“Relax, babe.” Dakota put his arm around me, kissing my temple. “I’m sure they’ll be here soon.”
“Will you go find them?” I pleaded.
“No. I’m not walking in on your sister and Landon going at it.” He glanced over his shoulder and chuckled. “Speaking of people going at it.”
Thea and Logan came walking down the back hallway of the bar. My brother had a huge smile on his face. Thea’s hair, which had been up when we’d gotten here, was now hanging down her back. Her cheeks were flushed a hot pink.
I rolled my eyes. “What is it with people tonight?”
“It’s New Year’s Eve. We’re all just celebrating. We celebrated earlier so you can’t hold it against them.”
“Yeah, but we did it before the naming ceremony. Can’t they do it on their own time? It’s my time now.”
Joseph opened his mouth and let out a squawk. He was a tiny clone of my husband, and his dark eyes were locked on mine. I hadn’t known babies could glare until I’d met my son. This boy wanted a snack and he wanted it now.
The naming ceremony had been scheduled to start at five o’clock. It was now six.
Thea and Jackson had closed down the bar for two hours so we could have this family function before opening back up for the annual New Year’s Eve party. If I left to nurse Joseph, we’d be gone for at least thirty minutes and the ceremony would be rushed.
“I should have fed him an hour ago.”
“It’ll be fine,” Dakota said. “He’s not starving.”
Joseph grunted again, calling his father a liar.
Dakota grinned and took our two-month-old son from my arms. The instant he settled the baby on his shoulder, Joseph’s fussiness stopped.
Dakota was the Joseph whisperer.
Our baby loved his father completely. He tolerated me, but that was mostly because I was necessary for food. The kid had become an eating machine these last few weeks. His fat rolls had fat rolls, and I’d turned into his personal milk machine.
Dakota and I had gotten pregnant a month after our wedding, on our extended honeymoon. We’d decided to marry on New Year’s Eve last year, just a month after Xavier had gotten released from the hospital after having his gallbladder removed.
My family teased me for once again sending my wedding planner into a frenzy on short notice. But this time, it was all in good humor. They were just as anxious for Dakota to officially join our family as I was.
The doctors had cleared Xavier for travel, but we hadn’t wanted him to fly across the country. So instead of a lavish wedding in the city like my previous charades, I opted for an elegant gathering of close family and friends here in Montana.
My dress was simple, with a third less material than either of its predecessors. It was the one I’d keep and pass down to a daughter if we had one. Made entirely of chiffon, its loose sleeves flowed to my elbows while the bodice gathered at the waist and the skirt billowed to my toes. Other than the deep V cut in the front and back, some would call it plain.
I called it perfect.
Dakota and I married in a small event hall on the lake. It wasn’t a country wedding—I’d told my wedding planner she’d be fired if there was a horseshoe or wagon wheel in sight. It was us, a mixture of Dakota’s simple roots and my touch of glamour.
I walked down the aisle on Dad’s arm for the last time, not noticing the greenery and white flowers adorning the hall. I didn’t notice the golden glow of the lights strung across the ceiling or the smiles on my friends’ faces. I missed the happy tears in my mother’s eyes.
All I saw was Dakota, standing at the altar.
Waiting for me.
The chase was over.
Now it was time to play for keeps.
We said our vows and timed the ceremony to kiss at midnight. And that kiss had started the best year of my life.
Dakota quit working at the bar a couple of weeks after the wedding, and we went on a long honeymoon. After a stop in the city to check in on the dance studio, plus approve the new site for the second location, we set off for three weeks in Europe.
Violent morning sickness cut our trip short, and we went back to the city to wait out those first few months of my pregnancy.
Then we came back to Montana to spend time with his family and start on Dakota’s passion project.
In the last year, he’d rehabilitated ten different homes on the reservation. He’d overseen the entire operation, coordinating construction companies and property management companies to help the right families get into new homes.
A week before Christmas, the tribal council had given him an award for Tribal Member of the Year. They were also going to honor him at their annual powwow and rodeo next summer. His mom was making me a beaded buckskin belt to wear for the occasion.
Lyndie had asked if she could keep the plaque next to the same award his dad had won years ago. They were side by side on her living room wall next to the family picture we’d all taken this summer.
It hadn’t been easy to work my way into their family. I wasn’t there yet. Koko still had the hardest time accepting I was a permanent fixture in Dakota’s life, but with every visit to Browning, things got easier.
They’d begun talking to me, asking questions about growing up in New York and how the dance studios were doing. And they both doted on Joseph, usually stealing him away the moment we stepped through Lyndie’s front door.
It would take time to get closer to Dakota’s sisters, something Logan had told me this past summer. He’d reminded me that Thea and I hadn’t gotten off to a great start either, and now she was one of my best friends, along with Piper and Willa.
They were all a close second place to my best friend.
My sister.
“Sorry!” Aubrey rushed through the front door of the bar, followed by Landon, who was wiping her lipstick off his mouth. “We, uh—we were just—”
“We know what you were just,” I snapped. “Can you please pull up your dress so your bra isn’t showing and we can get started?”
