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She says nothing. I pick up the phone again, and that’s when I finally see it. She’s taped down the phone clicker. “Paige!” I growl.
I pull up the tape and answer. “Yes, boss?” she asks innocently on the other end of the line.
“God damn it,” I say.
“Just letting you know I’m headed out for the day, sir. I’ll be taking Pancake and Theo with me since you’ll be heading the same way.” She sounds composed, but her words break now and then in spurts. It’s obvious she’s trying to contain her laughter.
Before I can mutter, “I hate you,” she cheerfully ends with, “I hate you more, DW!” and hangs up before I can reply.
14. paige
Sara
Beth:Guess who’s here? Meet Benny and Eden...
A picture comes through of two babies side by side. One is wearing a pink hospital hat made into a bow and the other is wearing a blue hat. Both squishy and wide-eyed, looking at the camera.
Paige: They are adorable! Congratulations to you both! I can’t wait to meet them.
Mellie: They’re so beautiful! Congratulations!
Allie: I’m not crying! You’re crying! I love them so much already. How are you doing?
Mellie: Ty says congrats, too! I think he has major baby fever now and is asking when we can have one. (Wide eye emoji)
I reach into my drawer for my purse and notice the stack of emergency romance books I keep in there in case I get bored are gone. In their place is a stack of self-help books. I groan. I don’t even know when he would have done this. Nice, Preston. I grab a notepad and write on it:
I have an entire storage unit full of romance books and a fully loaded Kindle. Nice try. I’ll never run out.
Then I take his self-help books to his desk and place the note on top of them.
Try again,boss.
He probably took the romance books for himself to read, I muse with a laugh.
* * *
I pull up to the inn and wave at the boys playing. Mellie’s son, Kase, comes running up to me with his gray pit bull, Nova, in tow. Caleb follows close behind. “Hey, guys,” I say, then bend down to scratch Nova’s ears.
I recently found out that Mellie met Ty when he was working here undercover for the ATF, and he ended up staying. He seems like such a good guy for Mellie and Kase. I love their family and even Nova, too.
“Nova wants to know if she can come to Theo’s party this weekend.” His expression is wide-eyed and hopeful. He’s so adorable.
“It wouldn’t be a party for Theo without Nova. Of course she can come.” I smile. “I was also wondering if you and Caleb would help me get the party ready.”
“Yes,” he says earnestly.
“You two have the best ideas. I could use your help.”
“I do have good ideas. We need a piñata!” Caleb now does an excited dance.
“You know, I was thinking the same thing. Maybe a bone-shaped one. What else do you think we need?”
I love that Kase is excited at the idea of being included in Theo’s birthday planning. It’s really my birthday, but I’m not telling anyone that. We’ll just celebrate Theo and make it fun and lighthearted. I don’t want to focus on myself. I’m most excited about opening my birthday letter from my mom. Though a pang of sadness goes through me at the thought, because it will mean one less letter left.
“My mom says she can make a cake,” Caleb offers proudly. “She says she’s going to make dog cupcakes.”
“Perfect!” I say, pretending to be relieved. “I was wondering what we were going to do about cake.”
