Page 117 of Before You Can Blink
The younger of the two stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me, a smile splitting her adorable face. “Papa!” She was the only one who called me that, instead of Grampa, but I didn’t mind. I loved having something special between just the two of us.
“Princess Paisley!” I scooped her up and tickled her belly, delighting in the sounds of her sweet giggles. “How is the birthday girl? Ready for a party?”
Our youngest granddaughter was turning two. Mac had set the standard for birthday blowouts when Reagan turned one, so not a single one of the grandkids’ birthdays passed without us celebrating to the extreme.
“Cake!” Paisley cried excitedly.
Matching her enthusiasm, I added, “And presents!” I turned us around so she could see the brightly wrapped gift Daisy held.
Cash had the Sullivan blue eyes, but his younger sister had her mama’s Livingston green ones, and they widened when they landed on the giant package sure to contain a toy. “Oooooooh.”
We had a tendency to spoil the grands, the memory too fresh of how lean birthdays and holidays were for our own children when they were growing up. It drove Tripp up a wall, their house having become an obstacle course where he had to carefully navigate the scattered playthings, but I had no intention of reining it in—neither did Wade or Caroline, or my ma, for that matter.
Bringing my mouth to the two-year-old’s ear in a show of secrecy but making no attempt to lower my voice, I said, “Should we open it now?”
“Yes!” Paisley clapped.
Daisy shook her head, shooting me a look that said I should know better. “We’ll have to ask your mama if that’s okay first.”
As if summoned by the mention of her name, Penny called out from behind us, “Might as well give the wild things something to occupy them while we finish setting up outside.”
I bounced the toddler on my hip. “You hear that, Pais? Mama said yes!”
My wife tried and failed to hide her smile, stepping past us to place the present on the living room floor.
When I set Paisley on her feet, she took off like a shot, racing toward the offering and tearing through the wrapping paper to reveal the gift underneath.
A shrill scream cut through the air when the dollhouse came into view, and I winced.
“I think she likes it.” Daisy leaned into my side.
“I’d hate to hear what it would sound like if she didn’t.” I tugged on my ear.
“Say thank you to Gramma and Grampa, Paisley,” Penny prompted.
Green eyes sparkling, the sweet girl hugged my knees. “Tank you Gamma. Tank you Papa.”
Reaching down, I gave her shoulder a squeeze. “You are very welcome, sweetheart.”
“Jett?” My daughter-in-law drew my attention to her. “Mac and Aspen are on their way over. Do you think you could keep all the kids busy in here for a bit so they’re not underfoot while we get the party ready?”
“Sure.” Moving to where she stood, I gestured to our newest grandbaby, three-month-old Sawyer, on her shoulder. “Might as well take this one too.”
Her eyes searched mine. “You sure? I’ve got the carrier. I can strap him to my chest if it’s too much trouble.”
“He clean and fed?”
Penny nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Then hand him over.” I gently eased the baby into my arms, tucking him against my chest.
Unlike his older siblings, Sawyer had a shock of dark hair, almost as if he was daring the universe to let him get lost in the shuffle of a crazy household that boasted three kids, aged three and under. My son and his wife definitely had their hands full, but I’d never seen the pair of them look happier than when they were caught in the chaos of their growing family.
Daisy trailed her fingers along my forearm as she gestured toward the kitchen. “If you’re good here, I’m gonna go see where I can help.”
Pressing my lips to the top of the baby’s head, I breathed in his scent with a hum. “Nowhere I’d rather be.”
“Careful, Jett,” she teased. “Someone catches you taking hits from the fountain of youth, and they might discover your biggest secret.”
