She runs over to me. “Can we do the cake now? Please?” She adds about five extra syllables to the please.
I ruffle her hair. “Sure, but let’s clean up the mess first.”
Kady pouts. “Do we have to?”
“If you want your cake.”
She spins around, her rainbow-colored dress twirling out, and she sticks her hands on her hips. “Okay, everyone! Time to clean so we can have cake!”
Rogan laughs, then turns to me. “Miss sassy-pants.”
I give him a playful shove. “She’s definitely your niece.”
Kenna grins. “You walked into that one.”
“Guess I did.”
The kids start to pick up, but it becomes evident that it’ll take all month if the adults don’t jump in.
Less than five minutes later, Anchor is lighting the three candles. “Three going on thirteen.” He snickers.
“Don’t give her any ideas,” I whisper.
Kady flips her hair over her shoulders and grins. “I think you mean three going on sixteen, Daddy. Then I can drive!”
I slap my forehead. “Already thinking of driving?”
Ava nudges me. “She’s definitely Kade’s kid.”
Kady looks at me. “You won’t get me a horse, so I have to be able to drive myself to the stables. Sixteen.”
Rogan pokes me. “Better get that girl a horse.”
“Sounds like a job for her rock star uncle.”
“Don’t give him any ideas,” Kenna says. “He’ll do it. Remember our last Christmas present?”
The massive play structure now taking up most of Mom’s backyard. After looking online, I discovered it was worth several thousand dollars.
“Everybody ready?” Anchor claps to bring people’s attention to the cake.
We sing Happy Birthday to Kady, who beams the whole time and then makes a big production of blowing out the candles.
“What’d you wish for?” Anchor pulls the candles from the cake.
“Can’t tell you, silly. It won’t come true.”
“Oh, that’s right.” He kisses the top of her head.
“A horse!” Olivia calls out.
“Hey!” Kady frowns. “How’d you know? Now it won’t come true.”
“It could. What else would you ask for?”
Kady shrugs, then her face lights up when Anchor hands her the first piece of cake. She digs right in, then the other kids clamor for a piece. I step in and help cut and hand it out. Once everyone is sugared up, they race for the presents.
My mom grabs a piece of paper and pen to take note of who bought what.
I’m about to remind Kady to open the cards first when she pulls the envelope off the package in her lap. She pulls out the card and reads it, sounding out the words she doesn’t know.
A few people whisper their surprise at her reading level. They’d probably be surprised to know Kady’s already reading small chapter books.
“Thank you, Auntie Ava!” Kady gives Kade’s sister a big hug before picking up another present.
Anchor comes over and puts his arm around my waist. “She’s grown so much in a year. Remember last year? We had to help her unwrap and read.”
“I know. It’s crazy. It doesn’t seem like that much time, but she’s gone from toddler to little girl.”
He kisses my cheek. “You’ve done a great job with her.”
“So have you! She spends as much time with you as she does me.”
Anchor and I are both in college on different schedules so we can take turns watching Kady. When we can’t, she usually goes with Kade’s parents or Anchor’s or my mom. Never my dad, not that it’s any surprise. He’s only seen her a handful of times, and Kady has never met his wife or other kids. However, Mom’s new husband Hank is as much of a grandpa to her as Mom is a grandma, and his kids are another set of doting aunties.
Kady squeals as she holds up a pink and purple tutu and matching ballet shoes. “Mommy, look!”
“I love them! Who gave them to you?”
She picks up the card again and reads the inside. “Grandma and Grandpa Steyn.” Kady makes her way around the kids and gives Kade’s parents big hugs. “Thank you, thank you!”
They hug her back and say how glad they are she likes it.
Kady pulls the tutu over her dress and replaces her shoes with the dancing slippers. Then she rises to her tiptoes and dances across the room, performing the routine she learned just a few days ago without a single misstep.
Everyone claps and Kady curtseys before bouncing back over to the presents.
Kenna comes over. “She has some serious talent.”
“Tell me about it. The teacher has already put her in a class of six- and seven-year-olds, and she’s doing better than half of them.”
“I believe it.”
Once all the presents are open, the kids all want to go outside and play on the enormous play set.
I gather the gift wrap strewn around and some of the other adults join in, helping to clean up other messes caused by the happy partygoers. Before long, parents start to take their kids home, and it’s only family left.
Rogan comes over. “Great party.”
“It was mostly Mom. I’ve been swamped with studies, so she put most of it together.”
“Not surprising. Our birthday parties were always tons of fun, remember?”
“Yeah. It feels like a lifetime ago.”
“It sure does. Thanks for making me feel old.” My brother laughs. “So, are we still on for taking Kady out to pick a present then to eat?”
“That would be great. I really need to finish putting together a presentation for class. Just don’t buy her a horse.”
He whistles an innocent tune.
My mouth drops open. “You aren’t really planning on it, are you?”
Kenna gives him a kiss. “Stop teasing your sister.” She looks at me. “No, we were thinking more along the lines of a dollhouse. There’s this guy just out of town who makes elaborate custom ones, and they’re amazing.”
