“I try,” she teases nonchalantly while shrugging her shoulders.
“When are you going back home?”
“Trying to get rid of me already?” She chuckles.
“Eh…” I shrug. “I think I’ll keep you around. You know, you being my aunt and all. And I love you. And you’re good for my ego.” With that last word, we both erupt into a fit of laughter. The nail salon echoes throughout with our cackles.
“Well, that’s good to know.”
We spend another hour in the nail salon before leaving. My aunt and I joke with the each other and the nail technicians. I love that she is here. Except for with Wes, I don’t think I have laughed this much in a long time. I’m still shocked that Wes would call my aunt and ask her to come down to spend my birthday with me. How he found out today was my birthday, I’m still not sure, but Mrs. Sandy is my number one suspect.
I pull out my debit card to pay, but my aunt slaps my arm. “You better put that away. It’s your birthday and I’m paying.” Her tone is scolding, and I know she’s serious. I want to argue that she’s come all this way, but I don’t. Instead, I slip the card back in my wallet and keep my mouth shut. “Ready?” she asks after paying.
I nod. The bells above us chime as we exit the salon and make our way to the truck. I smile at the fact that Wes actually let me use his truck. A small chuckle escapes me when I consider telling him that I’ve hit every pothole, large and small, known to mankind. I won’t do it, but it would be hilarious to see his reaction.
“What’s so funny?” my aunt asks as I start up the truck.
“Wes. I still can’t believe he offered to let me use his truck.”
“Why wouldn’t he let you use his truck?”
“Let’s just say, I’m pretty sure this truck means just as much to him as I do, maybe even a tad bit more.”
“It’s just a truck,” she replies.
“Don’t let him hear you say that.” I chuckle. “He might come and console the damn thing for you having hurt its feelings.”
My aunt laughs with me as I pull out of the parking lot. It’s about a twenty-minute drive back to the ranch, but it feels longer with every country mile I put behind us. “You seem happy here,” she says, just before we pull onto the ranch.
“I am. I don’t know how to explain it. I’m not even sure I could if I wanted to, but there is something about this place that makes me feel like I can breathe again. The dull ache of missing my parents is no longer there when I’m here.” I turn to look at her before I look back at the road.
“From what I can tell, by the two people I’ve met so far, they love you.”
With my interest piqued, I ask, “Who all have you met so far?”
“Sandy and Wes.”
“Well, wait until you meet Mr. Will and Brantley and all the other volunteers. They’re great, all of them.” I pull up to the house, turn into the driveway, and park the truck in front of the barn. That’s odd. Nobody’s out here. No kids. No volunteers. No horses. I knew something was up. I knew there was a reason Mrs. Sandy and Wes all but shoved me out of the house this morning. I turn my attention to my aunt. She’s in on this, too. In on what exactly, I’m not sure. With my eyebrows arched, I ask, “Okay? What’s goin’ on? And please, do not tell me nothing because I can tell something is up.”
Aunt Brenda waves her hand in the air as she pulls on the lever, opening the door. As she starts to climb out, she says, “Nothing.”
I groan in frustration as I climb out of the truck. Slipping Wes’ keys in my pocket, I meet my aunt in front of the truck. “So earlier, before you woke up, Sandy told me about this filly one of her horses had.”
“June?”
“Yeah, that one. Let’s go see her. Sandy said she was a beauty, and you know how I am about babies.” She links her arm with mine.
“Okay.” We walk to the barn doors that are closed. Odd. Then it hits me. There is something behind these doors, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a party. I release my aunt’s arm to slide one of the doors back.
“SURPRISE!” People shout at me from all different angles of the barn. I gasp, and my eyes go wide with shock. A beautiful, three-tier cake with chocolate frosting decorated with fresh flowers sits on top of a table in the middle of the breezeway. To the left of the table is Bailey who sits on a bale of hay next to John in his wheelchair. On the right side of the table stand Brantley, Jackie, Liam, and Sarah. But dead center behind the cake are three of the most important people in my life besides my aunt who is now gripping my hand. Mrs. Sandy, Mr. Will, and Wes. Warm tears well up in my eyes and gently spill over, slowly gliding down my face. These are not tears of sadness. No. These are tears of joy.
