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No other choice but to follow since Evelyn went skipping that way, still holding onto my hand and dragging me along. “It’s so nice to meet you, Ms. Kayla. Is the party this way?”
“You are definitely heading in the right direction,” Kayla told her.
Warily, I glanced back to where Paisley had taken two large bowls from the counter and was balancing them in her arms.
Evelyn hopped out onto the deck a step ahead of me.
Streamers and balloons hung from every surface.
A fresh bolt of excitement blazed through the child. She clapped her hands before she clasped them in front of her like she was issuing up a prayer, her shoulders rising to her ears. “Oh my goodness, it’s a real party, Uncle! Look it!” She squealed when she saw a piñata hanging from a tree. “I’m going to get so much candy!”
My gaze traveled, and I spotted Ryder and Ezra sitting in Adirondack chairs beneath a tree to the right of the yard. Another man I didn’t recognize was with them.
Ryder sent me a smirk from behind the beer bottle he was sipping from, the strength of it growing when Paisley stepped up to my side.
Anxiety itched through me as I stood there with Evelyn and the ridiculous stack of presents.
I could only imagine what it looked like with the three of us there together.
Paisley moved to set the bowls down on a long buffet table before she strutted back my way.
Need gutted me at the vision.
God.
How was it possible one woman could affect me this way?
“Here, let me get that.” Casually, she took the presents, set them on the table, then immediately returned.
Evelyn bounced at my side. “Look at all my new friends,” she whispered as she gazed out at the mass of children screeching and running and playing on the lawn.
My spirit clutched.
Ezra pushed to standing and meandered our way. Ryder followed behind. We climbed down the porch steps to meet them.
“Nice to see you, brother.” Ezra leaned in and gave a clap to my back. Ryder did the same before he picked up Paisley and swung her around like a ragdoll. “There’s my favorite Paisley-Cakes. What are you doing hanging out with this guy?”
The ribbing was all there, though Ryder was slanting me a knowing eye.
“If you wouldn’t mind putting her down,” I grated.
I didn’t care if I sounded like I was making a claim.
Maybe I was.
“Down boy.” He winked while he was still hugging her.
“Yeah, stop manhandling me, you brute. I’m wearing a dress. Can’t you see I’m a lady?” Paisley’s laughter was all throaty and low, the tease dripping from her tongue.
Ryder chuckled as he set her onto her feet. “Ah, I see how it is.”
Did he? Because I sure as shit couldn’t make sense of it.
Ezra leaned down in front of Evelyn. “Hi, Evelyn. Do you remember me?”
Ezra and Ryder had been there to help us move in. Evelyn had been shell-shocked then. Close to mute. Barely eating. Barely sleeping, and when she had, she’d wake up wailing for her mom.
My chest tightened, thanking God that she had come out of it.
That this angel had shown up at our door, as reckless as she was.
“I remember a little bit,” she said, shyness in her voice.
“Well, remember when I told you I have three kids? That they’re your cousins?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to meet them?”
“I would like that very much, yes please. Is that okay?” She looked up at me.
“Of course, Evelyn,” I said.
A smile split her face, and we followed Ezra toward the group of kids playing on the lawn.
“Olivia, Oliver, Owen, come on over here please.”
The three of them came running, meeting us halfway, and Ezra knelt in front of them.
Each was as blond as their dad.
“Evelyn, this is Olivia, and these are my twins, Oliver and Owen.”
Oliver and Owen shouted, “Hi,” before they got distracted and started chasing after a balloon that’d gotten free.
Olivia remained, a year older than Evelyn. Soft spoken, shy, holding that same kind of sadness I’d witnessed often in Evelyn. “Do you want to play with me?”
I wondered what their relationship would be like when they discovered how similar they were.
What they’d lost.
“I really like that idea.”
Evelyn let go of my hand, and she skipped off with Olivia.
Paisley touched my arm, her smile soft, tender with joy as she looked at me. “I’m going to go help Dakota with the games and hang out with Evelyn and the kids. Why don’t you grab a beer?”
Unable to say anything, I dipped my chin.
My throat too thick.
Ryder handed me one. “Got you covered.”
“Thanks.” The three of us wandered over to where they’d been sitting. Ryder gestured to the guy I hadn’t recognized. “Caleb, this is Cody, my oldest friend, Dakota’s older brother. Cody, this is my cousin Caleb I told you about.”
