Chapter 5
Filling her lungs with fresh air, Eve tilted her head toward the sun and relished the warm rays on her face. This was exactly what she needed. Time in the great outdoors, enjoying the simple pleasures she’d loved since childhood.
And now she could share her favorite spot in Cloud Valley with her favorite girl.
“Ebe! Out!” Suzy wiggled against the straps holding her in her seat.
“Sorry, girlie,” she said with a small laugh. “I needed a moment.”
Ducking down, she struggled with the multitude of straps and buttons to release Suzy from her car seat. She swept the little girl into her arms then set her on her feet. She reached for Suzy’s hand and found something wedged in her tight little fist.
“What do you have?”
Suzy scrunched her nose and hid her arm behind her back.
Eve thought back to buckling Suzy into the car seat. The toddler hadn’t carried any toys with her, and Eve had placed the backpack filled with extra clothes, snacks and water bottles in the front seat. “Can I please see?”
Heaving a dramatic sigh, Suzy held out her hand with her palm facing the sky.
A small wooden flower stared back at Eve, and her heart rate shot through the roof. Delicate lines carved into the wood created the illusion of intricate petals. She snatched the figure from Suzy and studied the carving.
A small cry escaped Suzy’s pouty lips. “Mine.”
“Where did you find this?” Eve struggled to keep her voice calm, but she had no control over the trembling that took over her body.
Suzy’s cries morphed into loud wails. “I found it. It’s mine.” She curled her fingers in a give-me motion.
Eve stared at the piece of wood. It had to be the same one from her driveway—the same one from last night. She must have tossed it in the back seat and Suzy found it. Simple as that. A desperate need to search her car to confirm her theory made her skin itch, but a hard yank on her arm brought her back to the quickly spiraling situation in front of her.
“Please, Ebe. Please.” Tears filled Suzy’s blue eyes and her face crumpled as if having the flower taken away from her caused her heart to shatter.
Crouching low, she brought herself eye to eye with Suzy. “Honey, you can’t have this. Okay?”
“No. I want it.” The tears vanished. Suzy crossed her arms over her chest like a tiny dictator, refusing to accept anything other than exactly what she wanted.
“You can’t have it, but we can pick flowers. Doesn’t that sound fun? This is my favorite trail. We’ll probably see lots of birds and maybe even a bunny.”
The cries quieted a little but didn’t stop.
The sound of tires crunching on gravel shifted Suzy’s attention toward the entrance of the parking lot. She frowned, as if irritated by the interruption of her tantrum.
Relieved, Eve stood and shoved the wooden flower into her pocket before Suzy turned back her way. “Look. Lily’s here. She wanted to see us.”
Although Eve had insisted on spending the morning with Suzy, she wasn’t ready to be alone. Or at least alone with onlya toddler. She’d called her friend Lily Tremont and asked her to meet them at the state park.
An invitation Lily had quickly accepted.
Lily hopped down from her vehicle and waved an arm high over her head. Her long, blond hair was secured in a high ponytail. Black shorts showed off her lean legs, and her hiking boots were as dirty and worn as her old truck. “Morning!”
Suzy squealed and jumped up and down.
“Morning,” Eve said. “Great timing.”
Lily arched one perfectly sculpted brow and crossed the deserted lot. “Why’s that?”
“I’ll tell you later.” No need to redirect Suzy back to why she’d been so upset seconds before. “Thanks for coming.”
“Of course. I always love a chance to get outside and catch up with good friends. Besides, work’s been so busy lately I’ve hardly had a free second to myself. I still can’t believe how many people are interested in using my ranch as a wedding venue.” She held up her palms and winced. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy my business is growing, but it’s been a lot.”
