Emma clapped her hands. “I did. She’s amazing. Can I go again? Right now?”
I swam in her infectious energy. “Not tonight. Tomorrow. We’ll all go for a ride over the chase.”
“Can we bring the birds? And the hounds? And Nemo?”
“Nemo?”
Emma looked at Nila. “You said you’d ask, Mummy.”
Nila rolled her eyes affectionately. “Nemo is Emma’s name for a kitten we saw advertised in the village. I told her we had more than enough pets.” Ruffling her hair, she smiled. “You just got a pony. That’s enough animal presents.”
Emma pouted. I tensed against childish demands, but she balanced her emotions with such maturity, that pride washed through me.
“I know. Hocus is amazing.” Leaning in, she pecked my cheek. “Thank you, Daddy.”
My heart shattered with love.
It’d taken almost a year to source the perfect foal for Emma. I’d ordered a filly from the breeder who’d given me the colt for Kes.
At almost eight years old, Kes had become a proficient rider and rode with me daily, trotting beside me, cantering with courage, exploring the borders of Hawksridge as I taught him the value of land and heritage. Now, Emma could join us on her midnight filly called Hocus Pocus.
Letting Emma’s sticky hands go, I reached into my back pocket for the box. Passing it to her, the room quieted as I kissed her soft cheek. “This will mean more to you when you’re older, but I wanted you to have it now. Promise me you’ll take great care of it and never lose it.”
Her black hair bobbed as she nodded furiously. “I promise.”
I laughed softly as she grabbed the red box and cracked it open. She had enough experience opening jewellery boxes. One of her favourite places was Diamond Alley and raiding Nila’s precious collection. She said she wanted her mother’s collar—even tried to pry it off one day with a nail file. Little did she know that it would’ve been on her little neck if she’d been born to another man in another time with the Debt Inheritance still in affect.
She was a Weaver girl. But now that name didn’t come with such a curse.
Her little mouth parted as she took in the black diamond necklace I’d shown Nila the day I officially asked her to marry me.
Nila caught my gaze, twirling her engagement ring, letting me know her thoughts were with mine. She didn’t need my condition to understand me—that came from unconditional love and a lifetime of listening to each other.
Helping Emma remove the chain from inside the box, I dangled the teardrop in front of her. “This is very special. Do you recognise the stone?”
“Yes.” Her black hair bounced.
I’d never met a brighter child. She could memorize and recite diamond cuts and their flaws and attributes. She’d learned a few words in Swahili last time we were in Africa and even given the kids at kindergarten clothing advice from watching Nila effortlessly pin and style simple calico into a glorious gown.
She was a perfect blend of both of us. A magical piece of Nila and me.
“Where did you see the stone?”
She pointed at Nila’s left hand. “Mummy’s ring and bracelet.”
“That’s right. And now you have one, too.”
“Because you love me as much as her?”
I laughed, gathering her in a hug. Kestrel moved in grabbing distance and I squeezed him in a group hug. “Because I love both of you as much as her. I love you all.”
Nila subtly wiped sudden dampness from her cheeks, busying herself with cutting the cake. Jaz rolled closer, helping stack paper plates and take those full with pink frosting to a few of the Black Diamond brothers and family.
Once the room had received their piece of confectionary, Jaz wheeled toward me and handed out the plates of cake on her lap to my children.
Pinching Emma’s nose, she said, “Now the present giving has ended, how about some cake? I want to eat your wish, little Velcro, so I can make sure it comes true.”
Kes slung his arm over his sister. With boyish fingers, he grabbed the icing and smeared a huge handful into his mouth. “About time.”
