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“Good. We got everything all fixed up.” He breezed past them to answer the doorbell before anyone could ask what, exactly, they were fixing.
When Silas opened the door, he found Brad and Callie standing on the porch with a massive box that had been wrapped with perfect creases in the corners.
“That’s a pretty big present.” Silas should’ve kept the opinion to himself, but wow. It was twice Willow’s size.
“It’s an art easel,” Brad whispered. “Willow loved the one that Callie has when she came over. It comes with all kinds of markers and paints and drawing lessons.”
“That sounds like an epic gift.” Ten times better than the one Silas had gotten her. Was it too late for him to swipe his present off the pile and disappear for a while?
“Callie!” Willow pushed past him. “Whoa, Nelly! That’s the biggest present I’ve ever seen! That’s for me?”
“It sure is.” Brad started to lift the box, and Silas jumped in to help. Taking one side, he maneuvered the thing inside the door.
“We can put it near the fireplace.” Orinthe fireplace…
Yes, that was a petty thought. He shouldn’t begrudge the man for getting Willow such a nice gift.
The three girls ran in behind them, still oohing and aahing over the sheer size of the box.
“Maybe it’s a new obstacle course!” Willow squealed.
“Nope,” Callie told her. “But you’re going to love it.”
“We’re going to love it,” Morgan said, putting her arm around her sister’s shoulders.
“This is good right here.” Silas set his side of the box down on the floor next to the hearth.
“My goodness.” Tess joined them. “I hope you didn’t spend too much,” she said to Brad. “I should’ve told you a gift wasn’t required.”
“It’s not as expensive as it looks,” he assured her. “We wanted to get her something she’d love.”
So had Silas. He’d made a special trip to Jackson and looked at every art set he could find. Where had the easels been hiding?
The doorbell rang again and he quietly stepped away from the chaos in the living room to answer. Lyric stood on the porch and Thatch was just walking up.
It made him feel better that their gifts were both small too.
“So have you tried those stretches I recommended?” Lyric asked Thatch as they all stepped inside.
Silas snorted but then covered by loudly clearing his throat.
“Uh, yeah. I gave them a go.” Thatch was totally trying to play it cool.
“Any improvements?” Lyric seemed to visually assess his friend’s gait.
Before Thatch could answer, Willow and Morgan ambushed them with hugs.
“Thank you for coming to my party,” the younger girl blurted. “I’ll take those presents.”
The doorbell rang a few more times and Silas let in three of Willow’s friends from school. Everything ramped up after that—the volume, the chaos, the work. He spent most of his time in the kitchen helping Tess set out the food and serve the lasagna and refill the drinks cooler. How had he missed the amount of work that went into these gatherings?
After the cake was served, the unthinkable happened—the volume increased even more, with the girls turning up music and dancing and singing while they worked off their sugar buzz.
Tess caught him alone in the kitchen. “It would be understandable if you were rethinking a potential relationship right now,” she whispered. Not that anyone would be able to hear them over the noise.
“I’m actually thinking how happy people are in your home.” The adults were on the couches and chairs discussing summer plans and the kids were all dancing around and everyone felt comfortable and content. “And how lucky I am to be part of this.”
She exhaled slowly and tilted her head to gaze at him. “Maybe we could go back to the garage real quick.”
