Page 69 of Hope After Loss

“Shit, that’s true,” I mutter.

“Come on. Let’s go to the campground. I promised Taeli I’d help her hide eggs for the kids to hunt. You can help Pop on the grill. You’ll feel better once you have a full stomach.”

“Thanks. And can you keep this just between us for now?” I ask.

“You got it.”

Anna

“That’s the last one,” Erin says as she tosses the blue plastic egg into the box.

Sara-Beth recruited us to help stuff eggs with goodies. Four boxes now hold three hundred colorful glow-in-the-dark eggs, filled with stickers, silver dollars, rings, erasers, and bouncy balls.

She sets a large bunny piñata on the desk. “Now, we need this filled with candy. I’ll go get the bags from the fridge.”

When she returns, Erin and I pour in the bags of mini chocolate bars and an assortment of individually wrapped treats.

Leona walks out of the break room, carrying a tray full of Easter-themed cupcakes. “What do you girls think?” she asks.

Erin shakes her head. “I think the kids are going to be so hyped up on sugar by the end of the night.”

“Good. That’s exactly how it should be,” Leona says.

“I think they’re perfect. I love that you all get together like this. Thank you for including us,” I say.

“Of course. You’re always welcome. You’re part of the family,” Sara-Beth chimes.

“Not really, but I appreciate you guys treating us like we are.”

“Oh, hush. If she says you’re family, you are,” Erin adds.

Leona sets the tray down and starts loading the cupcakes onto a three-tier platter.

“Do you have a big family?” Leona asks.

“Not really. I have two brothers. One is married, and the other isn’t. Neither has any kids yet. Mike was an only child, so when we did go home for the holidays, it was usually just us and our parents.”

“Is that why you and Kaela stayed in Balsam Ridge?” Erin asks.

“Yeah, partly. I just feel at home here. This is where we bought our first house. Where we found out we were expecting and set up the nursery. It’s where Mike took his last breath. He burned and bled for these mountains and this valley. How could I leave something he loved that much?”

Leona’s hand reaches over and covers mine. “We’re so glad you stayed.”

I smile at her. “Me too.”

Weston shows up with Graham, and I do my best to avoid making eye contact with him.

I know we need to have a conversation about the awkward encounter last night, but I’m so embarrassed by the way I reacted and have no idea what to say.

I went over the scene in my mind all night.

Did he want to kiss me? Did I lean in and initiate it? Was it the high that caused me to act so impulsive?

Ugh, whatever caused it, I handled it poorly. I just hope it doesn’t cause things to be weird between us.

I love working at the farm, and I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that.

The two of us manage to keep our distance while he helps Hilton grill the hot dogs and hamburgers and I help the ladies get the tables covered and set.