“Yup, full steam ahead,” Hazel said with a laugh. “They’ve had some setbacks trying to switch everything over to the new venue but it looks like everything’s still on schedule. We’ve been working hard to help them out.”
Weston shook his head. “Even that isn’t something that normally happens in the city. Everyone there is out for themselves. I’ve never heard of a whole family helping out with awedding before.” He exchanged a smile with his wife. “You were right, dear.”
Shannon laughed and turned to Jacob and Hazel to explain. “When we first started talking about moving our family to a small town, Weston wasn’t totally sold on the idea. It had been mine, since I wanted Camille to grow up in a place with fresh air and less crime.”
“I was sure it would be a disappointment after the fast pace of city life,” Weston said, shaking his head. “I’ve only ever lived in cities, and I thought I’d be bored to death in a small town—no offense.”
“None taken.” Jacob shook his head. “I completely understand the expectation.”
“But I couldn’t have been more wrong,” Weston said. “Thank goodness we moved here. This place has been like a guardian angel, watching over us.”
Hazel felt Jacob’s fingers slip around hers, and he squeezed her hand. She turned to him with a smile, seeing in his eyes that he was just as touched by the Fishers’ words as she was.
At that moment, they all heard the sound of two approaching voices, one of which sounded especially high-pitched and exuberant. Hazel chuckled, loving the way Camille had started to blossom now that she had Samantha as a kind of big sister playmate.
Those two get along famously,she thought.And I’m so proud of Samantha for spending her time making sure our little guest feels welcome!
All of the adults stopped their conversation for a few moments, listening to the companionable chatter of the approaching kids.
“That dress is magnificent on you, my lady,” Samantha was saying. “No princess could look more elegant.”
Camille giggled happily just before the two girls entered the living room. As soon as they did, it became clear why Samantha had told Camille that she looked elegant. Camille was dressed up in an assortment of Samantha’s clothes, most notably a striped, pink t-shirt that the little girl was wearing over a white cheerleading skirt, which came down nearly to her ankles. She had on a red silk scarf looped with bracelets as a belt, and sideways on top of her head sat a gold hairclip in lieu of a crown.
“Oh my, who is this beautiful princess?” Shannon cried out, and Weston pretended to faint from the splendor of the sight of Camille.
The little girl giggled and clambered onto the couch where her parents were. “I’m a princess!” she exclaimed happily. “Sam helped me dress up.”
“You are a princess,” Shannon said, kissing her on the nose. “And I love your outfit. But you might need to do a little more growing before you can wear these particular clothes to the royal ball.”
Samantha smiled fondly at the little girl as she leaned against the couch, looking happy and amused. “That’s true—but I think that t-shirt makes a pretty nice tunic for her, and I’ve already told her she can keep it for when she’s big enough to wear it for real.”
Shannon turned to her with surprise. “Are you really okay with that? That’s a very generous offer, but I wouldn’t want you to feel pressured into anything. Five-year-olds can be pretty persuasive.”
Samantha chuckled. “They can, but I’m absolutely sure. I like the idea of giving her my hand-me-downs. That’s something I would love to do if I had a little sister.”
As soon as the words left Samantha’s mouth, a lightbulb went off inside Hazel. Her heart started to beat faster as sheconsidered the possibility of something that had been dancing around in the back of her mind for months.
What if she and Jacob had another kid?
Samantha would make an incredible older sister,Hazel thought eagerly.And I so miss having a little one. Camille being here has reminded me so much of the fun times Samantha and I had when she was little.
She kept her thoughts to herself for the moment, feeling that despite how close they’d gotten to the Fishers, some ideas needed to stay between her and Jacob, at least at first. For the rest of the evening, her thoughts about having another baby glowed in her chest like a sweet secret, and she wondered joyfully if they would come to fruition.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Delilah squeezed Tom’s hand as they walked along the sidewalk together. A gust of warm spring wind blew against their faces, and somewhere nearby a robin was singing his heart out in a flowering tree. The air smelled fragrant with the blossoms as well as the scent of freshly mown lawns—and somewhere nearby, someone was baking cookies, adding a mouthwatering sweetness to the air.
“Slow down there, tiger.” Tom laughed. “I’m having trouble keeping up with you. We said we were going to walk to the post office together, not run there.”
Delilah laughed and forced herself to slow her footsteps. “I’m sorry. I’m just so excited to pick up this package. I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for a delivery before in my life.”
Tom chuckled. “I can imagine. Well, okay. I’ll run if you want to. Ready?” He braced himself as if preparing for a sprint, and Delilah grinned.
“No, that’s okay. We’re almost there, look!”
The post office was nestled on the corner of the street, surrounded by a few trees and tucked amongst gift stores. It was a small building, and Delilah always felt a kind of thrill when she saw the brick announcing that it had been built in 1802.She found old things to be inspiring, especially when they’d been well-maintained. It seemed to her more proof that Rosewood Beach took care of its own—even the old post office had been lovingly looked after for generations.
They hurried inside the post office and Delilah made a beeline for the counter.