Rogan leans closer to me and whispers, “Kenna wants one.”
She chuckles. “I can’t deny that. You will too, when you see them.”
“Kady will love that, and I’ll have to live vicariously through her.”
“Did someone call me?” Kady bounces into the room, still wearing the tutu over her dress. She dances around the room, her expression serious as she concentrates on the routine from her lessons.
We watch her for a few minutes before Rogan calls her over. “You ready to pick out a dollhouse that’s bigger than you?”
Kady skids to a stop. “You were serious about that?”
“That and dinner. Anywhere you want.”
She tilts her head. “That cake factory restaurant you were telling me about?”
“If that’s what you want.”
Kady turns to me. “Can I, Mommy? Please!”
My heart warms. “Of course, honey.”
She runs over and hugs me, then Rogan and Kenna. “Thank you, thank you!”
“Just promise to be good.” I ruffle her hair.
“Oh, I will!”
“You ready, kiddo?” Rogan asks.
Kady turns to me, her eyes pleading.
“Go potty first.”
She skips toward the hall, singing her current favorite song.
I say goodbye to Kade’s parents as I wait for Kady to return. Anchor smiles at me from across the room then comes over and pulls me close. “We haven’t had any alone time in a while. Want to go out for dinner while Kady’s with your brother?”
“I want to, but that project is due Monday morning.”
He rests his hands on the small of my back and holds my gaze. “You have to eat, don’t you?”
Anchor still knows how to make my heart skip a beat after three years together. “Yes, but I was going to eat while working on my homework.”
“And risk getting food on it?” He arches a brow. “That sounds dangerou
s.”
The corners of my mouth twitch. “You do make a compelling argument.”
“So, you’ll go on a date with me?” He pleads with his eyes, making it obvious where Kady learned the skill.
“How can I say no to that?”
He beams then kisses me.
Kady bounces back into the room. “I’m ready, Uncle Rogan and Auntie Kenna!”
Anchor and I hug her and say goodbye. He turns to Rogan. “Make sure to have her back before midnight, or she’ll turn into a pumpkin.”
Kady puts her hands on her hips. “No, I won’t! And you’ve got that story all wrong. She turns—”
“I was teasing, sweetheart.” Anchor picks her up and spins her around.
Rogan and Kenna leave with Kady, talking about dollhouses and cheesecake.
Mom and Hank come over, arm in arm. Hank says, “You two leaving, also?”
I nod. “Anchor’s dragging me out to dinner.”
“Good for you.” Hank gives Anchor an approving nod. “Sutton’s been studying too much lately. She needs a break.”
Mom smiles. “We’ll be here if Rogan and Kenna bring Kady back before you get here.”
“Thanks, but I’m not worried about it. They spend as much time with her as they can when they’re in town.”
“True.” Mom nods. “They’re leaving soon for a European tour, so I imagine they’ll spend extra time with her before leaving.”
“Already? I thought that was a couple of weeks from now.”
“I know, it seems like they just got here.” She gives me a kiss. “Have a nice time.”
“Don’t stay out too late, kids,” Hank teases.
“Kids?” I shake my head.
Anchor squeezes my shoulder. “To the old folks, we are just kids.”
Hank and Mom both laugh.
I love how everyone gets along and loves each other. Even though things are far from perfect, they actually couldn’t be any better.
Anchor
I scoot closer to Sutton. “You’ve got some sauce on your face.”
“Where?” She wipes around her mouth.
“Right here.” I lean close and press my lips on hers. She smiles as I kiss her, but I don’t stop. I can’t. It’s such a rare treat to have time alone with her. I can’t wait until we’re done with school. It feels like it’s going to be forever. Like we’ll be living with our parents for the rest of our lives.
I pull away, not because I want to, but because we’re in a restaurant.
She leans against me. “I’m really glad you talked me into dinner.”
“We need to do this more. Every night?”
“I wish. You have night school, remember?”
I groan. “Don’t remind me. Let me imagine that we can have dinner together every night.”
“What about lunch? I’m done with my classes by noon most days.”
“My schedule varies, depending on our project and who my assistant foreman is for the day. Jack is cool, but Martin…” I shake my head, not wanting to think about that jerk while I’m enjoying my time with Sutton.
“You can text me when you can meet me for lunch. We’ll plan on meeting the days you can.”
“Really?” Excitement drums through me at the thought of regular alone time with her. Even a few hours a week would be a massive improvement over our current schedule.
“It’s a date. Dates. Tentatively, at least.”
I brush my lips across hers. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.”
Her beautiful eyes brighten. “I’m pretty excited about the thought, myself.”
“I don’t know how we let ourselves get into the habit of not spending time together, but I’m glad we’re putting a stop to it.” I cup her chin.
She traces my beard with her thumb. “I wouldn’t say we haven’t spent time together. We get plenty with the little lady, just none by ourselves.”
“And that ends now.” I kiss her again, wishing we really were alone and not in the middle of a popular diner.
A few minutes later, we’re strolling to my car. My chest tightens at the thought of having to take her back to her house.
