by Caroline Lee
Sadie’s smile grew. She propped her chin up on her hand and lowered her voice conspiratorially. “So we don’t do summer camps and coffee.” She glanced at Violet again, as if inviting the girl into their plans. “We do old west and ice cream.”
Shawn’s brows rose, intrigued despite his earlier resolve to do the honorable thing. “Which would work…how?”
“I told you that sometimes we get all decked out in our old west gear, right? For promo events for the ranch, or the Old West Town?”
Shawn nodded, remembering how she’d explained that.
“Well,” Sadie continued, “I say we do that again; we turn the shop into a saloon. Except this time we do it with a genuine old-westy saloon piano player on a genuine antique Estey piano.”
With a flourish, she sat back in the booth, smiling proudly. Shawn blinked, still not sure how him playing piano—dressed in costume, no less—was going to help them win the contest together.
Violet wasn’t sure either, apparently. “Um…what does that have to do with Daddy’s summer camps, though?”
“Well, we do a really awesome write-up about all the great opportunities the ranch offers, and we highlight the summer camps. We can highlight the shop too, but since the evaluation will take place there, I don’t think we need to add much to the write-up about it. But if we compose something special about how the camps are really great for the kids of Riston, and then we show the committee how great the shop can be for the kids of Riston…”
She trailed off, grinning expectantly, but Shawn still didn’t understand what she was trying to say.
When she just sat there, smiling, he finally had to admit he didn’t understand. Shrugging, he raised a brow. “What does a coffee shop and a piano player—no matter how great we all look in our old-westy gear” —and man, was she going to be gorgeous in one of those saloon girl get-ups— “have to do with the kids of Riston?”
Sadie swung her arm around Violet’s shoulders, forcing the little girl to lean in too. His daughter was totally caught up in her idol’s excitement though, and just sort of bounced happily.
“Well,” Sadie whispered, “I just happen to know someone who knows a bunch of Riston kids, and who is having a birthday soon.”
Violet’s eyes grew wide, and she stifled her gasp with a hand over her mouth. After a few moments of blinking up at Sadie, she removed the hand long enough to whisper incredulously, “Me?”
Sadie nodded and squeezed his daughter’s shoulder, rubbing one hand along her upper arm as if offering comfort unthinkingly, unreservedly. The way Shawn had always wished Tammi could. The way Violet had always dreamed a mother could.
“So my idea is that we have a birthday party for Violet.” Her gaze swung back to Shawn, her eyes pleading with him to agree. “We invite her class—or the whole school, it doesn’t matter, Riston Elementary isn’t that big—to my shop Saturday morning at the same time as my scheduled meeting with the committee.”
“I could invite Vivian! She’s really nice, and she knows everyone in school!”
“Sure!” Sadie nodded. “We host a big, old-west-themed party, for all the kids and any guests who happen to wander in, filled with ice cream and soda, and we make it really over-the-top and cheesy. Violet gets an epic birthday party, and we get to show off how great we—as a team, I mean—can be for the kids of Riston.”
While he’d listened to her, Shawn had felt something in his chest. Something…hopeful. He wanted this to work. Looking at the two faces across from him—one of whom he’d loved for seven years, one of whom he’d just fallen in love with—he knew it could work.
Slowly, he exhaled. It would work.
“We’d have to work fast to put out invitations to get enough kids. Maybe we could tell them it’s cowboy-themed.”
“Yes!” Sadie’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “That way they could come in their own old-westy gear.”
“Do you have extras?” Violet was just as caught up in the planning as the two adults.
“I can ask Wade,” Sadie answered. “We could have hats and bandanas or something on hand for guests and patrons—”
Shawn interrupted “And the committee. To make them feel involved.”
Sadie’s eyes went wide, and her tongue flicked out across her lips in a way that almost made him groan.
“We can do this, Shawn,” she whispered intently. Reverently, almost. “We can win this thing. Together, I mean.”
Nodding, he put his hand over hers where it lay on the table. “Apart, our programs are pretty good. Good enough to have a shot, I mean. But I have to admit that this idea…”
“We have a really good chance, Shawn.”
And then Violet’s small hand joined theirs, covering both hands. The adults turned to see her perfect gap-toothed grin. “We’re going to win, Miss Sadie. With Daddy playing music, and the kids from my class there to get your yummy ice cream, we’ll win for sure.”
Sadie nodded encouragingly. “That’s the real Spirit of Riston, right there.”
“And I’ll…” Violet looked down at their joined hands. “Maybe the other kids will see me. And I can finally fit in, maybe.”
Shawn’s chest tightened the same time his jaw did. He knew his daughter had been lonely since beginning school. She might have friends there, but she couldn’t invite them to come over to play. And she had just as many kids who were mean to her as not. When had she ever had the chance to invite them to an actual birthday party? Never, as far as he knew. Tammi hadn’t been big into spending money on Violet while he’d been deployed, and he hadn’t had the money or opportunity to do it since he’d been back.
His baby girl was going to get a birthday party, and from the look in her eyes when she gazed adoringly up at Sadie, he knew it would be worth it. Sadie had made it worth it.
