Chapter 200
The restaurant was a wonderland of kid-friendly touches. The moment they walked in, laughter and excited shouts from children filled the air. Camilla caught on quickly—everywhere she looked, there were moms with their little ones, but not a single dad in sight.
A cheerful staff member dressed like a clown came over to greet them and showed them to their seats, letting them know they could sit anywhere while waiting for the event to begin.
It wasn’t until another mom started chatting beside her that Camilla actually figured out the rules. It was a family-finding game. Pretty soon, all the dads would come out dressed up in identical mascot outfits. No clues, no talking, no little quirks to give themselves away. Mom and child each got one shot, one request—ask the mascot to do something and try to spot their own family. If you managed to find your own dad in the crowd of lookalike bears, you’d win.
Everyone else here seemed to be a real couple, the genuine article, with years of practice at this kind of trust. But Camilla and Lance… well, that was another story.
Jasper was bubbling with excitement, about ready to burst. Camilla hated the thought of her son losing, but honestly, she had no idea how she was supposed to pick Lance out of a lineup.
Jasper caught her worried look. “Don’t worry, Mom. Lance said you could definitely recognize him p>
Something clicked for Camilla and she leaned close, whispering in Jasper’s ear, “Is there some secret between you and Lance? Did he give you a hint? Want to share it with me p>
Jasper shook his head and looked stern. “No way. That’d be cheating. Good kids don’t cheat, and you can’t either, Mom.” He looked so serious, Camilla couldn’t help but laugh in embarrassment.
“But then, how do you know I’ll find him?” she asked.
“Lance said so. He promised, and I believe him,” Jasper replied.
Camilla had to sigh. It seemed like both Jasper and Lance believed in her more than she believed in herself.
While Camilla was still lost in her worries, she heard the doors close and the lights in the hall turned a soft, cozy yellow.
Their clown-host wheeled out a big cart piled high with plush toys. “Look at these prizes, kids! Think you can win them today p>
There were all kinds of stuffed animals, big ones, tiny ones, fancy ones marked with “First Prize” and “Second Prize.” Jasper leaned in and whispered, “There’s more than one round. The quicker we spot Lance, the better our prize p>
The host warmed up the crowd, then clapped his hands. “Alright, time for the main event. Let’s welcome all our dads p>
On cue, a line of identical, fluffy brown bears marched out. Not a single one stood out. The costumes even hid their heights, every dad a perfect copy of the next.
Camilla’s head was spinning. She had absolutely no idea which bear was Lance. Seeing all those fuzzy brown bears, she wondered how Jasper and Lance could possibly expect her to succeed.
Even Jasper seemed a bit stunned. He whispered, “Whoa, they really all look the same. Mom, do you know which one is Lance p>
Camilla just shook her head helplessly. She glanced around, and other moms were just as lost, whispering ideas about how to pick out their husbands. The rules kept things tough—no talking from the dads, only little actions if you asked for them. What could she possibly ask that would give Lance away immediately?
Listening to everyone’s guessing, some of Camilla’s panic faded. A thought began to form. She wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans. Maybe she had a way to find Lance after all… if only he hadn’t decided to trick her.
Just then, the host’s voice pulled her focus. “Looks like we have more families than expected! Let’s help everyone out. Dads who don’t eat cilantro, stand to my left, and dads who do, to my right p>
It was a classic trick question. Most moms in the room probably knew their husbands’ eating habits. After all, these were families who’d been together for years. It made the game a little easier.
Except for Camilla. She watched as the brown bears confidently split up, still unsure where she should look.
She remembered Lance cooking, always skipping the cilantro. Maybe he didn’t eat it, so she looked toward the left with the “no cilantro” bears.
But Jasper tugged at her sleeve. “Mom, I think it’s the other side. Remember yesterday when we had beef with cilantro p>
Jasper had ordered that dish. Camilla hated cilantro so she avoided it, and since she’d left early, she couldn’t even remember if Lance ate any or not. Still, listening to Jasper, she shifted her gaze back to the group on the right, her heart pounding as she wondered if she was any closer to solving the puzzle.