“Daddy,” Chantelle cried, barrelling into his open arms. “What are you doing here?”
“Taking my special girl on a boat trip to our island, that's what,” Daniel said. “What do you say to that? Want to go on a boat trip?”
“YES!” Chantelle exclaimed, jumping up and down.
She quickly ran back to the playground to say goodbye to her friends, before bolting back to the truck and jumping in.
“Wow, that was quick,” Emily commented. She patted her stomach. “I miss being able to run like that!”
“Poor mommy,” Chantelle said. “Not too long now. She’ll be here before Christmas. Ooh, that reminds me. Did you speak to Papa Roy about coming for Christmas?”
Emily felt a jolt of anguish in her chest. What was the best thing to tell the girl? She didn’t want her to worry unnecessarily.
“I sent him an e