Shawn covered their hands with his other one. He could feel the warmth, the electricity of Sadie’s touch, as well as his daughter’s small fingers. Joined together like this, they felt like a team.
Like a family.
A family built on friendship and trust, and maybe a little kissing, but really, wasn’t that how it should be?
He squeezed, then nodded encouragingly when they both switched their gaze to his.
“We’re going to do it, ladies. We’re going to win.”
CHAPTER NINE
Saturday morning dawned clear and cold, the way only an Idaho November morning can. Sadie was at her shop bright and early—to Julia’s surprise—readying the place for the big party. Julia and Dottie worked hard, cleaning and arranging the tables and the “bar” just so, while Sadie worked in the back room, prepping the ice cream bowls and soda glasses.
They’d decided to focus on the stuff the kids would like, while Dottie handled any coffee orders that came in. Service might be a little slow for the two hours the party was going on, but hopefully the guests would understand… Maybe they’d even get into the spirit of things, with the cowboy hats and bandanas Wade had provided.
There was a steady stream of customers all morning—it was a Saturday morning, and she did sell coffee, after all—and Julia did a great job of talking up the big party and inviting them all back at ten. Quite a few of them were interested enough—at least in the prospect of free ice cream!—that they promised to return. Even if the committee wasn’t wowed by Sadie’s efforts on behalf of her shop and the camps, hopefully the place would at least get some great publicity.
A little after nine the door swung open yet again, but this time it was Shawn who backed through. Sadie looked up from where she was manhandling a tub of her special Peanut Butter Dream into the frozen array behind the bar, and found herself smiling at his rear end.
Of course, it certainly was stare-at-able, but then she blinked and wondered why he was backing into her shop.
It became clear a moment later, when Violet followed her father. They were holding something large and rectangular between the two of them, and Sadie rushed to help them.
“Wh
at’s this?” She asked as she helped them lever it into a corner.
“This,” Shawn began, his breathing a bit labored as he flashed that wonderful crooked-teeth smile of his, “is your new sign.”
With a flourish, he pulled the piece of material off, and Sadie gasped.
It was in fact a new sign for her shop. The old one had been broken for so long that she’d forgotten all about having it fixed before the committee arrived. But Shawn had remembered.
This sign was smaller than the old one, but made of metal and wood. The words “Sadie’s Sarsaparilla Saloon” were picked out in wrought iron with “Ice Cream and Coffee” branded into the wood underneath.
Hesitantly, her fingers reached out to caress the words. “It’s perfect,” she breathed. “How did you…?”
Her words trailed off when she looked up and met his eyes. The little crinkles around them told her he was moments away from smiling, and her heart melted.
“I made a deal with Elf Redfern at the blacksmithy. He’s been working on it for the last few days, and I think it turned out pretty perfect.”
Violet chimed in with, “Daddy told me that Sarsaparilla is an old-timey name for soda, so I think it’s perfect too.”
Sadie’s smile couldn’t get any bigger. “It is. It is perfect, absolutely perfect, for this place. Thank you.”
When she threw her arms around Shawn, he hesitated only a moment before hugging her back. It felt so good to have him cradle her against his chest. In the last few days, during their planning process, he’d kissed her a few more times, and she had to admit being in his arms felt more comfortable—more right—than she’d ever felt anywhere else. Reaching out, she grabbed Violet and pulled the little girl into their embrace too.
“Thank you,” Sadie whispered against Shawn’s chest, and felt his chuckle rumble through her.
“You might not thank me when you see how much free ice cream he’s planning on eating today. That was part of the deal.”
Violet looked up at both of them. “Mr. Blacksmith is coming to my birthday party?”
“The more the merrier!” Sadie assured her. “I’ve got the strawberry you asked for, although I had to make it with frozen fruit instead of fresh, and a full tub of my Peanut Butter dream—a tried and true favorite—and then the usual chocolate and vanilla.”
Sadie had to loosen her hold on the little girl, who was practically vibrating in excitement when she asked, “And all the toppings, right? All the toppings we talked about, like chocolate and sprinkles and whipped cream—”
“And an unopened jar of cherries, just for you.” Sadie peeled one of her arms away from Shawn to tap the girl’s upturned nose. “This is going to be an epic party, Sprout.”
Violet grinned when Sadie used her father’s nickname for her. “I can’t believe so many kids said they could come.”
Close to thirty of Violet’s classmates and bus-mates had RSVP’d yes to the party, and most were bringing parents who would hang around for free ice cream too. All were aware of the cowboy theme, and Sadie couldn’t wait to see all the kids in their costumes. Speaking of which…
“You must be a popular girl, Violet.” The little girl’s full smile revealed her missing teeth. “But do you have your cowgirl costume ready to go?”
Shawn’s daughter stepped back to show off her lavender jeans and button-up blue shirt. “Daddy said I should add a bandana too, maybe?”
Sadie untangled herself from Shawn, but loved the way he kept one hand on the small of her back when she put her hands on her hips. She tilted her head to one side and pretended to study the girl. “Hmmmm… I guess so. But what’s a cowgirl without boots?”
