“She’s right,” agreed Kelly, “we try to make it exciting. Like for Steve’s birthday, we got each boy a bug-hunting kit to keep them occupied and for something a bit different and then for Lacey we got a face-painting kit and my husband, Zach, dressed up as a clown.” She broke into giggles, “That was hilarious, although the parents were more entertained by it than the kids.”
After hearing more stories from the others on what was available in Devil’s Peak and what they did, Bree felt that she had a better understanding of the gaps in the market. “You have no idea how much you’ve helped,” Bree said thankfully, “I really appreciate it. So, now I have to figure out what to do for the proposal and demonstration. And, I have some ideas so I want to hit the shops before they close.”
“Before you go,” Alice stopped Bree, “Janet’s birthday is next month, and like Kristine, I’m getting sick of throwing a summer barbeque every year. So, while you’re thinking of ideas for the demonstration, you can think of Janet’s party, too. That way, you can use the same décor and maybe even a similar theme.”
“Thanks Alice,” Bree leaned over and squeezed her friends’ hand, no longer thinking of them as old high school friends, their bond had been reestablished. “I’d love to do Janet’s party, but I’ll let her choose her own theme – within your budget range of course. I’ll call you after I finish the proposal and arrange to come over and chat with you.”
“Sure,” Alice nodded, “and bring Amber along. Janet’s a bit younger, but she doesn’t seem to think so, so I’m sure they’ll be able to entertain each other.”
Chapter 17
After breakfast and helping her gran clean the house the next morning, Bree sat down at the dining room table with a heap of material and all manner of crafty items – from fabric glue to glitter and beads, and a feather. She’d gone to the local craft and fabric store and had dipped into her savings, the previous afternoon to purchase it all. She’d worked on instinct, pulling from her dreams and her past experience and trusting that it would work out. The only guidelines she’d followed had been to ensure that she had enough pastel colors for girls, and bold colors for boys.
She’d also raided the attic and pulled out the décor items she’d used for the parties she’d organized before for the Devil’s Peak Cares Association. As her gran was chairperson and said that none of it had been used since Bree last arranged a party for them, she didn’t see any reason why Bree couldn’t take it. Bree had felt obligated to the DPC nonetheless and had agreed to organize two parties a year for the DPC in lieu of payment.
Amber had slept over at Todd’s the night before, so Bree used the quiet time to work. Cutting out material to the patterns, her mind buzzed with the possibilities each piece of fabric, and each tube of beads held.
“You look busy,” Todd interrupted her, startling her.
“Hi,” Bree looked up at him then got up and held her arms out to hug Amber.
“Good morning, honey,” she kissed the top of Amber’s head. “Did you have a good time?”
“Uh-huh,” Amber replied. “We watched movies and dad taught me how to play cards so I can beat you on game night.”
“I don’t know about that,” Bree said seriously, “I’m a mean hand at cards.”
“Me too,” Amber said, challengingly.
“I’m sure you are, honey,” Bree laughed and pinched Amber’s cheek. “Now go greet Grandpa and Grandma.”
“Okay, I’m going to tell them that I’m going to beat them at cards,” Amber replied, running off in excitement.
“What’s all this?” asked Todd. “Are you redecorating?”
“Actually, I’m thinking of moving out of the farmhouse,” Bree said deadpan, “and moving in with you.”
“Huh?” Todd asked, doing a double-take. He cleared his throat and responded, “You caught me off guard – sorry. You’re welcome to move in with me. I have three bedrooms and have been thinking of taking Amber to Fairbanks – with you of course,” he quickly added,” to get stuff to do up her room. Looks like you’ve got the girly stuff covered.”
“I’m joking, Todd,” Bree burst into laughter.
“What?” asked Todd, puzzled.
“I’m pulling your leg,” Bree stated while thinking that she’d love to pull all his legs. “But, your response was sweet, thank you. And, I’d be happy to go with you and Amber to Fairbanks to find ‘girly stuff’ to decorate her room with.”
“Jeesh, Bree,” Todd swallowed, “since, you got your hair done, you’ve become feisty.”
