Page 28 of Only in Our Dream (Moonflower Cove #15)

Melanie

P reparing for Cameron’s fiftieth birthday was a task Melanie took very seriously.

She’d been planning it for weeks along with Isla, Vera, Jonah, and Dylan.

The kids had been tasked with keeping Cameron out of the house while the other three decorated for the party.

They’d gone to an aquarium for the afternoon along with lunch at Cameron’s place of choice.

Melanie had told them to be back by seven, which meant they had exactly two hours to finish preparing for the party.

Melanie had spent most of the last hour arranging a giant five and zero on the wall out of photographs.

She’d chosen pictures from all throughout Cameron’s life, but one in particular kept catching her eye.

It was the one from the New Year’s Eve party last year when they’d kissed.

She wished she could go back in time and tell both of the women in the picture that things were going to work out.

“Look how little Jonah was,” Isla cooed as she looked at a picture of Cameron holding a brand-new baby Jonah in the hospital. “He was what? An hour old here?”

“Something like that.”

“Oh, and little Dylan.” She pointed at another picture. It was another one at the hospital, except this time Jonah was four and Dylan was the baby in Cameron’s arms. “God, they’re a beautiful family.”

“I think that one was taken about two seconds before Jonah sneezed right on Dylan.”

“Just giving that immune system a kick start.” Isla pointed to another picture. “Talk about babies.”

Melanie followed where she was pointing.

It was a picture of Melanie and Cameron not long after they met.

She’d found the picture in a box of photos she kept in her closet.

The date she’d scribbled on the back was 1999 and she remembered it as the Y2K party they’d had at the Mackenzies.

Cameron and Melanie had spent most of the night attached at the hip, which wasn’t uncommon when they’d go to parties together.

“Was this the Y2K party?”

“Yep,” Melanie chuckled. “We thought the world was ending, so we were going out with a party.”

“Little did we know then that thirteen years later the party I would be having on New Year’s would be Everleigh.”

“But she’s such a cute baby.”

“She is pretty great, isn’t she?”

“Okay,” Vera sighed from behind them. “What is wrong with this picture?”

“Which picture?” Turning around, Melanie saw Vera had her hands on her hips as she glared at them. “Do you not like the ones I chose?”

“No, I mean this picture,” she dramatically pointed a finger back and forth between Melanie and Isla. “I’ve been slaving in the kitchen blowing up a million balloons with the world’s smallest helium pump while you two reminisce in here.”

“Actually,” Melanie smirked, “it’s only fifty balloons.”

Vera’s glare told her that didn’t matter.

“Sorry, baby.” Always knowing how to win her wife over, Isla went to her and kissed her. “But come here and look at these pictures.”

They all stood in a line as they took in the pictures. Melanie was proud of the eclectic collection of photos she’d accumulated. And judging by how Isla and Vera reacted to them, she knew they would be a hit with Cameron.

“Mel,” Vera pointed to a picture, “look at this one.”

Taking a step toward the photo, Melanie couldn’t help but smile. It was a picture of Cameron and Dylan on Dylan’s first birthday. Dylan was sitting in Cameron’s lap and had cake smeared all over her face. Cameron’s head was tossed back laughing, looking as happy as Melanie had ever seen her.

“Cameron only knows how to create babies that look exactly like her.”

“True, but that’s not what I’m talking about.” Vera took a step closer to the picture, motioning for Melanie to do the same. She pointed at the background. “Look right here.”

Leaning in toward the picture, Melanie could make out herself in the background. She was smiling at Cameron with so much love it almost radiated off the picture. Her eyes were lit up more so than in any wedding photo she had. The realization slammed into Melanie and took her breath away.

She’d always been in love with Cameron. Even if she thought they were just friends, deep down her heart held the truth. And it was as clear as day on her face and in her eyes in the captured moment from eleven years ago.

“You two have been in love with each other for so long,” Vera dreamily stated as she leaned into Isla. “I can’t believe we didn’t notice it at the time. I mean, look at you. You’re in love with her then.”

“Yeah,” Melanie nervously laughed, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Excuse me.”

Not wanting Isla or Vera to see her crying, Melanie quickly turned and headed into the kitchen.

She knew her friends wouldn’t leave her alone for long, but she took the few minutes she had to compose herself.

Melanie wiped her tears on the gray Yankees sweatshirt she’d worn to decorate for the party.

Why did I suppress those feelings for so long? Things could have been so different for us. God, I can’t believe I wasted so much precious time when I could have been loving Cam.

Melanie mentally beat herself up as she felt a sob bubble up and escaped from her lips. She hadn’t heard Isla come into the kitchen, but she wasn’t surprised when her friend pulled her into a tight hug. Wrapping her arms around Isla, Melanie let her friend comfort her.

“It’s okay.” Isla gently rubbed her back as she spoke in her calming mom voice. “I know it’s hard to think about what could have been. I do it all the time with Blake and it’s never easy.”

Blake was Isla’s eldest daughter who lived with her father after he was awarded full custody.

Isla hadn’t seen her since she was five, and Melanie couldn’t imagine the heartache Isla felt on a daily basis because of that.

She’d seen Isla on some of her darkest days in life and knew most of them were because of the pain of missing Blake.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re okay.”

