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I could practically see my mother’s pout as she said, “I just love that little girl so much.”
I sighed, softening. “I know you do, and she loves her Gigi. We’ll be up there at eleven and not a minute sooner.”
“Fine,” Mom said, then hung up.
“Told you,” I said to Cal, who only nodded then turned his attention to our daughter.
“What do you say, peaches?” he asked her. “Want breakfast?”
“Pacakes!” she shouted, clapping excitedly.
“Yes, pancakes!”
With that, Cal rose and took her from the room. I could hear them chattering as they moved down the hall toward the kitchen.
Once Cal was safely out of earshot, I made a phone call.
“Is it ready?” I said when Delia answered.
“They finished late last night,” she said excitedly. “He’s going to lose his mind.”
“He better,” I said. “It cost me a fortune and was headache after headache to complete on time, especially given its winter.”
“He’ll love it, Mar,” my sister reminded me.
“I hope so.”
Keeping this secret from him for the past six months had been the most difficult thing I’d ever done. I just hoped he appreciated it for what it was—a gift. Not just for him, but for our little family.
Delia rambled on about the absolute shit show last night had been, working overtime to finish everything up, but I barely heard her. I was caught up picturing Cal’s face when I showed him tonight.
“Is everything set for tonight too?” I asked.
“Yep,” she said. “The guys are coming over as soon as you leave for the Villa.”
“Okay, great. Thank you so much for running point on this when I couldn’t be there. I appreciate you more than you know.” From down the hall, Cal yelled something to me, and to my sister I said, “Shit, gotta go. I’ll see you later.”
“Love you!” she yelled as I hung up.
Finally, I dragged my ass out of bed and went to have breakfast with my family.
Cora’s first birthday party had been a hit. My entire family, all of my mom friends, and all of their kids had gathered at the Villa to celebrate my baby turning one. We laughed and played, gorged ourselves on good food, and showered Cora with endless gifts and love.
It was nearing five p.m., and Cora, who hadn’t napped today, was nearly passed out in Cal’s arms as my family and I loaded all of her gifts into Cal’s truck. When we were done, we bid our farewells to my parents and sisters, then strapped Cora into her car seat and set off for home.
“There’s a stop we need to make first,” I said to Cal. “Take a left up here.”
Cal raised a brow and shot me a sidelong glance, but did as I asked.
The sun was approaching golden hour, limning the sky and trees and everything else in our path. There were days like today when everything was so perfect I was simply thankful to be alive. Grateful that I was put on this earth to experience these moments. To watch my younger sister shove my daughter’s cake in her face, Cora’s squeals of laughter making everyone else in the room chuckle along with her. To see my parents dote on her. To see how easily my family welcomed Cal into the fold despite our rocky beginning.
To see the sun sink toward the horizon with the love of my life next to me and our baby in the backseat.
Once Cal made the left turn, I directed him to drive down the poorly-paved two lane road for a few miles until an unmarked dirt path branched off to the right, in the direction of the water.
“Turn here!” I shouted, always forgetting how quickly the drive came up.
“Are you sure?” Cal asked skeptically.
