by Mary Manners
Avery was impressed by his thoughtful, solid answer. Her thoughts wandered back to that evening.
“With all your experience, mastering the photo shoots and pleasing your clients should be a piece of cake.”
“Speaking of cake,” he grinned mischievously. “I asked Claire to design and bake a cake for Kenzie’s birthday party next Saturday. I gave her a few ideas—”
“A princess cake, right?” Kenzie had mentioned it half-a-dozen times over the lasagna dinner. “With glitter and fairy dust.”
“Right. She’s going to Fed Ex it to Diamond Knot Dreams so it arrives Friday night. Would you mind to keep an eye out for it?”
“I’d be glad to.”
“And you’re coming Saturday, right?”
“Are you asking?”
“Yes, I’m asking.” He cleared his throat and bowed slightly. “Avery, will you please come to Kenzie’s birthday party with me…as my date?”
“I’d love to.”
“Good. I’ll come pick you up around noon. The party starts at two. That ought to give us plenty of time to get things ready.”
“Oh, I see how this works.” She waggled a finger at him. “You need a partner in crime. Well, I can fill helium balloons with the best of them.”
“Balloons…I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“It’s not a birthday party without balloons.”
“You are absolutely right.”
“And does Kenzie have something special to wear?”
“Such as…?”
“Never mind. I see I have my work cut out for me.” Avery tossed a peanut from the trail mix into the air, catching it neatly in her mouth. “Maybe you should come pick me up at eleven instead of twelve. The extra hour will come in handy.”
“Yes, I believe you’re right.” He leaned in to kiss her forehead. “See…we’re going to make a very good team.”
The patter of little footsteps drew Avery’s attention back to the present.
“Miss Avery, look, I got my grade card!” Kenzie came dashing into the shop, waving a canary-yellow sheet of paper. Sadie was close on her heels, panting from the exertion of keeping up. “And I got all E’s…which means fantabulous.”
“Wow, that’s great. Let me see.”
“Well, all E’s except for in talking. That was an S-, which means I’m a little too loquacious.” She handed the paper to Avery. “But Uncle Jason said if that’s the worst thing I do in school, then he’s OK with that. We’re gonna work on it, though, ’cause I don’t want to get a time-out for interrupting while people are trying to work.”
“Good for you.” The teacher’s comments were encouraging. They afforded Avery even greater insight into Kenzie’s spunky personality.
Helpful, a good friend, eager to learn....
“Where’s Miss Lila?” Kenzie asked.
“She went to visit Hattie Cutler—I mean Moretto,” Avery corrected herself. “Hattie just recently got married, right?”
“Uh huh.”
“Anyway, Hattie thinks she might know who the music box that we found in the attic belongs to.”
“The lady in the turret, maybe?”
“I suppose we’ll find out.” Avery didn’t want to cause the child to shy away from talking about what she’d seen—or imagined she’d seen—so she was careful not to discourage her line of thinking. Jason seemed to take the same bent. “So, are you excited about your birthday party? It’s only two days away.”
“Yep. Uncle Jason said the whole town’s gonna be there. Lila and Morgan, Sadie, all of the Cutlers, and my friends from school. That’s just about the whole town.” She nodded. “And you. You’re the guest of honor, Miss Avery.”
“Why’s that?”
“’Cause I love you so very, very much!”
“Oh, sweetie…” Avery hopped from the stool to round the counter and scoop Kenzie into her arms. “I love you, too. Can I show you something?”
“Yep. What is—?”
“Mackenzie Renee Ballentine!” Jason’s voice boomed through the doorway.
“Uh oh…” Kenzie turned in Avery’s arms, craning her head Jason’s way as Sadie bolted beneath the counter, tail between her legs. “I forgot.”
He propped his hands on his hips as he pointed a finger. “And just what did you forget, young lady?”
“To tell you where I was goin’.” Her lower lip curled. “But you’re smart. You figured it out pretty quick.”
Avery stifled a laugh. She was powerless to suppress her smile as the storm cloud that washed through Jason’s eyes dissipated just as quickly as it had appeared.
