Page 22 of Sweet Escape (Whispering Oaks Ranch #1)

This Ain’t Her First Rodeo

? Somebody Like You - Keith Urban

Wilder

I glance around at the massive celebration, in awe of everything Olivia put together for my girl.

There’s a giant balloon arch set up in front of a backdrop with Emmy Lou’s name, and a huge marquee number three that stands taller than my toddler.

Off to the side is a long buffet table with finger foods, and hay bales covered with mismatched quilts set up for seating.

Anyone who means anything to my family is here celebrating Emmy’s third birthday. If only I’d come home sooner, Emmy’s first and second birthdays could’ve been like this. I was so deep in my grief that I couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

Every milestone with Emmy is a bittersweet reminder that Jess is missing out on all of it.

She doesn’t get to see our baby girl grow up.

She won’t be there for the first day of kindergarten; she won't watch her graduate, or cry tears of joy when I walk her d own the aisle to some man who doesn’t deserve her.

As I look over at Emmy in her denim skirt and pink cowboy boots, clutching cotton candy in her fist, the loss tempers into a dull ache.

I’ll always mourn the time we didn’t get to spend together as a family, but I can’t take anything for granted going forward.

If losing Jess has taught me anything, it’s that I need to grab onto the memories we have and never let go.

A soft hand lands on my bicep, and I don’t even have to look to know it’s her. “What do you think?” Olivia asks, her teeth digging into her bottom lip as she waits for my reaction.

“It’s incredible, Cupcake. Way more than any three-year-old could ever hope for.”

Something sullen passes over her expression before she clears her throat, sobering slightly. “She deserves to be celebrated on her birthday.”

“So do you, Liv. You know that, right?”

“I’m a big girl. I’ve had years of disappointing birthdays. Far too many to count. I can’t change that, but I can make sure the people I love feel special on their big day. Besides, from what I remember, I had a pretty great birthday in the end.” She glides a hand over her belly.

I chuckle softly. “I’m glad I could turn it around for you. Next year we’ll make sure it’s even more special.”

Next year.

Who’s to say she’ll even want me around next year? She might have another man locked down by then, and I wouldn’t blame the poor bastard one bit. Olivia is something special, and anyone would be a fool not to notice.

For the first time since Olivia walked back into my life, I envision a future with her.

A real one where she’s mine and I’m hers.

Our baby on her hip and Emmy Lou at her feet, maybe even another one on the way.

It’s a beautiful thought, but so far b eyond my reach.

I’m not in any place to give that to her, and I won't make promises I can’t keep.

Jaxon sidles up next to us, interrupting our moment, and hollers for his niece. “Emmy Lou! Come to Uncle Jaxy!”

She rushes to him, sticky fingers and all, and he instantly scoops her into his arms.

“How’s my best girl?” Jaxon asks.

“Ish muh birfday,” Emmy says, her mouth full of cotton candy.

“Is it really? I thought this party was for me.”

Emmy giggles. “Nuh uh.”

Jaxon pouts dramatically, and she palms both of his cheeks, kissing the tip of his nose.

The way my brothers interact with Emmy isn’t unexpected, but it still warms my heart to witness it firsthand after having spent so many years apart.

I only wish my sister could be here, but she’s on the last leg of her North American tour, and she couldn’t make it home between stops.

Ruby is the sibling I’m closest to. Maybe that’s because I’m the oldest and I was very protective of my baby sister growing up, or maybe it’s because we both got out and chased something outside of what we’ve always known.

Whenever she had a break between shows, she’d fly out to Colorado to spend time with us.

She was there for me when I lost Jess, and she’s the first phone call when I need advice.

I miss her, but I’m so proud of everything she’s accomplished.

“Come on, Big Guy,” Olivia says. “Time to sing happy birthday.”

Jaxon places Emmy back on her feet, and she darts off ahead of us.

When we catch up with her, Olivia helps Emmy onto a stool behind a small pedestal table.

There is a heart-shaped cow print cake with pink frosting around the edges and a tiny fondant cowboy hat sitting in the center of a distressed w ood cake stand.

Olivia pulls out three candles and places them in a small cluster in the middle of the cake.

“Hold on. Almost forgot something.” Olivia rushes inside the barn, returning with my cowboy hat and a much smaller one for Emmy, placing them on our heads as she pulls out her phone to take a photo.

“Wait. What about you?” I ask.

“What about me?”

I hold out my arm in invitation. “Get in here, Cupcake. Mama, can you take Liv’s phone?”

“It would be my pleasure. Go on now.” Mama nudges Olivia with her elbow, giving her no choice but to give in.

When Olivia stands on Emmy’s other side, I place my hat atop Olivia’s head. If I’m being honest, I hadn’t given it much thought beyond wanting her to match with Emmy, but seeing Olivia in my hat is doing something to me that I can’t even begin to describe.

