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“Ja!”

We discussed that over Christmas as well. If she finally took her test, I’d match her investment in a car up to $3000 and her mother would chip in the same. Of course, she pouted since she wanted a hauling vehicle and finding one in her budget was complicated.

“A car is so cool!”

I sensed the chattering was about to begin over cars in the U.S. However, I needed focus.

“So, Piper, are we good?” I asked.

She came back to me momentarily. “Sure.”

“Okay, good. I will submit the application then,” I said. “I gotta go, honey. Love you.”

“Love you, Dad,” Piper said. “See you soon!”

After hanging up, I turned to the ever-patient complex manager who allowed me to orchestrate this call.

“Sorry,” I said. “I knew it would be fine, but if I didn’t include her… heaven help me.”

The woman chuckled. “I get it. And if it makes you feel better, I have two. When I took this job and we moved in here, my two girls got the primary bedroom. I’d recommend it. The walk-in was wasted on me, but it confines all their stuff to one place.”

I smiled. “That’s smart. It’s so ironic. When Piper—my daughter—was born, we only had a one-bedroom on the Near Northside, and her nursery was just half of the walk-in. We were saving for a bigger place.”

“Babies don’t need much.”

“I suppose so.” I scratched my head, thinking about fears of people judging us for living small as we scrimped to buy our first two-bedroom condo. She was right. It didn’t matter.

Even with that humble beginning in an apartment with no in-unit laundry and no dishwasher, our kid now thrived halfway around the world. I thought about Chloe and how nervous she seemed when I saw her last time—fear of my judgement and that of others. The next time I saw her, I needed to remind her the same.

“Well, I’ll submit the application, then?” I asked. “I just have to press send.”

“Of course. The unit you’re looking at will be available June 1st.”

“Sounds good,” I agreed. “I think we will be okay on that front.”

Chloe assured we could stay as long as we needed. Still grateful for her hospitality, but desperate not to overstay and interrupt her last weeks of peak-nesting pregnancy, I wanted to be out of her hair.

I finished the application by laptop in my truck before heading into the barn. I spotted Chloe’s truck. My heart fluttered slightly. It had been weeks since I saw her, but the closer I got to the office, the more my palms sweated. It seemed I’d never get over this crush that remained. And as I found her in the office joking with Fernando about something, I remembered just how nice her smile was.

She was seated, oversized pullover adorning her, next to another woman I didn’t recognize.

“Hey, brother!” Fernando said, warmly. “Did you hear about the new baby?”

The word baby made me look at Chloe. Had she finally told him? I couldn’t read her expression to confirm. Instead, she dropped my gaze and looked at her phone.

“I… I don’t know?” I lied.

“It’s a horse,” the stranger laughed. “And you must be… Cole. The cowboy? I’m Meg. I’m Chloe’s assistant.”

The cowboy. It was ridiculous!

I flushed bright red. “Yes, I’m Cole. I’m hardly a cowboy, though. Nice to meet you Meg.”

As I shook her hand, Fernando patted my shoulder. “It's a state of mind. And the horse is Riley’s new prospect. You wanna see him?”

“Oh, I chuckled. Sure, why not?”

I left the office with them, passing over Emma as she worked on what appeared to be chemistry homework. I may have just spoken to Piper under an hour ago, but always wanted to spend more time with her. Fernando’s daughter was his everything. I could relate. The years were short even if the days were long.