“How would you like to be grounded for your birthday?” he asked, though the tone held no teeth. Kenzie could charm the label off a soup can. Even Sadie ventured out from beneath the counter, tail wagging merrily now, and skirted toward Jason. “How would you like that, young lady?”
“No thank you.” Kenzie blew him a kiss. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Daddy…
Suddenly, Jason looked as if he’d been struck by lightning. His eyes rounded wide as river stones. He scrubbed a hand across his jaw while his gaze connected with Avery’s, as if to ask, “Where did that come from?”
Suddenly, he turned and stepped back from the doorway.
“Jason…” Avery started after him.
“Wait. I need a minute here,” he lifted a hand, palm out, to stop her. “Just give me a minute.”
“OK.” She took Kenzie by the hand. “Kenzie, honey, how’d you like to come into the kitchen with me and see if we can find some orange soda and a cookie? Then, I have something very special to show you.”
****
When Jason returned to Diamond Knot Dreams less than half-an-hour later, the showroom was empty. He wouldn’t blame Avery if she was miffed at him for bailing.
He’d discovered he had a lot to learn about raising a child. And there was no turning back from being a daddy—Kenzie had said so in a single word.
He’d better figure things out quick.
So he’d taken a few minutes to come to terms with the whole idea. Sort of like a Cliff’s Notes version of War and Peace.
He couldn’t afford much more time than that, no matter how muddled his thoughts seemed to be. He had a kid to raise and a woman…well, a woman who seemed well on her way to capturing his heart.
“Avery?” He wound his way around the counter and into the belly of the showroom. Polished wood warmed the room while bright displays welcomed clients. Elegant, engaging…it was hard to believe the Victorian was more than a century old. He pushed open a door to the hallway. “Kenzie, where are you?”
“We’re back here,” Avery called. “In the dressing room. Follow my voice.”
He skirted his way toward them and paused just shy of the entrance to the dressing area. Sadie was sprawled there on the floor. She gazed up at him with soulful eyes.
“Avery…Kenzie?” Jason rapped on the door.
“It’s OK. You can come in,” Avery said. “We’re both presentable.”
He pushed open the door to find Kenzie standing on an elevated platform in front of a three-way mirror. Her glittery-pink light up tennis shoes peeked from beneath the hem of a long, poufy dress.
“Don’t you think she’s a little young to be trying on wedding gowns?” Jason asked as he leaned lazily against the door jamb.
“It’s not a wedding gown, silly,” Kenzie informed him, all the while smiling at her reflection. She obviously liked what she saw. “It’s a princess dress. Avery had it ordered special for my birthday party. She knew my size, Daddy. Isn’t that cool?”
“A princess dress…” Jason raked a hand through his hair. He hadn’t even considered the need for a special dress. “Yes, that’s very cool.”
“What do you think?” Kenzie twirled and curtsied. “Do you like it?”
“Yes, very much.” He patted her head. “You look beautiful….like a little princess.”
Sadie loped in, sniffed the mirror
, and then barked in agreement before curling up beside the platform.
“Wait. There’s more.” Kenzie froze in place as Avery looped behind her. A slight rustling ensued. “Look, Daddy. Avery got me a tiara, too.”
“Wow…oh…it’s just lovely.” Jason pressed a hand to his chest. In that moment, he saw Molly’s light shining through her eyes. It stole his breath and melted his heart. “You look like royalty, honey.”
“It’s my birthday present from Miss Avery. She said every girl has to have a princess dress for her sixth birthday, ’cause it’s a big milestone.” She glanced at Avery, who nodded. Gaining confidence, Kenzie continued. “You see, I’m not in kindergarten anymore and first grade’s a full day of school instead of half-a-day. I’m prob’ly gonna lose my first tooth soon, too.” She wiggled her front incisor, just to prove the point. “And I have Sadie to take care of now, so I’m becoming more ’sponsible.”
“Avery’s certainly right about all those things.”
“I hope you don’t mind,” Avery murmured. “I wanted it to be a surprise…for both of you.”