“Now you don’t have a hat.” Olivia pouts.

“But I have everything else.” I wrap an arm around the back of Emmy’s chair, settling my hand on Olivia’s shoulder.

Mama snaps a few photos, and Olivia pulls a matchbox from her pocket and lights the candles.

What follows is an enthusiastic rendition of Happy Birthday, but my eyes stay locked on Emmy and the bright smile that’s taken up residence on her sweet face. “Blow out the candles, Angel.”

Emmy gives one spirited attempt to no avail.

Olivia and I both lean in at the same time, locking eyes over her head.

“Ok, Emmy,” I say. “On three. Ready? One… two… three.”

We blow out the candles together, and something within me shifts—like something broken being put back together, not quite whole, but getting there .

Olivia

I have a love/hate relationship with birthdays.

Most of mine were spent at the diner with Grammy, blowing out a candle on a celebratory slice of pie, because my birthday is the anniversary of my brother’s death.

I’m a living, breathing reminder of what my parents lost that day.

So… maybe I went a little overboard celebrating Emmy Lou.

I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to give Wilder’s little girl something I never had.

Being surrounded by Wilder’s family makes me miss my parents, but I don’t know how to fix what’s broken between us.

I knew there might be some issues with Wilder’s family, but I never thought my dad would take it out on me the way he did.

It was jarring to experience this other side of him when he’s always treated me with the utmost care, shitty birthdays notwithstanding.

Time heals all wounds sounds like a load of bullshit when Dad’s wounds have so clearly festered into something toxic.

I didn’t intend for my mom to get caught in the crossfire, and I said some things I wish I could take back.

I won’t lie and say I regret standing up for myself.

If I’ve learned anything since this Jake and Amber thing, it’s that I need to stop allowing myself to be trampled on.

Old Olivia would’ve taken it all in stride. New Olivia is taking no shit.

“Hey, Pretty Girl,” Wilder murmurs against the shell of my ear, sneaking up on me near the paddock where I’ve been watching Storm gallop against the wind. His arms come around my waist, and I relax into him. “I was wondering where you disappeared to.”

“Needed a minute.”

I feel his eyes on me, but I don’t dare look. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Just missing my mom. ”

“Have you called her?”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Start with hello and go from there. Apologize if you think it’ll help. It’s not worth this stress, honey. It’s not good for you or the baby. Somebody has to be the first to reach out. Might as well be you or it’s going to eat you alive until you do.”

“You’re right. Ugh. How are you always right?”

One hand leaves my body, and when I glance up, I see him holding out his phone in selfie mode. “Can you say that again? I want to get it on video in case you change your mind someday.”

I elbow him in the ribs, and he grunts.

“I hate you,” I say.

“No, you don’t.” He flashes the rare, genuine smile he usually reserves for Emmy, and it shoots straight down to the pit of my stomach.

His fingertips trace the contour of my ear as he tucks back a lock of my hair.

He scans my face with something like awe in his expression, and he leans in the barest amount.

A rush of footsteps on gravel breaks us apart, and when I pop my head over Wilder’s shoulder, a tiny body is barreling toward us. Wilder crouches down to catch her, but she runs right past him into my legs.

“Livie!” Emmy squeals, swapping out the L for a W.

She flaps her grabby hands, and I pick her up, settling her on my hip. “Hey birthday girl. Are you having a good day?”

“Uh-huh.” She nods, resting her head against my chest and popping her thumb into her mouth.

Wilder looks on with a mix of sadness and awe, and I can’t help but wonder what’s going through his head. At the sound of stampeding hooves, I turn and face the paddock where Storm is galloping next to a larger jet black horse .

“That’s Maverick,” Wilder says. “The suspected baby daddy.”

“He’s beautiful.”

“He is. And stubborn as a mule.”

“So, he’s you in horse form?”

“Something like that,” he says, amusement evident in his voice. “Storm is a lot like you. Treat motivated, affectionate, easily distracted.” Storm whinnies as she course corrects and barrels in the opposite direction, like she heard and she’s offended.

“I’m choosing to ignore that last remark on behalf of both me and Storm.”

Disregarding my subtle warning, he continues in a more subdued tone.

“Beautiful. A little wild. And I know she’s going to be the best mom.

” He strokes a hand over Emmy’s head before kissing her on the cheek, then doing the same to me.

It’s a simple gesture, but it still makes my heart leap all the same.

His palm slides into the back pocket of my jeans, caging Emmy between us as we continue watching the horses while the faint sounds of the partygoers float through the barn.

“Thank you,” he says. “For all of it. Today was so much more than I could’ve ever dreamed up for her. I couldn't have done it without you.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

It’s terrifying just how true that is.