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He wondered what a modern day Anne Shirley would have been like. He looked down at Bella and sighed.
She would have been just as brave and stubborn as Bella was. And just as willing to let people into her heart.
CHAPTER FIVE
John sat on the couch at Poppy’s birthday party, listening to a woman tell him about her vacation in Canada. Bella was sitting with a group of girls, painting her nails. He’d never been to a nine-year-old girl’s birthday party before. It was a crazy combination of sugar-loaded food, beauty products, and pink presents.
So far, the ten girls at the party had braided their hair with tiny beads, decorated cupcakes, and made tattoos out of glitter. It definitely wasn’t the traditional Pin the Tail on the Donkey and Musical Chairs party that he’d been expecting. Not that he’d been to any nine-year-old girls’ birthday parties before.
“Do you enjoying living in Bozeman?”
John focused his attention on Donna, the woman sitting opposite him. “It’s a great place to live. It’s taken us a while to settle in, but having my brother here has helped.”
“Is that why you moved to Bozeman?”
John nodded. “I’d been looking for a building to convert into my business’ headquarters. When the old flour mill came on the market, Grant and I had a look and decided that it was worth the investment. It’s been a busy two years.”
He wouldn’t tell Donna that his brother had kept him sane after his wife had died. He hadn’t known how to raise a two-year-old, or even how to live a normal civilian life. It had taken him another four years to realize that Bella needed to be close to family as much as he did.
He watched Bella blow on her nails. She compared her nail color with the girl beside her and they both started giggling. She’d grown so much since Jacinta had died. Six years ago she’d been running around in diapers, chasing the neighbor’s cat and climbing on top of anything she saw.
“If Bella wants to come to our home for a playdate, I’m sure Anna would love it. The two girls get along so well.”
John watched Bella pass Anna another bottle of nail polish. “Thanks. I’ll check with Bella.”
John picked up his cup of coffee and checked the time. It was nearly five o’clock. Tanner was waiting outside for them, parked on the side of the road and trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. Luckily the snow had stopped falling and the temperature had risen a few degrees above freezing.
“Coffee anyone?” Poppy’s mom carried a tray of coffee across to the parents.
When she reached John, he shook his head. “Not for me. I’ve got one already.”
“Would you like a piece of birthday cake to go with your coffee?”
John looked at the bright pink frosting and frowned. “Sure. Just a small piece, though. Bella and I need to go home soon.”
Donna, the woman sitting opposite him, pouted. “It’s far too early for that. We were just getting to know each other.”
John gulped back the last of his coffee. He might be a little rusty in the dating department, but he knew when someone was flirting with him. Anyone else would have said something witty, broken the silence that had descended around the table. But not John. He couldn’t think of one thing to say that wouldn’t hurt Donna’s feelings.
It wasn’t that she was unattractive. In fact, she was probably one of the most attractive women he’d ever met. And it wasn’t that she didn’t interest him. She did. But not in the ‘let’s date’ kind of way that she was hinting at.
John had married the only woman he’d ever love. He couldn’t imagine spending time with many women, especially the romantic kind of time that he’d never been very good at.
An image of Rachel popped into his head and he sighed. She was off limits and even if she wasn’t, nothing was going to happen. He left his coffee mug on the table and wiped his hands down the side of his jeans. “It was great spending time with you, but I really need to go.” He looked at Poppy’s mom and tried to smile. “Thank you for inviting us to your home. I’ve got a feeling that Bella’s going to be talking about Poppy’s birthday for a long time.”
Poppy’s mom smiled. “I’m glad you’ve had a good time. I know another little girl who’s incredibly happy. Poppy loved the robotic dog you bought her.”
“It was all Bella’s idea.”
“Well, it was very sweet. While you’re getting Bella ready, I’ll get each of you a slice of cake to take home.”
Before John could tell her not to worry about the cake, she’d disappeared into the kitchen. He glanced at Donna and tried not to worry about the glare she sent back to him.
It was just like college all over again. Except this time, there wouldn’t be a happily-ever-after ending for anyone. Cupid had left the building, now all John had to do was get Bella into their truck.
He looked at where he’d last seen her. She’d moved across the room to another group of girls. She was sitting on the floor, laughing and talking and waiting to have her hair curled. He watched her for a minute, wondering where the last eight years had gone. His little girl was growing up and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
He walked over to her and kneeled on the floor. “We need to go home.”
“But I haven’t had my hair curled,” Bella said with a sigh. “Could we stay for five more minutes?”
John shook his head. “We need to leave. Do you want to thank Poppy for inviting us?”
Bella stood up. “I already have, but I’ll go and say goodbye.”
“I’ll get our jackets.”
Bella nodded and John headed off toward the hallway. He looked through the windows either side of the front door. The snow was falling thick and fast, covering everything in its path with a white, icy blanket of cold snow. The weather that had been forecasted had arrived.
All he had to do now was get himself and his daughter home safely. Donna and her playdate offer could wait for another day.
***
Rachel slammed the tailgate closed on her truck and hauled the last box of bridesmaids’ dresses into Tess’ loft.
Since taking the job as Bella’s tutor three weeks ago, she’d had less time to help at The Bridesmaids Club. With Christmas fast approaching, all of her friends were finding it more difficult to balance their own lives with the brides and bridesmaids who were desperate for dresses.
Tess and Rachel had decided to put a few hours aside on Saturday morning to go through the boxes and letters that had arrived that week. Bella had been at home, waiting for her dad to come back from a meeting in Washington DC. Rachel had invited her and Tank to The Bridesmaids Club, hoping to fill Bella’s day with something interesting before John got back.
“Last one coming up now,” she yelled from the top of the stairs. The door to the loft opened and she stumbled inside. “Thanks, Bella.”
“That’s okay. Tess said to put the box on the kitchen counter. If we wipe the snow off the box, the floor won’t get wet.”
“Good idea.” Rachel slid the box onto the counter and flicked the fresh snow into the sink.
Tess walked out of the spare bedroom carrying a handful of clothes hangers. “These should be enough for this week’s dresses. Hopefully, no one sends us any over Christmas.”
Rachel looked at the three boxes on the counter. “If they do, we’re going to be seriously out of room.”
Tess grinned. “Do you remember how much space we had in my last apartment above Angel Wings Café?”
“You were surrounded by dresses. I’m surprised you could move.”
“It was worse when new boxes arrived. I used to stack them in the kitchen until I could find room for them.”
“I’d like to live in a house filled with these dresses,” Bella said wistfully. “It would be like living in a Disney movie.”
Tess laughed. “Or an out of control train filled with satin and lace. But we don’t have to worry about that anymore. Logan’s home is perfect.”
“Your home is perfect,” Rachel reminded her. “Have you forgotten that you married the man of your dreams?”
“Only when he’s snoring at two o’clock in the morning and keeping me awake,” Tess moaned.
“It’s a small price to pay for perfection.”
“Exactly.” Tess put the clothes hangers on the counter. “If you hear of anyone who wants to rent my old apartment, let me know. Or better yet, take them there to have a look. With Christmas getting closer, I don’t have a lot of spare time.”
“Tell me you’ve moved your spare back door key? That little magnetic box above the doorframe was so obvious.”
“It’s still there. Who’s going to break into my apartment?”
Rachel sighed. “No one if they find the key. You might as well leave the door wide open.”
Bella moved around the counter. “What’s a magnetic box?”
Tess held her hands out to show Bella how long the box was. “It’s a little box, about this big, that sticks to the metal above my door. It’s for emergencies.”
Bella frowned. “Dad told me what to do in an emergency. I call 9-1-1. He’s coming home tonight.”
