Chapter 3

Eden

"Well, Georgia-Blue is going to come with my mom and dad," he continues.

"Perfect, my folks will come too."

"So what do you think of my place for the party, or would you prefer yours?" he asks.

"I think she wants to show her friends all the animals. Would you mind if we set it up at your place? Your mom offered us the barn to use since the renovations on the inside are all but done, then the kids have room to play and run around."

"That might be a good idea. We could have the party in the barn, and then have a little petting hour at my place with the animals if they want to, plus the kids can check out the horses and stuff. Mandy is always up for some fun, too." Brook's eyes light up at the mention of his beloved animals.

I can't help but smile at the mention of his pet pig. It shocked me when he became a vegetarian. But once Brook has his mind set on something, there's no stopping him. I respect that. It's put me off eating bacon, too. "Hopefully Sawyer won't be too overwhelmed having a lot of kids over there," I say. Blake has carefully explained to me the difficulties she's had adjusting and accepting human help. It's so sad when people mistreat animals.

"We can limit it to a few at a time. She's really good with Blake, so I think it'll be fine. She's really settling in now," he says. "I'll keep watch and if she looks distressed, I'll move the kids on."

"I'll try and find the gold balloons, and some sparkly themed stuff for the table settings. I might have to do a rush order on Amazon."

"Sounds more like your domain than mine." He smiles over his coffee cup and I feel that little flip in my belly again.

What the hell is that about?

For years we've done this; sat down together like normal human beings to plan Blake's special day. It's a ritual and something we both enjoy.

This year is no different to the ones before… But why is he looking at me so intensely? And why do I suddenly feel self-conscious around him?

His blue eyes seem really dark in color today. It sounds silly to say it, but the blueness varies depending on the day. Sometimes they're bright like the sky on the clearest day, other times they're as deep as the ocean. Today they're even darker than I've seen them before. More like a storm. Yet, he isn't angry about anything.

Maybe it's the light in the cafe and it's playing tricks on me. Maybe I'm also just imagining the intensity of his gaze?

"What would you like me to do to help, Edes?" he asks.

I think for a moment, tapping my pen against my diary where I've been making Blake's birthday list. "I need a hand making a million sandwiches on the day with some other party food. Maybe you could help get some of the stuff the day before so it's fresh? I'm ordering all the bread from the bakery as well as some sweet treats from Verne. She's going to handmake Blake's birthday cupcakes."

"Sounds perfect. I can go collect them that morning. What can I do to help out leading up to her birthday?"

"Maybe you and one of the guys could set up the barn for the party and put all the chairs and tables out? I also need some party bags for the kids."

"Consider it done."

Brook is no stranger to anything I'm asking of him — he's been hands on since the day Blake was born and the best father in the world to our daughter. It's something I'm grateful for every single day.

I smile. "Other than the party invites, which me and Blakey are going to finish tonight, I think we have all bases covered now."

"I still don't know her wish list, other than cowgirl boots and a donation to the animal rescue. Thank God she's not asking for a cell phone."

"Tell me about it," I sigh. "I know the day will come, but I still want to hold onto my baby a bit longer before she gets too grown up."

"I agree. Though it'll be fine, she can't date until she's at least thirty anyway. We'll be old enough then to be a little more relaxed about it," Brook jokes.

He's often said this about her dating. I can't imagine it, and I know Brook would be the ultimate protective dad. It's just in his nature.

"I wish they could stay little forever," I sigh. My dream was to one day have more kids. Brook and I had always planned to in the early years. It only just occurs to me now that I've never considered kids with anyone else.

He gives me that look again; intense eyes, pursed lips, and something else behind it all that I can't place. I should ask him about it, but my cell chimes next to me. I glance down next to my diary.

Kirk.

I see Brooks' eyes drop to my cell screen as it vibrates against the table. He sees his name on the screen. "I'll call him back," I say quickly, letting it go to message.

He folds his arms across his chest. "Are you sure this guy is trustworthy?"

I glance up, my eyes narrowing. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I could have Travis do a background check just to be sure?"

Travis Hendry is the new sheriff in town, and he's Skye's brother. He was childhood friends with Gabriel, then the family moved to North Carolina, but they're still besties even to this day. He recently moved back to Stoney to step into the sheriff role when Geraldine's husband, Hank, recently retired. "Brook, I don't need anyone to do a background check on Kirk."

"You can never be too sure these days," he goes on. "No one can tell the good guys from the bad ones. It's nothing personal. They all look the same."

"So we just assume they're all bad until proven otherwise?"

The corner of his mouth tugs up. "Something like that."

"It sounds like you don't like him."

"I don't know him." He's being stubborn. The question is why?

"Well, you can meet him at Blake's party."

"Huh?" His brow furrows. "You invited Kirk?"

"Not yet, but if he wants to, then I don't see why not. He gets along with Blake just fine. I'm sure he'll want to be there."

"So he's your boyfriend now?" He still hasn't uncrossed his arms from his chest.

And why do I feel like he's giving me the third degree?

"Yes, we're dating. Brook, surely you don't have a problem with that? Why are you being so difficult about this?"

"When it comes to my girls, there's nothing I won't do to protect them, Baby Doll. Remember that."

My girls?

I sip my coffee for a distraction because I can feel his eyes on me again.

That's intense.

The way he keeps calling me Baby Doll. It's just like old times. But we tried that once before and it didn't work out for the second time. I'm not his girl anymore, as sweet as that sounded. We've both moved on so it's stupid to think about what was, or what could have been. It's water under the bridge. I'm with Kirk now.

