her arm.
A few evenings later, it happened again.
Another strawberry shortcake bar.
Free.
Then again.
By the fourth time, I stopped her before she could run back outside.
“Why does this man keep giving you free ice cream?”
Ellie gave me the enormous shrug children use when they don’t think something is important.
Then she said:
“He says strawberry was your favorite too.”
I stopped washing the dish in my hand.
“My favorite?”
“Yeah.”
She was already watching the street, worried the truck might leave.
“He said you always
