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Tonight Sylvie ashing the pans, and Enzo was drying, when the front door chimed They both turned to each other with a puzzled look on their faces

Sylvie was the first to speak “I’ anyone”

“Neither am I” Enzo set aside the pan and towel

As he headed for the door, Sylvie dried off her hands They didn’t get a lot of visitors at the estate now that the hotel was closed Curiosity got the best of her and she turned for the front door

She rushed to catch up with Enzo But with his long legs and swift strides, she didn’t have a chance to catch hi back After all, this wasn’t her home—not really And soon she’d have to move—whether she wanted to or not

She stood in the hallway as Enzo swung the door open What—ahe, to say the least A clown

Like a real cloith curly, fire engine-red hair that poked out in all directions and a little black boiler hat on top In his hand was a fistful of red ribbons leading to at least two dozen helium balloons His face was painted white with his eyes outlined in black And red paint had his mouth painted into a permanent smile

When Sylvie realized her ether, but they ihter bubbled up inside her What in the world?

The cloore a red ju lace collar

Before Enzo could speak, because obviously he was having proble, the clown broke out into a rendition of the birthday song topped off with a little dance Sylvie couldn’t hold back her amusement This was just too much

Apparently, her laughter came out louder than she’d hoped because Enzo turned to her and frowned His gruh that uard And then she realized ould have done this His sisters

Sylvie reached for her phone in her pocket and started recording The clown danced around, sang and then bowed at the end

Enzo didn’t say a word The clown looked at hih he’d turned to stone He really needed to lighten up

Hoping to defuse the situation, Sylvie rushed forward to stand next to Enzo She applauded the cloho handed over the balloons to Enzo

“Wait,” the clown said, “there’s one ”