder gently. “That’s great.”

“She also has these two best friends, Emma and Evie.”

“I remember them, I think they met in Mommy and Me class?”

“Yeah. I grew up with their kids and the moms would trade babysitting and stuff like that. But the three of them are also hella crazy. A few weeks ago, there was this issue with some dude breaking into Evie’s bookstore and the three of them hatched this crazy caper to catch the guy. And it worked! When the cops came they had the guy duct-taped and gagged. He was an ex-cop and a felon, and they kicked his ass.”

I felt a shiver of unease.

“That doesn’t sound safe.”

She giggled. “Yeah the police chief didn’t think so either.”