“Happy Birthday, Sweetheart,” my aunt whispers in my ear.
A soft chuckle escapes me as I continue to look around. The rest of the kids and the other volunteers are scattered throughout the breezeway. Some sit while others stand, patiently waiting for me to cross over the threshold and make my way into the barn. “I can’t believe you all did this.” I laugh and sniff back my tears as I walk into the barn.
Bailey stands and makes her way to me. Her small arms wrap around my middle as she hugs me. “Why didn’t you tell me your birthday was coming up?”
“It’s not a day I really like to celebrate,” I answer honestly, as I hug her back.
Slowly, she pulls away from me, and her big blue eyes hold mine. “Remember when you said that I needed to find something to bring me back to life?” I nod as I remember that conversation I had with her not long ago. “Maybe you should do the same,” she says as her arms drop back down to her sides.
Holy crap! This kid is too smart for her own good. I nod before I look around the breezeway as people begin to shuffle about, laughing and talking. They did all of this for me, because they all love me. On occasion, I might have recognized it, but now? Now, I realize it. I turn back to look at Bailey. “I think have,” I say softly. Those words hold as much conviction for me as the words ‘I love you’.
“Happy Birthday,” Liam says, wrapping his arms around me.
“Thanks.” I smile up at him.
Sarah hugs me next, as she wishes me the same.
“Happy Birthday, Kenleigh,” Jackie says, embracing me, as well. We haven’t spoken to each other since the day we had our fallout. So her heartfelt words have me feeling a little awkward. I tell her thanks as I pat her back. “I’m sorry for everything.” She sheepishly looks away from me. By her tone, I know it’s a sincere apology, but it’s still something we need to hash out and leave in the past.
I nod while smiling at her. “We’ll talk later, okay?”
“All right,” Jackie replies, turning away from me as she walks back over to where Sarah and Liam stand talking.
“Hey, Kenleigh,” John says, wheeling himself over in my direction.
“Hey, John—” I don’t even get to finish my greeting when I’m flipped over a shoulder.
“Who wants to give birthday spankings to the birthday girl?” Brantley!
“Put me down,” I half laugh, half stammer from the bouncing motion as Brantley jogs around with me on his shoulder.
His loud chuckle rings through the laughter of everyone around me. “Not gonna happen.” His hand comes down a little harder than necessary, especially for a birthday spanking, as he slaps my ass. “How old are you now? Twenty-five?” he asks jokingly.
“Twenty-five my a—butt!” I holler. My arms wrap around his middle as I search for the one person I know will save me, or for that matter, my ass. But when I find him in the midst of everyone, he’s laughing too. “Wes! Help me please!” I beg. But he doesn’t move. Instead, he shakes his head and laughs harder.
“Okay! Okay! I’ll put you down. No need to call in the bull rider. I don’t feel like having my ass kicked today.” Brantley laughs as he sets me back on my feet. I have to grip onto his shoulder to steady myself as the blood rushes from my head back to my lower extremities.
�
��Don’t talk like that with the kids around,” I scold, slapping his shoulder playfully.
“Yeah, yeah. Seriously though, Happy Birthday.” Brantley pulls me into a bear hug, squeezing me tight. “Wait until tomorrow night. No kids will be here, and then we’ll really have a party for you,” he whispers before he kisses my cheek and releases me.
Just as he walks away, strong arms wrap around my waist from behind. “I saw that, you know.” The warmth of Wes’ breath fans out in a whisper against the shell of my ear as he kisses it. Is that a hint of jealousy in his tone?
“Yeah? Well, it’s a good thing for you that it’s your lips that I love and not Brantley’s,” I tease, leaning into his warm embrace.
His arms tighten around me. “That’s a very good thing.”
I angle my head to look up at him. “Thank you for making this the best birthday I’ve had in years.”
“Why didn’t you tell me your birthday was coming up?”
I shrug before answering. “It’s just another day to me. And we haven’t really known each other all that long.”
