She marched off to check on Izzy and the food situation. I watched her go while glaring at the back of her head. Oh, I knew exactly what she meant and that would happen over my dead body. Esme, the business shark, frequently set her sights on men. The outcome was decided before the guy even knew what was happening. She’d draw them in, have her fun, and then spit them out.
“Hey, darlin’.” Dad came up behind me and kissed the top of my head. “You look beautiful as ever.”
I turned to see him in a button-down shirt—not a uniform, surprisingly—and a pair of perfectly creased black slacks. His hair was combed nicely and his mustache even looked like it had some wax giving it a debonaire shape. Mom had clearly gotten ahold of him with some new style for the party. Amelia had insisted the baby shower be for couples, as she didn’t want to do anything without Titus by her side. It was both admirable and sickening.
“Hey, Dad,” I murmured, giving him a hug and breathing in the familiar scent that said home. “Try not to look stunned at me in a dress, huh?”
He chuckled. “Guess we both got gussied up by the ladies in our lives.”
I loved that he and I had this connection. Yeah, I was a girl, but he treated me as if I was his buddy. Like it was him and me against the other girls, which included Mom.
I smoothed my hands down the light blue dress, feeling a tad uncomfortable with all the breeze on my legs. The skirt flowed around me nicely when I moved, and even though it hit just above my knees, I still felt self-conscious in it. While the little cap sleeves were feminine and gorgeous, and the girls had urged me to buy it, it just didn’t feel like me. Izzy had curled my hair too, pinning back a section when I’d complained that it was in my face and threatened to just put it in a bun.
“I’m heeeere!” Vee called from the front door, busting in like the party was for her. My littlest sister was not known for her promptness. She got away with murder as the baby in the family.
“You’re late,” Esme called out from the kitchen.
Mom came down the stairs and oohed and aahed over the decorations before coming over to give me a quick hug. “Jim, help me with the gift in the garage. You look too pretty, Oakley, to help.” She beamed like that was a compliment. I guess getting me into a dress was a good thing in her mind.
Vee came over and threw her arms around my waist, lifting me up with a squeal. I rolled my eyes, but let her be an excited weirdo. My sister was taller than me, but at twenty-one, she was more limbs than muscles. Didn’t stop her from trying to pick up her big sister every chance she got.
“I can’t believe one of us is pregnant! And it’s a good thing!” She set me down, giggling. “I always thought one of you would be pregnant in high school.”
“Vee!” I admonished her. That was a horrible thing to think about your sisters.
“What?” Her eyes danced with humor and youth. Being twelve years her senior made me feel ancient. “You know that had to have been Mom and Dad’s worst fear with five girls. Why do you think Dad always answered the door in full uniform when we had dates? Nothing like a shiny badge and holstered gun staring at you to keep things zipped up, you know?”
The door to the garage opened, and Dad came through, bent over and grunting. Vee and I looked at each other and then darted over to help lift whatever was underneath all that ridiculous stork wrapping paper. Mom huffed from the other side, her face an unhealthy shade of red.
“What is this thing?” I asked as we inched our way into the living room.
“Must be made of lead,” Vee grumbled.
We finally got it down to the ground, all of us breathing hard. A car door slamming out front had us all jumping up again. It was time. Guests were arriving. Vee squealed and ran to get the door. Esme clapped her hands and finally put down the damn clipboard.
“Places, everyone!” Esme barked while Izzy ran out of the kitchen with one more dish.
“She knows this isn’t a play, right?” Dad whispered loudly next to me.
I snorted and Mom shushed him.
Lucy and Bain Sutter came in first, followed by Lenora and Jayden Sutter. Charlie and Finnie were the next car to arrive, though Finnie was on call, so she said she might have to leave early. Those two had never married, but a piece of paper wouldn’t have made them any closer. Next up was Rip and Hazel Bennett.
Us girls ran around putting purses and sweaters away, grabbing drinks and getting everyone settled. The doorbell rang, and I rushed over to grab it, thinking it would be Amelia and Titus. Everyone turned their attention to the door, thinking the same thing.
I swung the door open, an enormous smile on my face, to find Wyatt standing there in dark jeans, a button-down white shirt rolled up over his forearms, and a bouquet of pink and blue flowers in his hands. My heart stopped and all the blood rushed to my head.
“Wyatt?” I asked, stunned.
He grinned and winced at the same time. “Hi. I heard there’s a baby shower today?”
“Hey, glad you could make it, Wyatt.” Bain came up behind me and did that same weird handshake thing he’d done that day with the bull fiasco.
I looked between the two men, my brain slow to pick up that Bain must have invited Wyatt.
“Wyatt?” Esme’s voice joined us at the door. She legit pushed me out of the way to get in front of the man. “Come on in. I’m Esme, by the way. So glad