"There's nothing you have to do." I take a bite of muffin as I pick my pen back up and make a few notes about what we discussed, trying to avoid talking about my boyfriend. "Ooh, I just remembered she wanted the new special edition Harry Potter box set."

Our girl is a little bookworm in her spare time.

"Okay cool, I'll get her that then," Brook says. "I was thinkin' maybe a new bike as well."

"That's a good idea." Glad we're off the Kirk subject, for now. "I know she's hell bent on us donating money for Stoney Creek Paws, but it's always nice to get her a couple of things she's not expecting."

He nods. "I think so too. I'll order the books today and see what I can find bike-wise. I assume you're okay to get the cowgirl boots?"

"Already ordered them."

"Well, it seems we're organized," he says, reaching for his muffin and taking a bite, devouring half of it in one go.

"I think so. What do you think about doing a wishing well? In the invites we can ask her friends to make a little donation instead of buying gifts?"

"I've no idea exactly what you mean, but it sounds pretty good."

I smile. "I'll send you a message with the job list if you like? I know what you're like at remembering certain things. Just put it into your notes app."

A smile tugs at his lips, then he presses them together. I don't know what that's all about, maybe his way of admitting that it's true. He also hates technology, but everyone has a cell phone.

"That would be a good idea." He runs a hand through his hair. "I can ask Callan to help me put the tables out the night before in the barn. Just let me know how many kids RSVP."

The barn is just about completed, ready to host the wedding events in the spring, it's going to be good to see how it's come along.

They've been asking me for months if I want to come on board and bring my events business, Bloom Weddings and Events, with me and I'm going to. It's always a challenge finding different venues for my couples, so this could work for us on both ends of the spectrum.

"Perfect." I jot a few last details down. "How's the barn coming along?"

"She's a beauty," he says. "Even I have to admit Georgia and Mom were right when they had the vision to restore the place. Luckily Callan is a jack of all trades and can fix anything."

I smile. "Yeah, the last time I was there he was fixing the mezzanine and taking measurements for the commercial kitchen. So will they be adding on a new extension?"

"It's going to be more cost effective to use one of the outbuildings just across from the barn. Georgia and Mom are also talking about a chapel."

I laugh, "Wow, really? That would be cool."

He rolls his eyes. "Not you too."

"Why not? I mean, it would be great to keep it all in-house and under one roof. I know a fantastic celebrant, Lucinda. She'd be more than happy to conduct the ceremonies."

"So you're coming on board for real?" he asks.

"I'm having a meeting with your mom and sis after Blake's party, but yes, I think it's a great opportunity for me to expand as I love the wedding aspect of running events."

"You love working with brides?" He scoffs.

"They're not all bad."

"Well, that's true. You weren't exactly a bridezilla when we got hitched."

I press my lips together thinking about that. Our wedding day.

Blake was three months old, and other than her being born, we both said our wedding was the best day of our lives. Tears form in my eyes without me meaning them to and I look down. It's stupid, it was so long ago.

"Edes, I didn't mean to upset you." He obviously sees it. It isn't like I can hide our past when we both grew up here and know everything about each other.

"You didn't." I shake my head, like I can shake off the beautiful memory forever etched into my soul.

We were married down by the Stoney Creek which runs through the Bassett farm. The barley and cornfields as our backdrop. The sunset on our day was the best I'd ever seen; a burnt orange with a deep, red undertone. We snuck off from the town hall — where our reception was being held — after the speeches and our wedding dance, stopping by the house to grab our bags. We'd booked a night in an Airbnb just outside of Stoney Creek before we drove down to Georgia the next morning. We were taking a three day weekend while my parents looked after Blake so we could enjoy a little bit of a honeymoon. It was the longest we could bear to be away from our baby.

Of course, we had to stop by the barn and the hay bales as a rite of passage. I picture it now; me in my wedding dress with all that tulle, propped up on a hay bale, and Brook in his tux as we went at it like rabbits…

"This is where it all began," Brookie whispers. Holding his weight off me, he plants his hands on top of the hay bale as we kiss. My dress is rucked up around my hips as the tulle surrounds him, his bow tie hangs loose. I fumble for his belt and zipper. My sexy husband. We can't keep our hands off one another.

"It all began in the back of my Jeep," I remind him.

He chuckles in the moonlight, touching my face with his fingers, looking at me with such a burning intensity I could burst. "Well, that's true. But we made Blake in this very barn, I'm sure of it." He smirks.

"I'm sure of it too."

"I hope there's more to come. Babies, that is."

"You're so sexy as a baby daddy." I kiss him hard as he pulls my dress down.

"We can practice all weekend if you like. I don't plan on lettin' you out of my sight…"

And practice we did. Over and over again. Our love making was never boring.

But we never fell pregnant again. We weren't exactly trying, or being careful. But as the years went on it just didn't happen. We were so blessed with Blake, we didn't care. She's our whole world.

"What are you thinking about?" Brook breaks me out of my reverie and I realize, with some embarrassment, I've been staring into space thinking about the past.

"Just memories." My voice is strained, and I don't mean it to be. There's no way I can elaborate even if the emotion hits me inside all of a sudden.

"I'm glad we have them," he says simply. "In the end that's all anyone has. Might as well make them good."

"I agree, that's why we need to make Blake's the best birthday bash the Bassetts have seen so far."

His smile lights up the cafe. When Brook smiles, it's like Christmas. "Now that sounds like a plan. Put it here." He holds his fist out so we can bump knuckles across the table.

"You're right, we should get co-parenting gold stars." I smile.

He grins wider. "Whatever you say, Baby Doll, whatever you say."