“Okay. I can understand the second part of your answer, I guess. But we’ve known each other long enough.”
“Well, then, when’s your birthday? It’s not like you’ve divulged that information to me.” My words are curt even though I don’t mean for them to be.
“August fifteenth. I’ll be twenty-six. But that’s neither here nor there. I wanna know why you don’t like to celebrate your birthday?”
I turn my gaze away from him to look at everyone who’s here to celebrate my birthday. He waits patiently for my answer. “It’s a day that reminds me of my parents.”
I feel him nod against the side of my head. “Look at me, please.” Wes hooks a finger under my chin and forces me to look at him. Slowly, my eyes open, and I look up from beneath my lashes. I can see my pain reflecting back at me as I stare into his eyes. “You lived. I’m sorry for what you’ve had to go through. I can’t ever imagine losing my parents, but you lived, Kenleigh. And I believe God saved you for me. So live. Live for me. Live. For. You.”
I’m on the brink of breaking down as newfound tears threaten to fall. I’m not sure what I have done in this life to deserve such a wonderful man, but I feel so blessed. Vigorously, I nod as I attempt to swallow my emotions. How many times in one day can a person cry? “You’re right. Today marks a new day. A new me. So, with that said, I want to enjoy today and every day from now on.” I turn in his arms and bind mine around his neck. “Now, I’d like to eat some of that awesome cake that keeps staring at me,” I say, gazing between him and my cake.
Wes throws his head back in laughter and lifts me off the ground, which brings a smile to my face. This is what I want to see. I want his face lit up with laughter, not creased with lines of worry for me. “Anything for my birthday girl.” He lifts his head, leans down, and pecks my lips. Gently, he puts me back on my feet. Taking my hand in his, we walk over towards the table, only stopping a couple of times for people to wish me happy birthday.
“Happy Birthday,” Mr. Will says as we step up behind the cake. “I would have told you earlier this mornin’, but I had to get in here and get the horses out to the pasture so that we could clean out all the stalls.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I shake off his explanation with a smile. “And thank you. All of you… for this.”
Wes cups his hands around his mouth and shouts that it’s time for cake.
As everyone gathers around the table, I clear my throat, gaining their attention. “I just wanted to say thank y’all for wanting to celebrate my birthday with me. I haven’t celebrated this day in quite some time. And I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather start celebrating this day with again than all of you.” I pick the knife up off the table and begin to cut into the cake before finishing my speech. “I am starting new today. I was given this day to celebrate my life, and I will, every year, from here on out.” I place the freshly cut piece of cake on a plate, then lift the plate in the air. “Let’s eat some cake!” I shout, before shoving the piece in Wes’ face. The plate falls to the floor as pieces of cake tumble to the ground below with it. An uproar of laughter resonates throughout the barn. His entire face is smeared with chocolate icing and white cake. A few flower petals stick out of the icing. Wes brings his hands up to his face, wiping cake and icing from his eyes. Slowly, they open and stare back at me.
“Babe, I think you have some cake on your face.” I point to the corner my lip as if I have frosting on my own face. I try to hold back from laughing, but it’s no use.
“I do, huh?” he asks, lunging for me. Quickly, I dart behind Mrs. Sandy. “Mom? Could you please move?” Wes asks. A mischievous smile mars his cake-covered face.
She crosses her arms over her chest and juts out her hip. “See, I’d love to, Son, but I need to at least give Kenleigh here a chance to make a run for it.” Those words spur me into action. As I sprint out the back of the barn and into the field, I hear Wes’ feet pound against the ground below.
“You might as well give up!” he shouts, gaining on me inch by inch.
I look back over my shoulder and yell, “Never! You’ll have to catch me first!”
“Oh, Baby, I will always catch you.” I’m pulled back against his hard chest as an arm wraps around my waist.
We tumble to the ground, breathing heavily and laughing at the same time. When we finally come to a stop, Wes rests above with his large arms and sexy body caging me in. Before I realize it’s happening, Wes’ face rolls over mine, covering me in cake, too. I squeal in surprise before my squeal turns into bellyaching laughter. “I told you I’d catch you, Baby,” he mumbles out in that husky voice that gets me every time, as he leans in, sealing his lips over mine.