“I don’t know why this has been bugging me so much lately.” Letting go of Isla, Melanie wiped her eyes as she leaned back on the counter. “I’ve loved Cameron for years, but I told myself it was just because she was my best friend. I loved her like I loved you.”

“Except you never looked at me that way.”

“Except I never looked at you that way,” Melanie repeated with a sigh. “I know there’s no point in thinking about the what ifs but it’s so hard when they’re so loud in my brain.”

“I get it, Mel. I do, really. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Blake or wonder what she’d be doing if she were with us.

It’s hard, and I can’t tell you that will ever stop.

But you have to look on the positive side now.

You get to love Cameron for the rest of your life now.

Nothing can stop you from doing that now. ”

“She’s right, Mel.” Sheepishly, Vera walked into the kitchen. “I’m sorry for making you upset.”

“It’s okay.” She held her arms out to Vera as the two hugged. “I know how you often speak before you think.”

“Preach,” Isla chuckled.

“Oh, be nice. Both of you.” Vera rolled her eyes at them. “But seriously, Mel, I’m sorry. I think all the photos look great and that everything you’ve planned for Cameron is perfect. She’s going to love it.”

“Thanks, Vera.”

“But now we just need to get you out of these clothes. Where did you put your stuff?”

“Guest room.”

“Then let’s go.”

The trio trekked across the house to the guest room on the lower level.

Over the years, the room had been many things from a playroom for the kids to a home office for Cameron.

She’d converted it into a guest room after her father died, just in case her mother wanted to come live with them.

Which of course Wilma Dean didn’t. But it had come in handy for when she visited.

Melanie had laid the pantsuit out on the bed when she’d arrived at the house hours ago.

The heels she planned on wearing with it sat on the floor, along with a small cosmetic bag.

She wasn’t one to wear much makeup as she mainly only went to work.

However, the special occasion called for a little more glam.

Thankfully, Isla and Vera were right there to help her.

They straightened her hair and applied her makeup as if they were the big sisters she never had.

Melanie felt so pampered she could have imagined it was her own birthday.

As Vera applied a final touch of lipstick to Melanie’s lips, she stood back by Isla as they seemed to admire her.

“I think we did a good job.”

“You think Cam will like it?”

“She’ll love it,” they answered in unison.

Taking a deep breath, Melanie stood from the swivel chair they’d pulled over from the desk and turned to look at herself in the mirror.

She had to give herself credit, as she looked damn good.

The green button-up she’d chosen matched her eyes almost perfectly while the suit looked like it had been tailor-made for her instead of off the rack.

Her heels were cute but not uncomfortable which was a lifesaver.

Isla and Vera had done wonders with her hair and makeup.

Melanie felt like a new woman as she turned to the side to check out her reflection from every angle.

“Cam isn’t going to know what hit her,” Vera said with a wink.

“Thank you for helping me get ready.”

“You’re welcome, Mel. You look beautiful.”

“Thanks.” She felt her cheeks redden as she exited the bathroom with them. Isla and Vera still had to change so she left them in the guest room to change in peace.

Melanie made a final sweep of the house to make sure everything was set up perfectly for the party.

The dining room table was cleared for gifts except for an enormous bouquet of fifty roses.

It appeared Vera had bundled the fifty balloons in groups of five before tying them onto the dining room chairs that had been pushed to behind the table.

She stopped at the one of the two gifts currently on the table and ran her hand over it.

The night before, she’d painstakingly wrapped the gift in sparkling pink paper.

It not only matched the theme of the party, but Melanie knew Cameron would love it.

Just as much as she would love what was inside.

Biting her lip to stop her smile from spreading too wide, Melanie walked into the kitchen.

With Isla and Vera’s help, they got all the food out and ready for the party.

Melanie made sure the cake was the centerpiece, knowing it would be what Cameron was most excited about anyway.

Cameron loved vanilla cake with buttercream, and that was exactly what Melanie had gotten her from Carlson’s Bakery.

She’d had happy birthday Cam written on the cake in a pink buttercream.

On the kitchen island, they set out a variety of chips, dips, and other snacks.

She took the charcuterie boards out of the refrigerator and placed them on the island as well.

Cameron’s favorite wine was chilling in the cooler.

Isla set up a miniature bar in one corner of the kitchen while Vera set out a variety of sodas and bottles of water on the counter as well.

“I think we did pretty good.”

“Do you think she’ll be surprised?”

“I hope so,” Melanie nervously laughed as she looked around the kitchen. “Do we have everything? There are fifty balloons, right?”

“I counted them twice.”

“Good. Good.”

“You did a great job, Mel,” Isla reassured her. “Cam is going to love it.”

As they finished decorating, the guests started to arrive.

They’d tried to keep the party small, but it seemed to have escalated quickly.

The nurses from Cameron’s department all came, along with a few of the doctors.

Palmer and Laura were there as usual. All the Mackenzie kids were in attendance, as well as Mason’s best friend Chase.

Most of Maggie Carlson’s family was there, which alone accounted for easily a dozen people.

Melanie’s phone buzzed with a text from Dylan.

Almost there!

“Okay everyone!” Melanie waited a beat to get everyone’s attention. “They’re almost here, so let’s all gather by the door to greet them!”

Making her way to the front of the group, Melanie waited with sweating palms and a fast-beating heart for Cameron to come in the front door.