“I know,” Bree’s lips curved wickedly, slanting her blue ones up at him coyly. “Do you like it?”
Todd stared at the siren before him and recognized that the lust that shot straight through him did so a lot faster than usual. Fumbling around mentally for the right response, he forced a smile back at her, then thought stuff it. He took a risk and startled her in turn by planting a hot, fast kiss on her cherry reds. “Sure I like it,” he grinned at her. “Confidence is a huge turn on.”
He made a hasty retreat. Thinking that the quicker he got out of there, the less tempted he’d be to throw her amongst the glitter and feathers on the table and show her how much he liked it., “I’ve got to head back into town. I’ll go say bye to Amber. See you tomorrow night at gym?”
“Sure,” Bree croaked back, her hands flapping as she wove to his back. What was that?!
xxx
“We’ve brought dessert, kids, and extra hands,” Shelly announced as she entered the dining room followed by Kristine, Alice, Megan, and Kelly and a brood of children.
Delighted by the company, Bree hugged each of them and made a point of kneeling down to hug and welcome each child. “Let me get Amber and my grandparents. They’ll be thrilled to see you.” Bree looked at the mess on the dining room table. “I was going to ask you to have a seat, but it’s a bit of a mess.”
“Don’t you worry about that,” Kristine waved Bree’s sheepishly delivered apology away. “We didn’t come to only socialize. We came to work.”
“And who might this be?” Daniel’s voice boomed with pleasure as he entered the room, Amber shyly walking behind him. “I see we have some helpers, Amber. I think that the garden fairy heard us and sent them. What do you think?”
Amber just stared wide-eyed, more at home with unfamiliar adults than children. “What’s the garden fairy?” one of the little girls asked.
“Why, you don’t know what a garden fairy is?” Daniel smiled down at the girl.
The children stared in fascination at the jovial, larger than life man and slowly shook their heads. Bree smiled broadly, she remembered that feeling when she was a child – her granddad had the ability to hook any child and fill their imaginations with tales from his Irish homeland. “Well, we better acquaint you then. Now, if you come with me, I’ll show you the plants and vegetables that the garden fairy helps me grow. When Amber’s grandma brings us cookies and juice, we can put little bits of it in the fairy garden Amber and I made for her. Then, if she feels like it – because the little people can be fickle – she might just show herself.”
“What are little people,” one of the boys asked as they tagged behind like children of the Pied Piper.
“I swear,” Kristine declared, “if I could find what it is that your granddad has, Bree, and bottle it up, I could make billions!”
Bree laughed and looked around at her friends; ready to socialize and help her. An enormous feeling of belonging filled the part of her heart that could neither be filled by a man or by family and only by loving friends. And so, the loneliness, she realized, was on its way out the door. Instinctively reaching for her lips, she earnestly wished that the last part of her heart, the part that ached during intimate moments such as when she went to bed, woke up in the morning, or just wanted to cuddle, would be filled too.
xxx
A month later, Bree felt like her life was starting to get back on track. She’d seen Doctor Roz a few times and found that the therapy
sessions were emotionally exhausting. But a few days after each session, when she’d had time to process what had been discussed, she felt better, as though she was making progress in healing. She had also been on the medication long enough that it had begun to take effect. At first she’d felt like she was cheating on her vow to get herself out of it, but chatting with Doctor Roz had helped her see that as a normal reaction and to see that the act of taking the medication was still her choice and by doing so, she was still in control of her journey.
All the positive steps she’d taken to improve her overall well-being were paying off too – in more ways than one. Improving her eating habits and the regular exercise with Shelly and Todd improved her energy levels and made her feel good about her body. It was still hard not to feel like she wanted to jump Todd’s bones, but the more time she spent with him, without a variety of issues hanging over their heads, the more she felt as though she was getting to know him all over again. It was fascinating to observe how much both of them remained the same and how the seven years that they’d been apart had also changed them.
