SILAS
I’d never been more excited about a gift in my entire life. But I waited patiently through the cake and ice cream, and the birthday spankings. Dad wouldn’t stop grinning, looking at me every couple of minutes. My palms started sweating, worrying he would let it slip. But he didn’t.
Clem didn’t know about the extra gift I’d gotten Anna. But I couldn’t help myself. I’d seen it online and knew it had to be hers. So Dad and I made up a story about going to pick up a new bull. Really, we’d driven to Nashville to get Anna’s present.
Clem walked over to Anna, barefoot, her sundress showing off her perfectly toned shoulders. Her eyes had been flicking over to me all night, and I loved how excited she was to celebrate Anna. She handed Anna a small package wrapped in pink and green birthday paper.
“Oh my gosh, I love this paper. Thank you, Aunt Lemon. I’m going to save it.” She took her time peeling the tape off carefully so as not to rip it. Inside was a bright blue jewelry box. I knew what this was. Had paid for half of it. Anna slowly snapped the lid back and choked on a squeal.
Brooklyn shrieked with excitement, “Pop off, Sis. It’s gorgeous.”
Anna carefully lifted the gold locket out of the box.
“There’s a picture inside. It’s tiny, but…you’ll see,” Clem said, her knuckles against her mouth.
Anna slid her fingernail between the front and back and pried it open.
“Oh.” She covered her mouth and then squeezed her eyes shut. I couldn’t see, but it was a picture of Sophie. Clem and I had picked it out together. It was a snapshot from two years ago, at beach week. Ashton had just dumped our cooler full of ice water down the back of her shirt. Sophie was laughing, face up toward the sky, so happy.
Anna pressed her hands over her eyes, sobbing. Clem glanced at me, sick. That wasn’t the reaction we’d hoped for.
“Hey.” I knelt next to my niece. “It’s okay.”
“It’s my first birthday without her.” She hiccuped. “I miss her so much.”
Mom knelt on her other side and pulled her into her arms. “Oh, baby, we all do.”
Clem squatted down in front and lifted Anna’s chin. “Your momma might not be here, but we are.” She glanced around at each person in the room and Anna followed her eyes. “And we always will be.”
Anna nodded and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “You’re right. I have the best family.” She smiled at Brooklyn. “And friends.” She fanned her face for a second, then studied the picture of her mom in the locket. “It’s the best gift you could’ve given me.” She hugged Clem. “I love it so much. Thank you.”
“It’s from Uncle Silas too.”
Anna threw her arms around me.
I squeezed her tight. “Love you, sweet girl.”
Once the gifts were opened, Anna sat on the couch,looking overwhelmed in a good way. “Thanks, guys. I love them all. Like really.”
Brooklyn nodded, straight faced and emotionless. “Highkey the best presents ever.”
Mom rolled her eyes and pursed her lips.
I held up a finger. “Hold on. There’s one more. I’ll be right back.”
Clem’s forehead furrowed, and she tilted her head at me, puzzled. I went out the front door and jogged across the lawn to the bed of the truck. Then I flipped the tailgate down and pulled a cardboard box toward me. Hefted it in my arms, and strode back across the lawn.
Anna was sitting on the couch still, looking perplexed. I put the ordinary brown box on the ground in front of her.
Anna peered down. “What is it?”
I bit my lips to keep from grinning while I untucked the corners where Dad and I had folded them so they wouldn’t come open. “I thought Miss Lisa might like Buford back.”
“Oh, no, I don’t mind at—” Miss Lisa protested.
But before she could finish, I had the box open. Anna peered inside and then up at me, not believing her eyes. She dropped to her knees and reached inside, pulling the tiny basset hound puppy out of the box.
“Are you kidding me?” The pup had slept most of the way home. He was still a tiny thing—barely weaned from his mom. We’d fed him right before we got here. Apparently, with a full belly, he didn’t want to wake up and play.