Jason swallowed hard to clear the lump from his throat. He stepped toward Avery and leaned in to kiss her gently along the temple. He wondered if her insides melted when they touched, same as his, and figured by the way her eyes suddenly glazed over that she was right with him on that point. He’d like more than a brief kiss, but the light touch would have to do for now, with Kenzie as chaperone. “It’s perfect.”
“Just like my birthday, Daddy. It’s gonna be just perfect.” Kenzie brushed her bangs from her eyes and adjusted the tiara on her head. She twirled along the platform, watching her dizzying reflection as she spun. “I already know what I’m gonna wish for.”
“What’s that, honey?” Somehow the single word—Daddy—that had frazzled him only minutes before suddenly sounded so right.
“I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.” Kenzie pressed an index finger to her pursed lips. “But you’ll figure it out soon enough.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep. And guess what else?”
“I can’t imagine what it might be.”
“Listen.” She removed the finger, licked her lips, puckered and blew. A soft whistle sounded. “Avery helped me practice and you were right, Daddy…I learned how to whistle before I turned six.”
She tried again, louder now. Sadie whined and covered her ears with her paws, obviously not thrilled with this newly acquired talent.
“That sounds beautiful, honey.” Jason patted her curls. “Now how about if you go change out of that pretty dress so Avery can pack it up for us to take home?”
“OK.” She patted her leg. “Come on, Sadie.”
When she was gone, Jason turned to Avery.
“That was such a sweet thing to do.” He skimmed hair back from her cheek. “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”
“You just did.” She smiled gently. “Your eyes say it all.”
“This was going to be such a hard time for me…missing Molly and Marshall.” He raked a hand over his jaw, struggling to hold his emotions in check. “But you’ve turned the sadness to joy. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Jason.” She leaned in and placed a hand on each of his shoulders. “Very, very welcome.”
She lifted onto her tiptoes and ever so gently brushed her lips along his cheek.
A taste of heaven on earth.
7
“Do you think Kenzie will like the cake?” Jason asked as they pulled into the drive at the farmhouse. Lila and Morgan were around back with Kenzie, putting together the playhouse they’d purchased for her last Saturday. The kid was going to be spoiled if this kept up, but Jason really couldn’t complain. After all, it takes a village...
“She’s going to love it.” As promised, Claire had sent the cake right on time. Avery had removed the serving box from the cooler that was shipped overnight so she and Jason could take a peek before loading it into the car. The pink confection was adorned with miniature dolls in a variety of princess dresses. Edible rosebuds in shades of sunshine-yellow and lavender created a beautiful border.
Yes, Kenzie was sure to love the beautifully-designed layers of strawberry swirl. And he’d probably pay for the sugar overload over the next several days.
“And her gift?” Jason asked as he lowered the window to let in a breeze. The weather had turned warm, signaling spring’s last hurrah as it eased into summer. The scent of lilac in full bloom mingled with fresh mown grass. He killed the engine and leaned back in the seat as the sound of Kenzie’s laughter drifted. “What about that?”
“She loves Sadie. She told me the puppy is her birthday gift.”
“Yes. And Sadie has, despite her affinity for shoes and table legs instead of chew toys, been a great addition to our family. But she can’t really count as Kenzie’s birthday gift because she’s been as much a gift to me as she is to Kenzie. So I thought this might do.” Jason retrieved a small velvet box from his pocket.
“Oh, my…” Avery pressed a palm to her mouth.
“With all this talk about letters and music boxes, not to mention the intrigue of a turn-of-the-century Victorian that became Diamond Knot Dreams, I figured I’d like Kenzie to have something solid that she can hold onto for the long-term. One day she’ll design her own legacy. But in the meantime I plan to build one for our family that’s strong and honorable, one that she can be proud of. I know she’s a little young, but…” He opened the box to reveal an oversized gold locket on a sturdy serpentine chain. “A man can never go wrong with jewelry, right?”
“Never.” Avery stroked the locket. “It’s beautiful, Jason.”
“I placed tiny snapshots of Molly and Marshall inside.” He opened the locket to show her. “I figured this was one way—however small—that they could be a part of Kenzie’s special day. This is the first milestone in Kenzie’s life that they’ve ever missed, and I know it will be hard for her.”