Not only was she happier, but the other occupants of the Ramsay household were too. Her grandparents no longer slid worried looks her way. Amber was no longer concerned about her mother’s health – something that Bree had confirmed after a long, honest chat with her daughter. The overall mood at the farmhouse had improved so much that it was a jovial place that called to you. Her friends and their kids had also been around again, having been more fascinated than expected, by Daniel’s tales of fancy and skills with little ones and all things green.
All of this ran through Bree’s mind as she sat on The Lodge’s verandah sipping tea and enjoying the sight of her efforts. The gigantic plastic jungle gym was completely installed and next to it, under an especially erected marquis, were rows of charmingly bedecked children-sized tables and chairs, ready for the birthday princess.
Bree’s proposal and demonstration to Jack had gone well. Though, Bree smiled to herself, she wasn’t sure if Jack had listened to her very much, as he’d been fixated on the lovely Shelly. Shelly, being used to the appraisal that men gave her, had ruthlessly ignored the come-ons and puppy dog eyes that Jack had thrown her way. Either way, Bree had come out of the meeting with Jack agreeing to The Lodge providing Bree with exclusive rights to plan children’s parties that were held there. It was a win-win situation really, regardless of whether or not Shelly’s presence had clinched the deal. Jack could see the potential of offering a party service to longer staying guests or the odd families who brought their children on vacation for their birthday. More importantly, it would draw the local crowd to The Lodge during low tourism periods.
Thanks to Bree’s impromptu inspection of the conference and wedding hall, there was also ample space to host adults and children for indoor parties during winter. The kids might not have access to the jungle gym outside then, but Bree had a couple of ideas up her sleeve.
Bree grinned as she continued to slowly savor her tea, recollecting the various experiments she was subjecting the Ramsay household and all its guests to. Oh, there’d been the expected cake-testing and requests for honest opinions of certain décor items, and with the boys and men at her disposal, they had proven invaluable in providing her with insight into what little boys would like for their birthday parties.
But, the most fun was had when, with the help of Amber’s enthusiastic manipulations, she’d gotten Todd and her grandfather dressed up in a variety of home-sewn costumes. Not only were the men’s personalities a poor fit for the costumes, but the costumes themselves were poorly constructed. But, Bree had persisted in her endeavors until Todd, the dear man, had walked into the farmhouse one day and unceremoniously dumped a couple of bags full of costumes, which he had rescued from a second-hand store in Fairbanks. The costumes were not in the best shape, but with the help of her gran, the DPC (on the promise of loaning it to them when they needed it and she wasn’t using it) and her friends, they’d managed to get them into use-worthy shape.
For this party, Bree’s second coordinated event, the theme was fairy princesses and the décor glittered and sparkled accordingly in various shades of pink and lavender. Heading towards her was the oldest fairy that would attend the party.
“Are you all set?” Bree asked Samantha, the high school student with a love for children and a bigger love for saving money for the prom. Samantha had stood out when Bree cast her eyes around for a child-minder amongst the teenagers in the DPC’s youth programs. She was Bree’s all-round helper and during the parties, the entertainer in whatever forms the theme required. For the first party, Samantha had donned a pirate costume without batting an eyelid and today, she looked splendid in a flowing fairy-costume with jewelry, make-up, and wings to match.
“Yes,” replied Samantha. “I’ve got the list of games we agreed on and have practiced them all. Now, I’m just waiting for the guests. I’m ready.”
“You’ll be great and fun will be had by all,” Bree encouraged.
“They’re so adorable, that I’ll definitely have fun,” Samantha gushed.
“I’ll be in tomorrow to pick up the tables and décor,” Bree reminded her. “I’ve already checked with the kitchen and they’re good to go. Jack’s dedicated two waiters to serving drinks to the adults and laying out the food. Housekeeping will also pack up the party stuff and will store it until I come and pick it up. So, all you’ll have to do is keep the kids busy.”
“Should I help you with the cakes, quickly?” Samantha asked.
“Already sorted,” replied Bree. “You can’t see them because they’re covered with a net. When the waiters bring the food out, they’ll remove that too.”