Sutton turns to me. “Are you okay?”
She can read me better than anyone else can. “I don’t want to take you home yet. Do you want to go for a walk first? There’s a nice path around the lake on the other side of the building.”
Her inner turmoil is obvious. “I really want to, Anchor. I do, but that project is a quarter of my grade.”
“Ouch. Just a short walk?” I take her hand in mine and lace my fingers through hers. “I promise not to take too much more of your time.”
“You make it impossible to say no.”
I grin. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all month. Now what else can I ask you?”
Sutton laughs and gives me a playful shove. “A quick walk, remember. The fate of my class is in your hands.”
“No pressure.” I pull her close and kiss her deeply, taking in both her and the moment, pretending we’re the only two people on the planet and wishing time would freeze for us.
Instead, laughter reminds me we’re in a parking lot and that I don’t want to be responsible for her not getting her project done in time. I put my arm around her, and we round the building then follow the path to the lake.
She shivers. “It’s chilly.”
“You expected different in February?”
“It’s just colder by the water.”
“True.” I unzip my jacket and hold her close, wrapping my coat around her as best I can. She snuggles against me, fitting like we’re meant for each other—which we are.
We watch the water ripple as the occasional bird flies down for a swim or a drink. Squirrels and other little critters run around the shore.
She looks up at me. “Do you think Kady’s having fun?”
“With Rogan and Kenna? She’s having the time of her life.”
“That’s true.” Her eyes look troubled.
Now I’m the one asking if she’s okay.
Sutton nods. “It’s just days like this—her birthday—that make me sad when I think of Kade.”
I frown. “I know what you mean. He should be here for it. Even though the party was great and there are so many people who love her, there’s a hole where he should be.”
“Exactly. I’m glad we can talk about him.”
“Me too.” Sadness washes over me. These days, I usually just remember the good times with Kade. Now that I tell everything to Sutton, the sting of my best friend being gone isn’t so harsh. Sometimes I wonder if it’ll ever go away, or if it’ll always stay with me.
After a while, I kiss her temple. “I should get you home before you turn into a pumpkin.”
“I thought that was Kady.”
“Mother and daughter. Two peas in a pod—beautiful, brilliant, and spunky.” I brush my lips across hers, hating to take her home but at the same time, grateful we got a little time together.
I hold Sutton’s hand the whole way to her house, then I pause before getting out. “You’re going to be busy studying all day tomorrow, aren’t you?”
“Unfortunately. It’s crunch time.”
“Don’t I know it. My dad wants me to work, but I have exams coming up. I don’t think he realizes how hard it is to be a full-time student and worker.”
“Just thinking about it makes me tired. I don’t know how you do it.”
I frown. “By sacrificing time with you. Maybe I should lighten my load. Either take less hours at work or maybe take a break from school.”
“Don’t do that.” Sutton squeezes my hand. “Graduation isn’t that far off. Thanks to the summer classes, we’ll be able to graduate with everyone our age.”
“Ugh. Don’t remind me about summer quarter. All I want is a real break. Not a week or two here and there.”
She rubs my wrist with her thumb. “I know it feels like forever, but think of how much time we’ll have together once we’re done
with school. Just one more year, and we’re free.”
My stomach twists in a tight knot at the thought of another year of this crazy schedule. But on the other hand, once we get through it, we’ll be free to do what we want. I’ve been saving most of my money for the future. Sutton’s engagement ring is already purchased, paid off, and well hidden in my room. I don’t want to distract her from her studies—like I’m doing right now—so I’m going to wait to propose until after graduation, even though the thought of waiting so long is torturous.
I bring her hand to my lips and give it a quick kiss. “I’d better get you inside, so you aren’t up all night working on that project.”
“I hate to leave.” She frowns. “I wish we could study together.”
“So do I, but you’re far too distracting.”
“As are you.” Sutton leans closer and gives me a kiss that sends a shiver down my spine, straight to my toes.
“And that is exactly why we can’t study together.”
We get out, and I walk her to the door. I hold her tightly, never wanting to let go, but do. Someday we’ll have all the time in the world, but that day is not today.
Her gaze lingers as she steps inside. “I’ll miss you.”
“I won’t stop thinking about you.” I stay in place until she closes the door between us.
Graduation can’t come soon enough.
Sutton
I glance down at my phone to read a little more from my textbook. Kady’s at an extra ballet class, getting ready for her first big performance. She’s doing great, as always. The other girls are twice her age, but she picks up everything faster than ninety percent of the other dancers.
Someone nudges me. “Your daughter is the smallest girl?”
I turn to the other mom and smile. She’s at least ten years older than me. Nobody ever says anything to me, but I always wonder what they think of me being so young. “Yes, Kady. She just turned three.”
Her mouth drops open. “She’s only three?”
“Yeah, she’s a little tall and picks up ballet like it’s nobody’s business.”
“Wow, I just thought she was a young six-year-old. Three?” She shakes her head.
The Only Things You Can Take (Wildflower Romance #2) Page 10