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“Thanks,” I manage. “Eden and I have taken great pride in raising her right.”
“Well, it shows.” He attempts a smile, tentative at best, and tugs at Eden’s hand.
“I’ll be back.” Eden smiles up at me, her beautiful long lashes fanning over her eyelids.
I force myself to not yank his hand from hers to break them apart. I smile back instead; it’s tight at best. “No problem.”
I watch them walk over toward Blake for Kirk to say goodbye. I know I’ve not made it easy on the guy today. It was awkward. But I can’t honestly say he didn’t deserve it. I could have gone full throttle if I’d really thought about it.
Eden won’t tell me what they were discussing so in depth earlier, but my bet is it wasn’t good. She honestly can’t tell me she’s happy with this guy, she sure as shit isn’t acting like it.
So I’ll step back, and wait for the fallout. I’ll be here for her no matter what.
That much I can guarantee.
“Please can I go to Gran and Gramps’ place?” Blake pleads when the party is over and we’re packing up after the long day. “Trinity is going over later on with Aunt Georgia, she promised to make hot chocolates.”
It’s early afternoon and all the kids have left. The farm tour went well, the kids all loved the stables and Mandy was a hit because she’s such a character. Even the goats, Eliza and Elsie, didn’t mind the show. Blake already made it clear to be gentle with Sawyer; “No donkey rides on this farm,” she told her friends.
But some of them did get a little pat while Blake went into her rescue story; all the kids were wide-eyed and teary when hearing that Sawyer wasn’t looked after by the previous owner.
“But she’s doing great now.” I had to interject, because Blake isn’t backwards in going forward, just like my little sister. “Isn’t that right, Blake?”
“Oh, she is. She found her family.” Blake beamed.
I’m so damned proud of her every day, but today especially. It melted my heart watching her with her friends, but — being the thoughtful child she is — she also didn’t leave little Trinity out and included her in everything.
“This is my little cousin, Trinity!” she announced to her best friends, Sophie and Montana, and anyone else who would listen, while Trin dragged her cute little rabbit Bunnykins around the barn with them.
“Wow, that’s such a cool name,” I heard them both saying to little Trin.
Trinity was in her element. Gabe came back to pick her and Skye up not long ago. Blake was also proud to show off the family barn and give both sets of grandparents and family some love. She has a big heart; she’s so much like her mama.
It’s just me and Eden now, tidying up the barn with my parents just about to leave. They stayed until the end to help clean up. Georgia helped Blake load her presents into the back of my truck, which wasn’t overloaded as her friends had all brought little envelopes to the party for the wishing well. Eden and Blake had made a point of placing them in the invites with a message about donating to the rescue instead of buying her a present. We’ll take the wishing well money to Macey at Stoney Creek Paws next week.
I turn to look at my daughter bouncing on her toes with excitement. I would’ve thought she’d be worn out by now, but clearly she isn’t.
“Of course you can go to Gran and Gramps’, sweetheart. It’s your day. You can tell them about your presents and the wishing well if you like.”
She smiles. “Thanks Dad. I’ve had the best day. You too, Mom.”
I reach out and give her a big hug. “You’re welcome, my best girl. We can count the money you raised for the shelter later.”
“Okay, that would be great.” She turns to hug her mom as well, and then breaks free to run after my parents who are about to leave.
“Make sure you thank your grandma again for the cake, she went to a lot of effort,” Eden reminds her.
“I will, Mom.”
“It was a beautiful day,” my mom says, as we meet her at the double doors off the side barn where the deck surrounds the entire structure and wraps around.
“And the barn held up well,” Dad adds with a chuckle. “If all those kids running around are anything to go by.”
“It’s going to be perfect for the new wedding season,” Eden says. “Maybe after my last wedding for Fall next weekend, we can all get together and discuss our collaboration?”
“That would be wonderful,” Mom says. “We’re so looking forward to you being on board, Eden. We know you have bookings and other events already in the pipeline with your business, so Georgia and I can step in where need be to help with the new bookings.”
“That sounds great. I think I can work it around my schedule, especially having Jodie, my assistant,” she says.
