Chapter Sixteen
Kenzi soaked in the happiness that floated through her niece’s birthday party as lightly as the bubbles coming from five different bubble machines strategically placed throughout the garden. Children, ages two to five, ran over the stone pathways, trailing balloons and streamers behind them. Adults gathered in small groups, and nannies hung around the perimeter, ready to jump in if a child fell or needed to use the restroom.
Hattie sat in an alcove all alone, her blonde hair barely showing over the top of a bush. Kenzi slowly approached, noting the child’s solemnity was a deep contrast to the guests’ laughter and smiles.
As she approached, Hattie lifted a wand and blew slowly, sending dozens of tiny bubbles water falling over her designer shoes. “Hey.” Kenzi took the seat next to her, sitting hip to hip. “Happy birthday, pumpkin.”
“Tanks.”
“Turning three is a big deal.” Kenzi made a show of looking at the decorations and the large table with a cake in the middle. “This is quite the party.”
“Mama’s sick.” The bubble waterfall stopped, Hattie’s motor having run out.
Kenzi’s heart ached for her niece. Dealing with an alcoholic parent was hard enough as an adult who understood the addiction—not excused it, but understood the devil for what it was. She couldn’t imagine what it was like for a child.
She gathered Hattie onto her lap and held her close. “Mama’s going to be okay.” Even as she said the words, she wondered if she was lying. If Lunette didn’t get control of her drinking, she would end up right next to Dad in the family plot well before Hattie graduated from high school.
Hattie sniffed. “She said she would let me cut the cake, but Myrtle says I can’t.”
Ah, the frantic phone call now made sense. “Is that why you stomped on her foot and ran away?”
Hattie’s head bobbed up and down against her chest. Kenzi brushed her hand down the carefully set curls. Myrtle made sure Hattie was dressed to the nines. This girl didn’t need another birthday party with near strangers who ran in the right circles. What she needed was a summer on the farm getting dirt under her nails, having her hair fall out of barrettes, and caring for baby animals that couldn’t care for themselves.
But that was a gift Kenzi couldn’t give her. She was needed here. Even now, half her brain was back at the office. She’d handed her hopes and dreams over to Nash and run off to save the day. She prayed he was as good in person as he was on a résumé.
The other half of her brain worried over the crumbling state of her family. She and Raquel were on opposite sides of the fence as far as the company was concerned, Dad was gone, and Lunette had lost control. Before, she was a functioning alcoholic who wouldn’t miss her daughter’s birthday. Now? She’d dropped down a level, or maybe two. Not being here was bad.
Kenzi got to her feet, transferring Hattie to her hip. One problem at a time. “How about I help you cut the cake?”
Hattie brightened. “Sure.”
“Okay—we’re on it. Mission Cut the Cake has just begun.” Kenzi exaggerated her march over to the buffet table, where she was met by Myrtle and the woman who planned most of their gatherings, Jennie. “We are here to cut the cake.”
“Hello, birthday girl,” said Jennie, before she raised her hands and called everyone over to sing “Happy Birthday.” It took a few minutes to round up the children, the promise of cake and Hattie’s birthday ice cream finally getting them all to crowd around. Their parents stood behind them, some in business attire, some in day dresses. Children’s parties were as much about the networking as they were about the child, if not a little more. Dad insisted they always have a private family party later that night—time that was dedicated to the birthday girl alone.
Kenzi chewed her lip. Had Lunette planned something like that? She should have. No matter where they stood on the business, they were united in their love for Hattie.
Jennie lit the sparkling candles and started the song. Kenzi swung her hips back and forth, moving Hattie to the beat and earning the first genuine smile she’d seen on the toddler’s face that day. It brought out the dimples in her chubby cheeks. So adorable.
They finished, and Kenzi leaned forward to allow Hattie to blow out the big number three candle on the top of the cake, being careful not to let the girl grab a sparkler in the process. “Make a wish.”
Hattie squeezed her eyes shut hard enough that her face shook, and then she jumped forward to blow out the candle.
“That was a big wish!” Kenzi laughed. She’d heard the click of a camera and knew the professional photographer had captured the moment.
Hattie clapped her hands. “Now Mama be all better.”
Kenzi felt her smile slip. “Wha-what?”
“I wish Mama better.” She wiggled out of Kenzi’s arms and hopped over to dip her finger in the frosting.
Well, crap!
“I wanna cut cake.”
Kenzi scrambled for something to say. Was she supposed to correct a child when it came to birthday wishes? All at once, she was so angry with Lunette she could have shoved a handful of cake right in her face. “Let’s cut the cake, then.” She managed to keep her anger on the back burner for her niece’s sake.
Jennie handed her a large plastic knife, and she and Hattie went to work carving out not-so-equal slices of cake. Jennie and her assistant ran back and forth from them to the children gathered around picnic tables on the grass. Servers appeared with more eloquent offerings for the adults. Each of their pieces of cake was accompanied by the signature ice cream Charlie developed for Hattie’s birthday. He’d started the tradition by making Pink Perfection the day she was born, and continued on coming up with the perfect flavor to suit her growing niece’s change in palate. This year, Hattie had a love of bananas, so they had Berry Beautiful Monkey—a banana base with strawberries and a swirl of white chocolate.
