“I’ll call my friends and tell them what you did.” Her full smile returned, and she looked around again at all the birthday decorations.
“Help yourself to anything and make yourself comfortable. Damien’s a battle brother and his home is your home.” He waved briefly and left.
Serena walked to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water for herself and tossed one to Cecily. “Where do you think he’s going?”
“No idea, but isn’t this cool?” Cecily waved her arm in a circle. “I get to celebrate my birthday twice.”
“Don’t expect more presents. The ones he gave you were more than generous.”
“I know, and I don’t. Can you believe he paid my way for the weather camp?” Cecily stuck out her bottom lip. “I was so sure I’d win that scholarship. When it didn’t happen, I thought for sure I wouldn’t be able to go.”
“I would have found a way. Business is picking up.” She hated that there’d even been a doubt in her daughter’s mind, though to be fair, until the last few weeks it would have been a real concern.
A frown flittered over Cecily’s mouth and she laid a hand on her mom’s. “You’ve always done everything for me, more than your fair share. If I wouldn’t have been able to go, I would have been okay. Really.”
“Parents want to give their children every possible opportunity. One day you’ll understand.”
“I know.” Staring at her cake again, Cecily’s frown turned around. “No negative thoughts allowed this weekend. We’re here to spend time with Dad and enjoy ourselves.”
“Which we will do.” An impish thought took over. “Think he’d noticed if we swiped a bite of icing?”
“I won’t tell if you don’t.”
They laughed and laughed as they plotted which area would be best to sneak away a sample of icing. Serena pointed to the back wall of the cake. “I dare you.”
“On the count of three.”
“One, two-” She didn’t get to three before Cecily swiped a finger along the bottom rim. “That was sneaky.”
Cecily’s eyes twinkled. “You’re just jealous you didn’t get your taste.”
“Oh yeah?” She ran the tip of her index finger along the spot by where Cecily took hers and licked the icing. “This is delicious.”
“Ahem.”
They spun around to see Lucas holding several bags and wearing a wide smirk. “If we’re going to cheat and have cake first, you could have at least included me.”
Unable to maintain her straight face, Serena erupted into a fit of giggles. “It couldn’t be helped.”
“That’s your story, huh?” Laughter reached his eyes and he strolled to the counter, set down the bags. He peered at the cake, stood dangerously still for a second, then swiped icing with both hands.
Before Serena processed what was happening, Lucas had smeared a streak of icing on her face and Cecily’s. She reached down to retaliate, but Cecily stopped her, struggling to speak through her laughter. “Don’t you dare waste any of my cake.”
“Then let’s eat.” Lucas held up the bags. “Remember when you bemoaned the lack of food trucks once you moved to Louisiana?”
“Houston had the best ones ever.” A dreamy expression took over. “I’d do anything for one of Rico’s street tacos.
He unloaded one bag. “They aren’t Rico’s, but I guarantee you they’re even better. I got Baja shrimp, asada, and carnitas.”
Cecily rubbed her stomach. “I’ve died and gone to food heaven.”
“There’s more.” He revealed the contents of the second bag. “Pork sliders, coleslaw, and cornbread.”
“You found my favorites.”
His pleased smile said everything. “Nothing but the best for my girls.”
Chapter Fifteen