“Oh my goodness, Jason.” Tears welled in Avery’s eyes. “That’s so thoughtful. It’s perfect, truly. Kenzie’s going to treasure it.”
“Thanks. I wasn’t sure…” Jason brushed away her tears with the pad of his thumb. “I imagine when she starts dating she’ll want to interchange the pictures with one or two of her boyfriend—if he survives my not-so-gentle inquiry.”
Even now, just the thought rankled him.
“That won’t be for a while, yet.” Avery patted his shoulder. “Kenzie will enjoy many more birthdays before that worry is loaded onto your plate.”
“I have a feeling the time is going to fly.”
“Maybe so.” Avery took his hand. “Time can be perplexing. I’ve only known you for a couple of weeks, yet it feels at once like a heartbeat and a beautiful eternity. How can that possibly be?”
“You’ve got me.” He leaned in to kiss her. This time, he made it count. Neither came up for air until Sadie’s raucous barks brought them back to their senses.
“Wow.” Avery pressed a finger to her lips. “I mean, really. Wow.”
“Double wow with a cherry on top,” Jason tingled clear down to the toes of his hiking boots.
“I’d like to try that again when we have a moment alone, if you don’t mind,” Avery requested.
Sadie had jumped into the truck bed. She poked her snout through the rear window, whining.
“I don’t mind at all.” Jason reached back and closed the window. “There, we’re alone again.”
Avery sighed as he gathered her close.
“Daddy, daddy!” Kenzie’s squeal rent the air. “Come see my playhouse.”
“Well, we were alone, sort of.” Avery laughed softly. Sadie had figured out how to re-open the window, and her cold snout poked Avery’s neck. “I’ll take the cake inside while you wrestle with the princess. We’ll reconvene…later.”
Kenzie unlatched the driver’s side door and tugged on Jason’s arm. “Hurry, Daddy.”
Jason unfolded himself from the car and tur
ned to grin at Avery. “Catch you on the flip side.”
He didn’t mention that he’d made a second purchase at the jeweler’s. He figured he’d let her know when the time was right.
And that time would be soon, if he had his way.
He had a plan.
****
“Claire’s cake got a thumbs-up on its decorations from all the females here, and a perfect ten on flavor from the guys.” Lila settled into the lawn chair beside Avery. “I sure hope she decides to come help out at Diamond Knot Dreams.”
“You asked her to?”
“Yes, every chance I get. We need her. She’s fabulous.”
“Do you think she’ll consider the offer?” Avery asked.
“She says she is. She’ll let me know soon. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”
“Me, too.”
“This party is a hit.” Lila scanned the yard, where kids chased one another with delighted squeals. The piñata had been breached, the cake inhaled, and the gifts unwrapped. All that was left was the fun—and there was plenty of fun. “Kenzie’s had an amazing, special day thanks to you and Jason. Look at all those balloons.”
“Oh, we had such a good time with those.” Avery laughed. She and Jason had attached them to everything that wasn’t tied down—from the mailbox and the buffet table, to the playhouse and every guest chair. “Kenzie made it clear she likes balloons—a lot.”
“Well, you certainly bullseyed the mark. And the games for the kids,” Lila gushed, “They were a huge hit. Did you come up with them on your own?”
“Jason and I had a little extra time this morning after we finished the balloons, so we worked together to come up with some fun but simple ideas while you and Morgan added touches to the playhouse.”
“Well, you two make a great team.”
“He said the same thing. Do you really think so?”
“I know so.” Lila crossed her legs as she watched Jason and Morgan toss a football around the sundrenched yard. The Cutler brothers got in on the action, as well—Wyatt, Reese, Dillon and Gunnar, who Avery understood was not a Cutler by blood but by marriage. Anthony Moretto, older than the others by a generation, did his best to keep up. His recent marriage to Hattie Cutler—now proudly Hattie Moretto—had, by all accounts, given him a new lease on life. Collectively, the scene was poetry in motion. The weather proved perfect, the setting perfect, the company…absolutely perfect. And it felt good to belong to such a group—a solid core of people with a strong sense of family.