Page 59 of Love You, Mean It
“I’m waiting for a response. Seems kind of silly that we can’t go in our own home, doesn’t it?” I grumped, even though I thought it was sweet that Violet wanted to set this up for Harper.
“I don’t think it’s silly. Violet likes to make everything special. I can’t wait to see what she did.”
My phone dinged with a text.
Firefly: Come on in!
“All right. We can head inside,” I said, and my daughter was immediately out of the truck and running toward the house. That’s when I noticed the front porch now had a bunch of balloons, and she’d moved the banner I’d put up this morning in the kitchen out front and strung it across the railing on the front porch.
“She even did stuff out here, Daddy!” Harper shouted just as Violet opened the front door.
“Welcome to Harper Huxley’s Pinkalicious party,” Violet said as my daughter lunged herself into her arms.
Harper had grown attached to Violet, and as much as that made me nervous, I understood it. They were drawn to one another, and it wasn’t my place to stop my daughter from having those connections.
I didn’t want her to be closed off the way I was.
“Thank you, Vi!”
“Come on, let’s go take a look.” Violet set Harper down on her feet and took her hand, leading her inside.
My jaw hung open at how much she’d gotten done in just the time that we’d been gone. The foyer had a grand pink-and-white balloon arch, with gold crown balloons and a giant number seven balloon. In the kitchen, the island was covered in pink-netted fabric, with flowers and platters labeled where the food would go.
Pinkalicious Pinkerton turkey subs.
Pinkerton potato chips.
Pinkalicious fruit kabobs.
What the hell was a fruit kabob?
Pink and white lanterns hung from the ceiling, some striped and some with polka dots. There were streamers and more balloons every which way we turned. A photo booth with a huge backdrop saidHarper’s Pinkalicious Party.
“Violet!” Harper’s voice cracked, and I startled when I saw tears streaming down her face. “This is the prettiest party I’ve ever seen. Thank you.”
“Oh, Harps.” Violet bent down to get eye level before wrapping her arms around my baby girl. “You deserve the most beautiful party. You’re seven years old, after all. And you and your daddy have been so nice to let me stay in the guesthouse. It’s the least I could do.”
For fuck’s sake.
I was at a loss for words now.
“Daddy, what do you think?”
“It’s perfect.” I cleared my throat. “Thank you.”
Violet stood up, and I noticed that she blinked several times as she looked down at my daughter. “I’m glad you guys like it. I know your daddy got you the pretty pink dress, but I have a little something for you too.”
Violet walked to the kitchen table and brought over a rectangular box wrapped in pink-and-white-striped paper with a big pink bow. She handed Harper the package. Harper’s eyes were wide as she tore it open, and then she gasped when she lifted the lid. Inside the box was a pair of pink high-tops covered in pink stones with pink ribbon laces.
“Are these real diamonds?” Harper asked as she ran her fingers over the shoes.
“They’re rhinestones. I put them on the shoes because I wanted you to have the sparkliest shoes to wear to your party.” Violet bent down and hugged her.
“These are the most prettiest and most sparkliest shoes I ever saw.” Violet bent down and slipped the shoes on, and I helped get them laced up.
“I’m so glad you like them,” Violet said.
“They’re my favorite.”