Feverishly, I return his kiss. My arms snake around his neck and pull him all the way down on top of me. The taste of chocolate and vanilla and everything Wes has me wanting to rip his clothes off him right here, right now. But I don’t. My subconscious breaks through, and unfortunately, reminds me that there is a birthday party to get back to. “I knew you would. You always do,” I reply against his mouth before breaking the kiss.
My hands smooth out the blue, black, and grey plaid shirt that hangs above my cut off jean shorts. A loose braid wraps around the side of my neck and rests over my right shoulder, while the black, slouched, cowboy boots complete the look. I lean in close to the mirror once more as I check what little makeup I have on.
Yesterday was one of the best days of my life thus far. The funny thing is, I finally feel like there will be many more to come. I was sad to watch my aunt leave, but it was great to spend some time with her. After a long hug, and me promising that I would come home to visit more often, she left. I didn’t cry. Instead, I waved her off with a smile.
My heart felt lighter when Bailey hugged me goodbye. We exchanged phone numbers, and I told her that she could call me anytime, for anything. An easy smile found its way onto my face as I watched her climb into the passenger seat of her mom’s car. I sat there, prepared to watch them drive off, as well, but instead, her mother got out of the car and met me in front of it. “I don’t know if I can ever thank you enough,” she said as she yanked me forward into a hug. I almost broke down when I felt her mother trembling beneath my hands as she quietly cried. “I already lost my son. I can’t bear to lose my daughter, too. You’ve helped her so much, and I don’t even think you realize it.” She cried brokenly on my shoulder.
“You didn’t lose her. She just went down a different path for a while, but now, she’s making her way back to you.”
“How do you know?” she asked, her voice overcome with emotion.
“Because I’ve been where she is. She may never heal completely, but she’s learning to cope, and that’s all anyone can ask for.”
She pulled back from our embrace and wiped away her running mascara. “You’ve helped her more than anyone else could. And for that, you will always be a part of our family. You
call if you need anything,” she said, her voice stern and serious.
The corners of my lips lifted in a smile. “Yes, ma’am.” With that, she gave me one last hug before she turned back to her car and left.
A knock on the bathroom door pulls me back to the present. “Yeah?”
“Babe, you ready?” Wes asks when I open the door. I don’t think I will ever get tired of watching his eyes pop out of his head when he looks at me. I lean my shoulder against the doorframe while his gaze peruses my body. I’ve left the first three buttons of my shirt undone because I know he likes to see a little cleavage. My sleeves are rolled just below my elbows and the hem of my shorts fit snug right below the curves of my ass.
“You’re staring?”
“Fuck me,” Wes groans. His hands grip onto my hips as he pulls me into him. Without warning, his lips crash down on mine. His tongue sweeps across my upper lip demanding entrance, entrance that I have no problem allowing. A deep, husky growl rumbles from deep within him as his hold on my hips tightens. Lust shoots through my veins, resonating in that one spot where I need him the most. My hands grasp his shirt, fisting it as I try to get as close to him as possible. “Let’s not go to the party,” he mumbles against my lips.
“We have to.” I chuckle breathlessly.
Wes leans his forehead against mine. “No, we don’t. We can go somewhere, just us,” he says, taking deep breaths.
“It’s the end of camp bonfire and my party. Of course, we have to go.” I smooth out the wrinkles my fists made in his black, button-up shirt. The dark, boot cut jeans he’s in fit nicely as they cling to his massive thighs just the way I like. I look up at him beneath my eyelashes. “You look so damn sexy.”
He arches an eyebrow. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think that you don’t really wanna go to this party after all.”
I shove him back, laughing. “Whatever. Come on, let’s go,” I say, stepping past him.
“Baby, you have to change those shorts.” Wes groans from behind me. I look back at him over my shoulder to ask why. “Because your ass looks too good, and I really don’t feel like getting in a fight tonight.”
Serenity Falls Page 24
