“I noticed,” I say softly.
“Eli said sorry,” she adds, proud. “His mom made him. And he brought me a bracelet.”
She holds up her wrist, showing off a lopsided beaded thing in clashing colors like it’s made of gold.
“It’s beautiful,” I tell her, and I mean it.
Carol Spence is standing nearby with Ivy and Olivia, laughing at something Jesse says while holding a lemonade she probably didn’t approve of until five minutes ago. Carol catches my eye, hesitates, then gives me a small, sincere smile.
I smile back.
That still feels new.
Sadie bolts off again before I can say anything else, dragging Micah and Eli back into the games, and I straighten slowly, heart full to the point of ache.
This is my life.
Right here. Frosting on my hands. Music in the air. Kids who feel safe enough to be loud again.
Boone appears at my side. Gravity pulled him there. “She hasn’t stopped smiling all day.”
“She doesn’t need to,” I say. “She earned it.”
He watches Sadie for a long moment. Then he looks at me.
“So did you.”
Caleb takes the cupcake tray from my hands before I can argue. “You’re hovering.”
“I am not hovering.”
“You absolutely are,” Silas says, materializing out of nowhere with three party hats stacked on his head. “But it’s an endearing hover. Very ‘domestic goddess.’”
I swat at him. “Go supervise the bounce house before Boone shuts it down.”
Boone grunts. “I’m considering it.”
Silas salutes and jogs off, immediately getting tackled by a child half his size.
I laugh, the sound easy and real, and let myself look around again.
The whole town is here.
Neighbors. Ranch hands. Parents from school. Ivy and her men. Olivia and hers. Sloane crying openly because she cries at everything at the moment. Wild Reverie playing as if this is a gig, not a child’s birthday party.
Sadie darts past again, laughter ringing out.
And then, gradually, the music tapers off. The kids get corralled toward the fire pit for marshmallows. Conversations soften. Someone dims the string lights.
I’m mid-bite of a cupcake when Silas clears his throat.
Loudly.
Suspiciously.
“Okay,” he says. “Before anyone leaves, and before Boone pretends this wasn’t planned, can I have everyone’s attention?”
Boone shoots him a look. “Silas.”
