Page 76 of A Heart to Find
Maybe.
As Jared scrolled through photos of Hailey at the zoo last fall, a video call request popped up on his screen.
“Speaking of the cutie, she’s calling to say goodnight. Will you say hi to her with me?”
A bomb of fluttery fireworks went off in Keira’s belly, and panic threatened to consume her.
His finger hovered over the “accept call” button.
Keira nodded and did her best confident, mature adult impression.
Surely she couldn’t be afraid of a three-year-old.
“Hey, little puffer fish!” His voice lifted an octave as he greeted the giggly creature on the small screen.
Keira’s heart swelled at the joyful smile on the child’s face. Keira stayed out of the way so the video wouldn’t capture her, but couldn’t take her eyes off the screen.
“Daddy, Auntie Meredith got me a new cupcake baking set for the real oven!”
“No way. The real oven? Auntie Meredith must really love you or something.”
“We’re making cupcakes tomorrow. When will you be home? I’ll save you one. Or two or four if you want them.” She held up her fingers, using her other hand to hold down her thumb.
“Mmm, definitely four, please. With extra frosting.”
Hailey shouted over her shoulder to her aunt to ask about the amount of frosting they had.
Keira leaned against the table and watched Jared’s face light up brighter than a city skyline at night as he conversed with his daughter, who was all over the place with her stories. Apparently, she had a very busy day with Auntie Meredith and had lots of things to share with her daddy.
“Hailey, I have someone for you to meet. Want to meet her now?”
Keira’s abdomen tightened, and her mouth went dry.
Kids were her forte. Her reason for being. She could handle this.
“Where is she, Daddy?”
Keira took her cue and leaned toward Jared as he turned the phone to capture Keira next to him.
“Hailey, this is Keira. She’s the lovely lady I was matched with this week.”
“Yay! Just like Mommy said! Mommy is always right.”
“That’s right, lovebug. Mommy wanted me to find a match here.”
“She said it would be Keira. And she was right!” The little girl bounced in her seat and clasped her hands over her mouth.
“What do you mean?” Jared asked, his hand shaking the phone slightly as he turned it so Keira could only see from the side view again.
Hailey looked over her shoulder and mumbled something to Meredith, who nodded her head and said it was okay now.
“Mommy said Keira would be there, and you were ‘sposed to be with her. That’s why Mommy made you go. I had to keep it a secret until you found out, and then it would be a surprise.”
Jared cleared his throat before speaking again. “Your mommy knew Keira would be here? Meredith? Something you want to tell me?”
Meredith leaned over and smiled broadly into the camera. “She was so proud of herself, Jared. She tracked Keira down—sorry, Keira if you can hear me—and found out after snooping around the town where Keira lives that Keira planned to go to the matchmaking resort. Elizabeth was certain if you guys were there at the same time, you’d end up matched together. That’s why she insisted on you promising to go during that session no matter what. I thought she was crazy and that the odds were ridiculous, but she had her mind set on it. And, as usual, my sweet sister was correct.”
Tears jumbled her speech, and she sniffled loudly before wiping her tears on the bottom of her sleeve.
