Chapter 4: Maple Diner Magic

Mom took us to Maple Diner, which Lily and I both loved.

The bell over the door jingled as we walked in, and the waitress—Sharon, with the curly red hair—called out, "Hey, birthday girls!" The Formica counter was sticky with syrup, and the smell of bacon hung in the air. To us, Maple Diner was more than a place to eat—it was a slice of home, with red vinyl booths and a bell over the door that jingled with every customer. The waitresses all knew us by name, or at least by our matching pigtails and winter coats. The clink of coffee mugs, the smell of hash browns, the constant chatter—it all felt safe.

I especially liked their pecan pie. Usually, mom wouldn’t let us eat too much, but that day she didn’t stop me, which made me so happy. I thought, it’s really wonderful to have dad back.

I dug in, filling my mouth with gooey pecan filling, savoring every bite. The sugar rush made Lily giggle, and I just wanted to memorize the way Mom was smiling at us, like nothing bad could touch us. On the way home, I pressed my face to the frosty car window, watching the city lights blur by, thinking—this is what it means to have a family all together.