Page 103 of Sing with Me

Skye smiled to the boy, but his eyes were elsewhere now. They grew wider as he stared at the springform pan on the island countertop where Skye had poured the graham cracker base.

“Did you get started without me?” Ethan asked.

“Just the base. We’ll do that soon, but you know that we have to keep it refrigerated until tomorrow before we can eat it.”

“Tomorrow?” Ethan frowned.

“It will set overnight.”

“What do we eat now?”

“Well, we have fruits and such for snacks, and then Chef Pierre is grilling some fresh fish for lunch.”

“I don’t want fish. I want cheesecake.”

“I can text Cara and ask her to get a small cheesecake at the grocery store if you like.”

“No!” Ethan snapped. “I wantyourcheesecake!”

Skye couldn’t be flattered at the tone of the nine-year-old. Without glancing to his dad, who was still nursing a hangover, Skye prayed for words to calm the boy down.

“I’m glad you like my cheesecake, Ethan.” Skye knelt down so that she was eye to eye with Ethan. “Did you know that I can make more than cheesecake?”

“Like what?”

“I can make all sorts of cakes and pies andfruitdishes.” Her emphasis on fruit made Diehl chuckle. “Those might be ready faster than cheesecake. Take a blueberry pie, for example. As soon as it comes out of the oven, we can eat it. We don’t have to wait overnight like for cheesecakes. However, I heard that your grandma’s Chef Pierre is making a special dessert just for you.”

“What is it?”

Skye whispered. “It’s a big secret that even I couldn’t guess. He wouldn’t say. It’s a special top secret.”

“Wow. A secret. I like secrets.”

“You do?” Diehl’s eyebrows rose. He finished his coffee and was going for another cup. But there was no more coffee left.

“I can make more coffee,” Skye said.

“It’s your day off. You don’t work here.” Diehl put the coffee mug into the sink.

“She works hard, Dad.” Ethan placed his hands on Skye’s arm.

“I know she works very hard. Today, she shouldn’t be working.”

“Then who’s going to make my cheesecake?”

“Except for that.”

Skye’s phone pinged. She checked it. The search for Elisa had started. She closed her eyes and prayed. She couldn’t say too much in front of Ethan, but she wanted to encourage Diehl.

“Our entire Sunday School class—and half the church—is spreading out all over the island in their own neighborhoods to see if anyone saw Elisa,” Skye said.

Diehl was visibly moved. “Ivan meant it when he said the church would help.”

“That’s what we do.”

“I should go with them.”

“This is your neighborhood.”

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