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“Of course, of course. We wouldn’t miss your birthday for the world. Is there a gift table somewhere?” She held up a gift-wrapped package.
“Sure, just over here.” I led them to the table that was overloaded with gifts.
“Actually, do you mind just opening it now? I don’t really want to leave it out here.”
“I’m going to get a beer.” With that blunt announcement, Dad just walked off.
What the fuck? I glanced at Rhett, but he just shrugged. “Sure, I guess I don’t mind opening it now.”
“Just be careful. It’s breakable.”
Doing as she asked, I carefully pulled back the wrapping and instantly had to swallow around the lump in my throat. “Is this…?”
“Your grandmother’s ceramic baking dishes, yes. She always wanted you to have them.”
“Oh, Mom, that’s amazing. I thought they’d gone missing years ago.”
“So did I. But your father was looking for some old vinyl records he’d given Tyler, and he, uh, he found these. Stuffed in the very top shelf of Tyler’s wardrobe.”
“I see.” Did I, though?
“He, uh, he brought them to me because he remembered how your Gran wanted you to have them. He also asked Tyler if he’d hidden them on purpose.”
Right, so we’d definitely stepped into Upside Down Land for my birthday. “To which Tyler replied…?”
“He said, probably, he didn’t remember, and why did it matter anyway?”
Jesus Christ, this was fascinating. “And then Dad said…?”
“He said that Tyler knew damn well Gran had wanted you to have the dishes, and it was low for him to take them and hide them like that. Then they had a fight and Tyler went to stay at Misty’s.”
“I see.” I glanced over at my dad, standing all by himself, peeling the label off his beer bottle. “This really means a lot to me, Mom. I guess I should go thank him.”
“No, don’t, dear. It’ll just make him uncomfortable. He’s not used to…all this, um, feelings and stuff.”
That barely made sense, but okay. “Will you tell him for me, then?”
“Yes.”
“And tell him I’ll make Gran’s blueberry pie for him the next time we come out to visit.”
Mom’s lip trembled just a bit as she nodded, then she scurried away, obviously worried that I might see her crying.
Then, just as I was about to start crying myself, Rhett said, “Fuck, your parents are weird.”
Laughing, I said, “They sure are, but so are yours, so we’re square. I’m just going to put this inside. Be right back.”
When I came back out, I took a moment to take in the party Rhett had arranged for me.
Grayson stood close to Stef; his usual gruff demeanor softened as he gazed down at her with pure adoration. Stef, ever the ball of energy, was chatting away, her hands gesturing wildly, but Grayson watched her with rapt attention, as if she were the only person in the entire world. I fucking loved that for her.
Wolfe and Esme were watching Belle have her turn on the pony, their arms around each other and Esme’s head on his shoulder.
My mom and Laura were now sitting together, with a baby girl each. Sure, it looked a little awkward, but they were getting better at this, too.
And there was the man who’d made it all happen, walking towards me with a light in his eyes that made my heart flip over.
“This means so much to me, Rhett. I can’t believe you went to all this trouble. It’s really amazing. Thank you.”
He raised a brow.
“Jackass,” I said softly as I slid my arms around his shoulders.
“There’s my girl.”
I raised my face to his, smiling when he brushed his lips against mine. “Man, I love you.”
“I love you, too.”