With everything in hand, Bree left The Lodge to pick Amber up from Todd’s. The best thing about her new venture was that she got to do the planning and didn’t have to stay for the hours it took to have a child’s party. The fun had always been in the planning and preparation for her and with the set up that Jack had, she fortunately didn’t need to see the execution to the end. That’s why she’d been more than happy to agree to a forty - sixty split with him; it was a forty percent that she didn’t have and she earned it doing something she enjoyed. What’s more, involving Amber in the preparations had also given them hours of fun together.
Bree arrived at Todd’s house, ready to pick up Amber and head on home to put her feet up while having a long, hot soak in the bath. She rapped on the door and got no reply. Leaning her ear against the door, she noted the silence, which was unusual for any environment that was occupied when Amber was awake. She looked at the driveway again and noted that Todd’s truck was parked there. Going around the back, she was met with no sight or sound of life.
Starting to panic, Bree rapped on the back door and when no one answered her call, tried the handle. Finding it unlocked, she pushed it open. Again, the house was quiet - too quiet. “Hello,” she called out, her voice echoing in the empty house. They’d definitely been here; Amber’s toys were strewn around the living room. Picking them up as she went around, she fumbled for her cell phone with a free hand and dialed Todd’s mobile. And, the darned thing rang in the kitchen.
“Bree, hi,” Todd said, entering through the back door.
Bree yelped in surprise, having been completely engrossed in the ghastly scenarios a concerned mother’s mind conjured up. “Todd! You scared the life out of me!”
“Sorry,” Todd replied, chuckling and not sounding apologetic at all. “That’s what you get for skulking around instead of sitting down and making yourself at home.”
“I was not skulking around,” Bree defended. “I came to pick up Amber.”
“Oh, crap,” Todd smacked his forehead. “I completely forgot.”
“Where is Amber?” Bree narrowed her eyes at him.
“Relax,” Todd warded her off, “she’s just down the road with her friend from school. You remember Britney - Amber’s height, brown hair, in the same class as her?”
�
��Oh,” Bree said, and sank down into one of the kitchen chairs. “Thank goodness and yes, I know who Britney is.”
“Oh, honey,” Todd grinned, “you were worried." She was being an over-protective mother and it was adorable, if nonsensical.
“A bit,” Bree lied, smiling sheepishly at him.
Todd let the obvious fib go. “So, Amber’s not going to be ready for a while.”
“Why not?” Bree asked then narrowed her eyes at him. “She got to you didn’t she?”
“I have no idea what you mean,” Todd replied, deadpan. “Amber gets a bit lonely with us adults and wanted to stay and watch movies with her friend. Then they were going to do girly things like play dolls or something. Britney’s mom asked if it was okay and I said yes. It’s good for her to play with her friends.”
“Of course it is,” Bree agreed, “and I’m glad you allowed her to play for a while. But, I don’t for one minute believe that it was Britney’s mom’s idea.”
When Todd opened his mouth to deny her accusation, Bree held up her hand and shook her head, “No, don’t go there. You’ll just dig yourself in deeper.”
Todd’s mouth flapped open a few times and then he shut it and shrugged. “So, Amber will be a few hours.” At Bree’s lifted brow, he specified, “Four hours because there’s a full movie, cupcake baking, and tea-time with their dolls.”
“Oh well,” shrugged Bree, “like you said - it’s good for her to play with her friends. As you pointed out, there aren’t any nearby friends at the farm.”
“If it’s any consolation,” Todd stated, “Amber promised to return the favor, so Britney’s coming over here next Saturday afternoon to do the same - and I’ll be getting the cupcakes ready-made. There’s a big difference between a guy cooking and a guy baking cake.”
Bree giggled at the image of Todd being thoroughly managed by two little girls, “Good luck with the store-bought cake idea. My suggestion - buy the cake mix in a box and ready-made frosting - easier than homemade but just as fun for the girls to make. And yes, that does help.” Getting up from the chair, Bree hunted in her handbag for her phone again, “I’ll call Shelly or one of the girls and see if I can pop around.”
Home for Love (An Adult Contemporary Romance) Page 15
