“Thanks for coming,” Dahlia says.
He nods. “Where’s the birthday girl?”
Dahlia points to Chloe, who’s standing next to Grayson in the middle of all the animals. Her head falls back in laughter when a goat licks her cheek.
“She looks happy,” he says.
We watch as he walks over to Chloe and bends down to hug her. She grins at him, but she’s so enamored with the animals, it’s clear that she’s distracted. Christian takes her gift and puts it on the table with the rest.
Guests continue to arrive. I think everyone in Windy Harbor has come out for the celebration. A few resort guests have even found their way to the party. Dahlia stays close to Chloe. She’s admitted that she’s not used to the small-town vibe yet and will never not lock the doors. I think what’s happened with her dad has made her even more reticent with her trust, and I don’t blame her. I’m staying watchful for him at all times as well.
I hear a commotion next to me, and I have to laugh when I see that it’s Juju’s Uncle Hal arriving. Every time he sees Grandma Nancy, he turns into an old peacock. Grandma Nancy is wearing a sundress with huge roses on it and sunglasses that almost cover her entire face. Uncle Hal leans in, tugs his beard, and wiggles his eyebrows at the same time.
“Nancy, Nancy, Nancy,” he says dramatically, “your legs go clear to Pittsburgh.”
She fans herself with a paper plate, looking at him nonchalantly. “They still look good, but they’re moving a lot slower these days.”
“Perfect. Means you can’t run away when I sweep you off your bunions,” he says, winking at her.
I choke on my handful of Goldfish. The man has got game. Doesn’t miss a damn beat.
Later, he tries to help her sit on a hay bale and tells herhe’d rather they were on a beach in the Bahamas, where he could be oiling her up.
She tells him, “Come at me with any more oil talk, and I’ll deep-fry your driver’s license and serve it with a side of guac,” but she uses his hand for help anyway.
I’m laughing too hard to keep it together and have to walk away.
But then I run into Grandma Donna. She’s wearing a pink sweater that keeps slipping off one shoulder, and Hector stares at her without blinking. Her hair is extra fluffy like cotton candy, and I kiss her cheek.
“Looks like you’ve caught someone’s eye,” I say.
“What?” she says, staring up at me. “What do you mean?”
Hector walks over with a bunny in his hands. “Look at this sweet little guy,” he says, softly. “Thought you might like him. His name’s Waffle Cone. The owner says he’s lost his vision in one eye and loves to be held.”
Grandma Donna flushes. “Oh…well, he’s just precious, isn’t he.” Her voice goes all fluttery. She sets the bunny against her chest, and the thing curls up like it’s found its home.
Hector beams.
I feel like I’ve fallen into a soap opera. Love is alive and well in Windy Harbor.
Chloe, meanwhile, is living her best life.
She tries to hug a pony’s face. She feeds a goat a carrot, then decides she wants a bite too and takes one from the other end before I can stop her. Dahlia and I die laughing.
She attempts to carry a sheep by putting her arms around its belly and grunting, “It heavy.” The sheep just stands there, confused by the tiny human trying to deadlift it.
At one point she sits in the grass with four bunnies in herlap, pretending she’s their mama. Bill, wearing his crooked birthday hat, trots over and licks one of the bunnies. Chloe is delighted.
“He loves them too!” she says, looking up at us with her huge smile.
Dahlia and I snap a ton of pictures.
Eventually I end up sitting down with Dad, Tully, and Noah by the bonfire.
“Great party, son,” Dad says.
“Thanks. She looks happy, doesn’t she?” I nod toward Chloe.
