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He jerked his head slightly to the side, where Rhys was sitting. That’s when I saw it. Sitting along the top edge of Rhys’s tray, too far away for him to reach, was a small, giftwrapped box.
“What is that?” I questioned him, feeling like a swarm of butterflies had taken flight in my belly.
“It was all Rhys’s idea. We discussed it yesterday morning, and he told me what he wanted to do.”
I cocked a brow, a small smile playing at my lips. “You’re blaming this on him?”
“It’s the truth. He picked it out.” I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. “Open it,” Banks urged me.
Taking the box from the tray, I pinned my eyes on Rhys. “This is a bit much, little guy. Don’t you think?”
Rhys was busy shoving food into his mouth using his whole hand. I took that to mean he wasn’t interested in discussing anything I had on my mind.
I unwrapped the box, pulled off the lid, and pushed the tissue paper aside. What I saw inside melted my heart. My free hand flew to the center of my chest, and my head tipped to the side as I struggled not to break down in tears.
Glancing across the table at Banks, it was clear he was proud of himself.
“This is… this is beautiful,” I told him.
“You like it?” he asked.
I looked back down at the contents of the box. Inside, was a keychain that held three round charms on it, all of varying sizes. The first and smallest was simply a picture of a tree. The second charm, which was the largest, said, “Thank you for helping me grow.” And the third charm said, “Love, Rhys.”
My heart.
My heart couldn’t handle how sweet this was.
If it hadn’t been for the table separating us, I was convinced I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from launching my body into Banks’s arms.
Returning my attention to Banks, I felt the tears well in my eyes. “I love it.”
“Rhys insisted you’d like it, and truthfully, we both believed you deserved more, but we didn’t want to overwhelm you, either.”
I set the box down on the table and reached out for Rhys’s arm. “I love this little guy so much, Banks. There’s no greater gift in the world than being able to spend every day with him.”
A comfortable silence fell over the room, the only sound being Rhys’s little fingers scraping against the tray to pick up another bite of food. It was at that point when Banks and I dove into our meals. He’d made steak, baked potatoes, and asparagus. Not only was it delicious, but it felt romantic, too.
After we’d both taken a few bites and I’d complimented Banks on how wonderful the food tasted, I asked, “So, how long do you think it’ll be before Rhys is able to defend himself?”
Banks laughed. “Defend himself from what?”
“You placing all the blame for something like this gift on him,” I replied.
Banks shook his head, his lips twitching and indicating he was amused by the conversation. “I don’t know, but I’m going to use it for as long as I can.”
I wanted to tell him he didn’t need to with me, but onceagain, I was too much of a chicken to put it out there. So, I noted, “He’s more than halfway through his first year of life. Do you have any plans for his first birthday party?”
“It’s like five months away,” Banks countered.
“And? Now’s the time to start thinking about it.”
A look of worry washed over him. “You really think so?”
I licked my lips, took a sip of my drink, and said, “Well, I mean, I don’t know. I’m guessing I’d start the planning this early, but it probably depends on what you’re looking to do for him.”
Banks was silent for a beat while he considered my words. “I honestly have no idea what to do. I really don’t know the first thing about planning it.”
Before I had the chance to stop myself, I offered, “I’m happy to help you, if you want. I don’t want to overstep, but if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by it, nothing would make me happier than to play a role in the planning.”