Violet looked down at her sneakers, and back up at Sadie, a worried look in her eyes.
Smiling, Sadie held out one hand. “I think you’d better come in the back room with me, and open up your birthday present early.”
Violet gasped. “Is it boots? You got me boots?”
She bounced in place, and Sadie felt the hairs on the back of her head ruffle as Shawn sighed heavily.
“Books and boots, Sadie? You’re going to spoil her.”
But Sadie ignored the worry in Shawn’s voice and smiled at the man—the friend—she was in love with. “It’s her birthday. She deserves a fuss.”
“Cowboy boots, Daddy!” Violet squealed.
“Blue ones,” Sadie interjected.
“Blue cowboy boots, Daddy!” The little girl screamed, jumping up and down and clapping by now.
Sighing again, Shawn waved his hand towards the back room. “Fine. You ladies go get changed.” He was trying to look gruff, but Sadie could see the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Elf is going to bring his ladder and help me hang this sign before the party.”
Sadie twined her fingers through Violet’s. “Just be done by quarter ‘til. I’ve got your vest and hat already on the piano” —she gestured towards the articles folded on the Estey’s bench— “but you’ll need to change into your own trousers and shirt. You brought the white button-up we talked about, didn’t you?”
Shawn gave a little bow, and Sadie giggled when she remembered that he used to be an actor. “Yes’m,” he drawled in a credible cowboy impression. “An’ I’ll even dig out my big belt buckle, just fer you.”
Violet was giggling along with Sadie now. “I can’t wait to see your costume, Miss Sadie.”
“Yeah, me too,” Shawn murmured, and Sadie’s cheeks grew warm when she saw the hungry look in his eyes.
There were times that she thought he wanted to just be friends still, and then there were times when he looked at her like that…
Well, suffice it to say Sadie was looking forward to parading around in her bright purple saloon-girl costume later that day.
She cleared her throat. “Leave Violet here so she can help us set up and greet any newcomers. I’ll see you at ten.”
The way his tongue flicked out over his lower lip as his eyes raked her apron made her smile through her blush, and then sigh. He really was something else, wasn’t he?
As she watched him bend over to hoist the sign up and out the door once more, Sadie couldn’t help but wonder at her current predicament. For the first time in her life, she was totally in love with a man who seemed to like her back. He teased her, he cared for her, and he looked at her like she was really worthwhile. He even kissed her, and man were those kisses hot! Everything she’d dreamed they’d be.
So why did it feel like he was holding something back? Why did it feel like this whole thing was going to turn out to be a high-school crush again, where he was just playing with her?
What wasn’t he telling her?
The party was a huge success.
Shawn and Elf got the sign hung in plenty of time for both men to change into their “old-west” costumes, and then Elf wandered off to flirt with Julia and Dottie, while Shawn settled himself in front of the piano.
The kids and their families—and all of the ranch guests who weren’t already sipping coffee around the shop—started arriving at ten, and Violet was beside herself with excitement as she greeted each potential new friend. The stacks of presents—many of them suspiciously book-shaped—grew in proportion with her enthusiasm, and Shawn loved seeing the joy in her expression. She seemed more thrilled by her classmates’ presence than their presents, and he gave himself a little mental pat on the back for somehow managing to raise such a sweet kid.
Maybe he’d done something right, after all.
At ten-thirty the committee from the Chamber of Commerce entered the shop, and seemed surprised by all the hustle and bustle. He stopped playing long enough to greet and welcome them, and make sure they received the folder with the information on the ranch, the summer camps, and Sadie’s Sarsaparilla Saloon.
One of the members mentioned that this was the most excitement they’d seen at any of the businesses that had entered the contest, and Shawn took that as a good sign as he turned them over to Sadie for the tour and went back to his pi
ano.
He didn’t stop watching her though. When she’d said that she had a “saloon-girl” outfit, she wasn’t kidding. Despite the chill outside, she was wearing a skirt that stopped mid-thigh, poofed out with the crinolines he remembered dancers wearing from his acting days. There was a purple-and-black corset, which did all sorts of delicious-looking things to her chest, and her hair was done up with purple ribbons and feathers. But it was her legs—encased in stockings held up by purple-lace garters—that kept distracting him. He was pretty sure he hit more than a few bad notes whenever she sauntered by, carrying bowls of ice cream to lucky kids.
Or maybe it was the saucy little grin she sent his way.
How’d he get so lucky? Here was a gorgeous woman who’d gone out of her way to befriend him, and to treat his daughter as the precious jewel she was. Sadie was completely drama-free, selfless, caring, and loving. She might love ice cream and stickers and unicorns and scented glitter markers, but she was stable and mature and capable. And he was incredibly attracted to her.
Staring at the way she smiled at everyone as she handed out hats and bandanas to the enthusiastic committee, trusting his hands to find the right notes on the familiar keys, Shawn came to a realization.
He needed her in his life.
He’d been holding her at arms-length for too long. He loved her, and he adored the way she cared for Violet. For so long, he and his daughter had been without anyone else—hadn’t been able to let anyone else into their lives. But Sadie was a part of their lives now, and he needed her in their future.
Even if that meant telling her the truth.
