It’s been a week since the CPS interview and things are finally settling down. I’m hefting up the door to the shop bay when a big, brand-new-looking black SUV that I don’t recognize pulls up like it owns the street right in front of my garage bay.
The windows all roll down, and Violet’s smiling face leans out the tinted window. Maggie’s in the passenger seat, waving excitedly, Mack’s wedged behind her, peeking out, and Cami’s grinning, leaning over like she knows something I don’t.
“Hey,” Violet calls excitedly with a big smile. “Get in, we’re going shopping.”
I blink. “What?”
Ollie steps up beside me and gives a casual nod, as if this is all completely normal, and calls out, “Hey.”
“Hey,” Mack and Maggie say in unison, waving.
“Hey, little bro. I’m taking my future sister-in-law wedding shopping,” Cami announces. “It’s time to pamper Poppy.”
My brain short circuits. Pamper me? I don’t even know what that really entails, and my first instinct isn’t excitement. It’s math. Numbers lining up automatically in my head. What it costs. What that money could cover instead. Groceries. Gas. Owen’s shoes when he outgrows the ones he has, which will be any minute now.
Old habits die hard.
For so long, I’ve been the one who goes without. Skipping meals without thinking. Puts everything extra toward making sure Owen has what he needs. Comfort always felt optional. Indulgence felt irresponsible.
I hesitate, the wordpamperhovering in the air like it belongs to someone else’s life, not mine.
“I don’t know,” I start, already pulling back. “That sounds… expensive.”
Maggie gives me a look. Not sharp. Just knowing. “Poppy.”
Cami leans in, softer. “You just worked your first week at a new job. You’re exhausted. You’ve earned this.”
“And,” Maggie adds, tapping the planner, “this is our treat, so sit back and enjoy it.”
I swallow, the resistance still there, but weaker. Because the truth is, it does sound divine. After the week I’ve had. After the years I’ve had. My body aches in that deep, bone-tired way, and the idea of someone else taking care of me for once makes my chest feel tight.
Wanting things still feels dangerous. But maybe it doesn’t have to be.
I let out a slow breath and nod, tentative but real. “Okay,” I say quietly. “Maybe just this once.”
And even as I say it, I can feel how badly I need it.
“No idea what that means, but I’m in.” I grin. “Thank you so much.”
Owen walks out and looks from the SUV to Ollie, eyes wide. “That sounds terrible.”
“Yes, it does,” Ollie says, smiling way too big as he agrees. “That’s why your sister’s going, and you and I are gonna go do guy stuff.”
“Yes!” Owen says, pumping his fist in the air, looking relieved. Then he pauses and looks at me. “Oh. Have fun, Poppy.”
I laugh as Violet hops out, wraps me in a hug, and pulls me toward the SUV. “Come on. Trust us. We’re going to have a blast.”
I glance at Ollie. He squeezes my shoulder once, soft and grounding. “We’ll see you later. Have fun.”
I grab my purse and coat from the office and climb in, and the door shuts behind me with a finalthunkthat feels like crossing into another world.
The SUV smells like coffee, Maggie’s perfume, and excitement. Music’s already playing, something upbeat and loud, and by the time we’re out of town, everyone’s talking at once, singing along to the music, and passing around road trip snacks that they packed in a big cooler. It’s a long drive to the big town where we’re going shopping, and they seem to have a great plan.
An hour later, I’m laughing so hard my cheeks hurt.
We talk about the reception they’re all planning, which is in two weeks, on a Saturday. Walker and Violet have heated tents coming in. A real catering company from Jackson. Cami’s making the cake because, of course, she is. I wouldn’t want to have any other cake. Maggie’s already planning flowers like she’s running a military operation.I can’t believe they’re doing this for us.
“Oh,” Violet says casually, like she’s not dropping a bomb. “And Riley Blue and Mandy Moran are coming to play.”
