Rowan’s eyes widened, her face blazing red. She opened and closed her mouth a few times. Speechless. Yeah, that’s right, babe. Your big sisters know your secret.
“That’s not... no, you... he won’t... I absolutely donot...” Finally, her painful denials died on her tongue when Josh walked in. Her relief was embarrassingly apparent.
“This isn’t over, Rowan,” she whispered, “only postponed.”
“Josh, oh my God, tell me you brought Raven’s prezzie!” River jumped up, crowding his space. Poking the package wrapped in brown shipping paper.
“Back off, damn it,” he laughed, sweeping the gift over his head where River didn’t have a chance of reaching.
“Give it over, Josh!” In the middle of jumping up to reach the gift, the door swept open, and Raven and Bran breezed in.
Raven laughed, asking, “What in the hell are you doing, River?”
“None of your business. It’s a surprise. For the party,” she smirked.
“I think you should let her open it now,” Josh interjected.
“No one cares what you think, asshole. Give it to me.” River jumped again, missing by about two feet.
“Is that my birthday present? I want,” Raven made grabby hands.
“Before the party? And... I haven’t even seen it yet!”
“Give me. It’ll be more fun to open a present with just us.” Raven was grinning, her eyes bright. How could River say no to a happy pregnant woman?
“You have to open mine too, then,” Rowan protested. “Otherwise, it’s favoritism of presents. Plus, I’d planned on giving it to you in private anyway,” she grinned mischievously. Rowan reached into her tote and pulled out a bright red, festively wrapped box.
Hugh walked in just as she laid her present on the desk with a flourish. River and Raven’s eyes widened when they saw Rowan snatch the present back, trying to shove it back into her bag. It ended up landing on the floor, where she finally kicked it under her desk.
What in thehellwas that all about?
Bran, ignoring the sisters’ antics as usual, told his dad he was just in time to watch Raven get her birthday presents from the girls early.
River heard Rowan whisper afuck meunder her breath.
Better and better. “Mine first,” River sniped. Elbowing Rowan in the side. “Okay, Josh, give it over now.”
“Gladly,” he laughed, enjoying himself. He handed it to River, who immediately handed it to Raven.
“Happy early Birthday! Let’s go sit on the sofa.” Once they were situated, Raven tore off the wrapping paper, such that it was, and then promptly burst into tears. If Raven weren’t so predictable, River might believe she wielded prophetic power.
She and Rowan crowded Raven to get a better look at the piece. Josh had killed it. It was a true representation of their Native American logo. The centralized Irish shamrock in green was stunning. Perfectly integrated.
“Look,” Raven touched the three green leaves.
Josh had burned the Native American symbols for a raven, river, and rowan tree in the leaves. It was... beautiful.
“Josh.”
“Wow, Josh.”
“Oh, Josh. It’s better than I ever imagined it.”
“That will be perfect to hang in our foyer, Rave, where it’s the first thing anyone sees.” Bran patted his wife’s shoulder, surreptitiously handing her sister a tissue. He probably kept every pocket stuffed with them.
“Oh my, River. Thank you so much. It’s perfect. And thank you, Josh. You are beyond talented.”
Josh blushed at the praise. While Rowan was taking a closer look at the sculpture, River went back to her desk and tugged out the present her sister had punted beneath it. Walking over, she started to hand the present to Raven. Rowan saw and lunged for it.