Her face flushed as Landon came up behind her, chuckling. Aubrey turned her back to the room, adjusting her red dress so the black lace underneath was hidden again.
“Anyone want another drink?” Jackson called from behind the bar.
Logan raised his hand, taking his empty tumbler and Thea’s glass over for a refill. With them full, Jackson joined Willa, who was talking to Kaine and Piper.
“Okay.” I clapped, getting the attention of the room. “I think we’re finally ready to start.” I sent a glare my sister’s way.
She just smiled back and settled into Landon’s side as everyone in the bar gathered in a circle.
“Okay, everyone know how this works?” Dakota asked the room, getting a hum of agreement. “Great. Xavier, do you want to start?”
“Please.” Xavier stood by Dakota’s side, smiling up at him as he handed over our son.
With Joseph transferred, Dakota put his arm around my waist, tugged me close and bent to give me a soft kiss. “Love you.”
“I love you too.”
We’d decided to carry on his family’s tradition with Joseph. Though it was a bit different, since he’d been born in New York.
We’d named Joseph and told everyone but had planned this event specifically around New Year’s Eve. We knew we’d be in Montana. It was where our hearts were.
Neither Dakota nor I wanted to spend New Year’s Eve anywhere other than the Lark Cove Bar.
But we were here now, ready to make it official. We’d already had one naming ceremony with Dakota’s family on the day we’d spent on the reservation earlier in the week. And now we were doing it here with our friends and family.
The only thing different this time around was that we’d asked that everyone say something either silently or aloud for Joseph.
“Joseph. My name is Xavier. I am your great uncle.” Xavier kissed Joseph’s forehead, his eyes wide as he took in the new face.
Xavier clo
sed his eyes after his introduction, touched his forehead to Joseph’s as he wished him something silently. Then he smiled and handed him over to Hazel, standing by her side.
“Joseph, I am Hazel. Your gran.” She smirked, bent and whispered something into the baby’s ear.
I scanned the room, seeing loving eyes all aimed at my son.
Two years ago, I wouldn’t have believed this was possible. My eyes landed on the spot by the front door. The same spot where I’d stood that first day, aghast that I’d been asked to sweep.
The same place where our dear life had started.
I looked up at Dakota, my eyes glistening with happy tears.
He just smiled down, hugging me closer to his side. “Good?”
“Magnificent.”
Dakota winked then watched as Hazel handed Joseph over to Willa and Jackson.
“Joseph,” Willa started. “I’m Willa. This is Jackson.” The pair shared a loving look, then looked down to him and said aloud, “Be bold.”
They were the first ones to say something aloud. And knowing Jackson and Willa’s love story, no words could have been more perfect.
Kaine and Piper took Joseph next. “Joseph,” Kaine said, “I’m Kaine. And this is Piper.” The couple shared a look and Piper stroked her pregnant belly. She was due with their daughter in a couple of months. Then, in unison, they smiled and said, “Find your magic.”
I smiled, thinking of the magic cake recipe Piper had given me months ago. Those two had a lot of magic, but she swore up and down that cake could cure all ailments.
Aubrey and Landon were next in line. Though my parents had stayed in the city for New Year’s, Aubrey had decided to bring Landon out for his first trip to Montana.
“Joseph, I’m your aunt Aubrey.” She smiled up at Landon. “And this is your soon-to-be uncle Landon.”
“Soon to be what?” Logan asked. “Uncle?”
As the room broke out into excited whispers, Dakota smiled wider at Landon. The pair of them had become friends over the last year, meeting occasionally for beers and to watch a game in the city.
I guess he knew about the engagement ring I was just now noticing on Aubrey’s finger.
It was a lot like the solitaire ring Dakota had given me, modest but striking, much like the men who’d given them to us.
“Congratulations,” I mouthed to her across from me in the circle.
“Thank you.” She dropped her head to Landon’s shoulder, still holding Joseph in her arms.
Before we could find out more about their engagement, Joseph reminded us all with a wail that we were stealing his thunder.
Aubrey handed him over to Logan and Thea, who were the last in the circle. Besides my parents, they’d spent the most time with our son, since we balanced our time between Montana and New York.
This trip was the beginning of a three-month stay in Lark Cove. We were back in Dakota’s house, settling in for some time to relax. We’d be working on some of his projects on the reservation and spending more time with Lyndie.
Joseph would be getting quality time with his cousins too. Once the ceremony was over, he’d be going with Hazel and Xavier to spend the night at their cottage and relieve the babysitter who was watching Logan and Thea’s kids.
“Joseph.” Logan smiled at his nephew. “I am your uncle Logan.”
“And I’m your aunt Thea.” She stood close to her husband, settling one of her hands over his. Then she bent close to his tiny ear, whispering loud enough that only Logan and I could hear her say, “Chase the impossible.”
Be bold.
Find your magic.
Chase the impossible.
I wasn’t sure what Xavier and Hazel had said to Joseph. Aubrey and Landon either. But those three sentiments were perfect.
They would complement what I knew was coming next. The same thing Dakota had told Joseph on the day he was born.
Thea handed me back my son, and I held him in my arms as Dakota bent over us both. Then he looked to me and I nodded, knowing he’d been waiting two months to say this again.
