Page 97 of Heartless
As I looked around to see if there was a special place to get boots from, I noticed Clem and Daphne.
The birthday girl sat in her mother’s lap, oblivious to the excitement swirling around her. Her hair was adorned with a delicate pink bow, a sweet touch against her tiny head. She wore an adorable romper—white with pastel farm animal prints, featuring little goats, bunnies, and pigs that perfectly matched the theme of the day. Her tiny feet were tucked into pale pink booties embroidered with tiny flowers, and over her romper, she wore a lightweight tulle tutu skirt, giving her outfit just the right amount of whimsy.
Tyler said something to her and she beamed at him, her chubby cheeks flushing with happiness as she clapped her hands. Then she extended them to him and he took her from Clem. I looked at my brother holding our niece and felt an unfamiliar yearning. I kind of wanted Daphne to greet me with the same love she looked at Tylerwith, but that wasn’t going to happen. Not today at least. But maybe someday. If I changed my attitude.
I felt someone’s eyes on me and I looked around. Parker was sitting at a chair, talking to a group of people, but looking straight at me. He was dressed in a suit as always, but as he stood up, he took a pitchfork with him and reached under his chair for a pair of boots. Then he started towards me with a huge smile on his face.
The man had come to my niece’s first birthday party and saved me a pair of boots.
He came inside the kitchen, left the pitchfork and the boots by the island and came to give me a kiss.
“Hi,” he said softly.
I smiled at him. “What are you doing here?”
“You’re here. Why wouldn’t I be?”
That didn’t answer my question in the slightest. I still couldn’t understand why he continued showing up. I didn’t feel like I deserved any of it. There had to be a catch somewhere, right?
He placed his hands on my hips, lifted me up and placed me on the kitchen island, then took my heels off my feet.
“Is this a show for my mother? Because I’m not sure she would appreciate it.”
Parker placed his hands on the counter top, caging me. “I don’t care about what your mother thinks.”
Then he took my mouth in a desperate kiss that would have left me breathless, if it wasn’t for Tyler, who burst into the kitchen, carrying a smell of manure with him. “Keep it kid-friendly, Wilson. Hi there, monster Maddie.”
“Hi,” I mumbled.
“Please tell me what to get you for your birthday,” my brother asked, took a cupcake from a platter and shoved the entire thing in his mouth.
“Since when are you buying me presents for my birthday?”
“Since Hannah told me I had to,” he said with his mouth full.
“When is your birthday?” Parker asked.
“April ninth.”
“We should have a birthday party.”
“I don’t know,” I said, not at all convinced I wanted to do anything.
“We could get together at Poppy’s,” Tyler suggested. “That could be my present.”
“Sounds great,” Parker answered.
“I haven’t agreed yet,” I reminded them.
“Oh, come on, monster Maddie. We all know you’ll leave soon.” Parker stiffened beside me for a moment, then he leaned down to take the boots and put them on my feet. Tyler continued. “Who knows when we’re going to see you again? What do you say? Party at the bar?”
I looked at Parker and he gave me a curt nod.
“Sure,” I said and hopped off the counter. “So, do Ihaveto pet the freakin goat or could I skip on it?”
***
Three weeks after Daphne’s birthday I had finally summoned the courage to try to be a decent big sister and aunt, and I went to Clem’s bakery. I had no idea if she would be there at all, but I ordered a cup of black coffee and sat at a table for two in the corner, waiting for her to appear.
