Chloe’s pov
Sunshine poured through the glass windowpanes, lighting up the rustic pine table where Lisa sat carefully slicing fresh mountain strawberries into a wooden bowl. Beside her, Jill stood over a copper basin, whipping fresh cream with quick, practiced strokes of her whisk.
"Save some of those strawberries for the top layer, Lisa," Jill smiled, her dark eyes sparkling with quiet joy. "You know Harley will complain if her birthday cake doesn't have a full crown of fruit."
"I know my granddaughter," Lisa chuckled softly, her wrinkled hands steady as she set another neat row of berries aside. "She'll check every inch of the frosting before she lets us light the candles."
I stood at the stone hearth, carefully lifting a round cast-iron baking pan out of the wood oven. The rich arom