“Burn bright, little star.”
He said the same thing when our second son, Xavier, was born two years later.
And again for our daughter, Penelope, the year after that.
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Enjoy this preview from The Birthday List, the first book in Devney’s Maysen Jar series.
“Poppy!” Jamie came rushing out of the office and into the kitchen.
The grin on his face made my heart flutter, just like it always did, which meant I’d been a mess of flutters since the day I’d met him five years ago.
We’d run into each other on the first day of our sophomore year at Montana State. Literally. I’d been rushing out of an economics lecture, my arms overloaded with books, notepads and a syllabus. Jamie had been rushing in, too busy looking over his shoulder at a buxom blond to see me in the classroom’s doorway.
After the two of us had recovered from the crash, Jamie had helped me off the floor. The moment my hand had slipped into his, the buxom blond had been all but forgotten.
That was the day I’d met the man of my dreams.
My husband.
James Sawyer Maysen.
“Guess what?”
“What?” I giggled when he picked me up and set me on the counter, fitting himself between my open legs. Excitement radiated from his body and I couldn’t help but smile at the light shining in his eyes.
“I just added a couple things to my birthday list.” He pumped his fist. “Best ideas yet.”
“Oh.” My smile faltered. “Please tell me these ones aren’t illegal.”
“Nope. And I told you, the fire alarm one might not be illegal. I might legitimately need to pull a fire alarm before I turn forty-five.”
“You’d better hope so. I have no desire to bail you out of jail just because you’re determined to mark an item off your crazy list.”
Jamie’s “birthday list” had become his latest obsession. He’d started it a couple of weeks ago after he’d gotten the idea from a sitcom, and ever since, he’d been dreaming up these grand ideas—though some were more ridiculous than grand.
This list was Jamie’s version of a bucket list. Except, rather than one long list to work through in retirement, Jamie had been assigning himself things to do before each of his birthdays. He didn’t want to tackle some daunting list when he had all but lived his life. Instead, he wanted to tick things off the list every year before his birthday. So far, he’d filled in nearly every birthday until he turned fifty.
We had our own “couples” bucket list—places we wanted to travel and things we wanted to do together. This birthday list wasn’t for that. It was just for Jamie. It was filled with things he wanted to do, just for him.
And though I may have grumbled about some of the riskier and crazier items, I supported it wholeheartedly.
“So what did you add today?”
He grinned. “My best idea yet. Here goes.” He raised his arms, drawing them out wide and framing an invisible marquee. “Before I turn thirty-four, I want to swim in a pool of green Jell-O.”
“Okay.” I smiled, far from convinced it was his best idea yet, but it was Jamie. “But why Jell-O? And why green?”
“Don’t you think it would be cool?” He wiggled between my legs, smiling even wider as he dropped his arms. “It’s one of those things every kid wants to do but no parent will let them. Think of how fun it would be. I can squirm around in it. Squish it between my fingers and toes. And I picked green—”
“Because it’s your favorite color,” I finished, surprised I’d even asked the question in the first place.
“What do you think?”
“Honestly? It sounds like a mess. Besides that, Jell-O stains. You’ll be a walking alien for a week.”
He shrugged. “I’m cool with that. My students will think it’s awesome, and I have you to hel
p me clean it up.”
“Yes, you do.”
I’d help him scrub his skin back to its normal tan and dispose of a pool filled with green Jell-O because I loved him. Some items on Jamie’s list seemed strange to me, but if they made him happy, I’d do what I could to help. For the next twenty-five years—or for however long he wanted—I’d be by his side as he crossed things out.
“What else did you add today?”
He slipped his hands around my waist and moved in a little closer. “I actually added one and crossed it off at the same time. It was for my twenty-fifth birthday. I wrote a letter to myself in ten years.”
“That’s cute.” If I had a birthday list, I’d steal that idea for myself. “Can I read the letter?”
“Sure.” He grinned. “As soon as I turn thirty-five.”
I frowned but Jamie erased it with a soft kiss.
“I need to go run some errands. Do you need anything while I’m out?”
Errands. Riiight. Tomorrow was our one-year wedding anniversary and I’d bet good money his “errands” were to find me a last-minute gift. Unlike me, who had bought his present two months ago and stashed it in the laundry room, Jamie was always shopping on Christmas Eve or the day before my birthday.
But instead of teasing him about his tendency to procrastinate, I just nodded. “Yes, please. Would you mind going to the liquor store for me?” We were hosting a spring barbeque tomorrow to celebrate our anniversary and the only booze we had in the house was Jamie’s favorite tequila.
“Babe, I told you. We don’t need to have fancy cocktails. Just pick up some beer at the grocery store tomorrow and we’ll drink my stuff.”
“And, honey, I’ve told you. Not everyone likes to do tequila shots.”
“Sure they do. Tequila shots are a classic party drink.”
I rolled my eyes and laughed. “We’re not having a frat party tomorrow. We’re adults now and can afford some variety. At the very least, we could get some margarita mix.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “Do you have a list?”
I nodded, but when I tried to move off the counter, he kept me trapped.
Tinsel Page 29
