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He wanted more training and not just from his dad.
“My daddy says you should learn from the best, so that’s what I want,”he’d told Austin, after he had planned something much more elaborate… with dragon costumes for everyone and a dragon cake that was as big and as colorful as Hank.“I want the best.”
“I decided to keep the cake,” I told Austin as he hovered around me, making sure everything was ready for the main event. We stood on the expansive covered wooden patio in the backyard. Balloons and streamers had been hung earlier that morning by a service who took care of all the decorations. Fortunately, the weather had cooperated, and it was somewhere in the high fifties. With the help of some well-placed heat lamps, the patio felt warm enough for a party.
The big inflatable bouncy castle was already up, and Hank, Emily and Annie were making good use of it. Their giggles echoed all around us, as both Kasey and Boone supervised all those giggles by causing some of their own. The guys had taken the day completely off for the party but would be playing later tonight at Dirty Coyote. I was looking forward to a night out, watching the guys play, and visiting with Tammy.
I had absolutely no intention of joining the guys onstage, even though they’d already invited me. I was going simply as a fan, and wild horses couldn’t pull me up on that stage, so I wouldn’t be bringing my violin.
The party would be starting in a little over an hour, and the knot in my stomach was already getting tighter. I wanted it to be perfect, or at least as close to perfect as possible.
“Probably a good idea. The damn thing cost more than my first guitar,” he said, grinning.
He looked so damn cute; it was hard to keep my eyes off him.
“The professional harmonica players are excited about the party and teaching the kids how to play. We’re good there. However, have you seen how charming those dragon costumes are? Adorable! They’re inflatable. So damn cute. No way am I abandoning those. Besides, they were non-refundable, so why not give them to the kids anyway? Of course, they won’t be able to wear them in the jumpy room, but I’ll handle that.”
“I just don’t want Hank to have a fit and start screaming,” Austin said. “He has to stay happy and calm. That’s the goal.”
“No worries. I have a plan. I’m going to tell him that dragons want to learn how to play the harmonica as well. I’m a dragon, and I want to learn. I ordered a costume for myself… a white one. I even bought some adult-sized inflatable costumes so everyone can be a dragon… even you and our other two dads.”
“Get out,” he protested. “Never going to happen. I’m not wearing anything that even remotely resembles a dragon costume.”
The inflatable dragon costumes were so cool. It looked as if you were flying on its back.
“Fine. Do what you want, but I thought this was about Hank?”
“It is, but…”
I cocked a hip and stared at him.
He finally relented. “Fine, but if there’s any head gear involved, I’m not doing it.”
“No head gear, I promise. You can be a cowboy riding a dragon. I’m sure the kids will love it.”
“Fine, but I won’t stay in the damn thing for more than a few minutes,” he said.
“You’re such a good dad,” I told him, as I stood on my toes, leaned in, and planted a light kiss on his lips as if I’d done it a million times before.
I immediately stepped back, flustered over my familiarity with him. He looked a bit stunned. Sort of like that deer in the headlights look, and I wanted to run and hide.
Instead, I said, “Sorry about that. I have no idea… I’m sorry. Really.”
While I babbled, he leaned over and kissed me again. Not long, but enough for me to know I hadn’t done anything wrong. As a matter of fact, I must have done everything right, because when he pulled out of the kiss, his smile told me this was only the beginning.
Just when he was about to say something, an older couple seemed to come out of nowhere and interrupted our moment.
“This looks amazing!” the woman cooed. “But you boys always outdo yourselves for these parties.”
“Hank must love all this,” the man said as Austin turned towards them to give them both a hug.
I had a feeling they were his parents but couldn’t be sure. I’d heard about them, but we’d never actually met. Apparently, they spent their days working at the Sweet Whiskey cemetery. They helped coordinate the elaborate funerals that took place there. I’d heard that some of those funerals were colorful and over the top, but I’d never attended one, so I didn’t know exactly what that meant. Loraine had assured me that the good folks of Sweet Whiskey knew how to send off a loved one with style, and once I attended one of these elaborate affairs, I would never, ever forget it.
“Mom, Dad, this is Liberty, our new nanny,” Austin finally said. Instead of handshakes or polite nods ofhow do you do,I was greeted with a hug from each of them.
“So nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Sentry,” I said, once I was released from their embrace.
“No need for such formality with us, sweetheart,” his mom said. “You can call me Gabby, and this is Ben. We’re so happy to finally meet you. Austin’s told us so many nice things about you and how you’ve brought music to the kids. You’re a blessing to this house, my dear. A total blessing.”
