Page 49 of From Rivals to I Do

Chapter Twelve

Caked in mud and my heart as light as a feather, I nearly dance my way inside the house, riding the high of the day. The horse ride, the piglets, that kiss! And Eli asking us to be official in the most perfect way? It was the best way to end the day, and to make my heart sing in a way it hasn’t in years—in a way it never has.

Sure, I had loved Joseph, but even with him, the feelings hadn’t been this intense. This was a whole new world for me, full of this almost magical, fairytale-like rush of feelings, and I’m on cloud nine.

I peel off my dirty clothes and take a shower, and as I suds up my hair, all I can think about is him. His ruggedly handsome face, the way his lips felt against mine—soft yet manly as he kissed me hard in the barn, not caring who saw.

It feels good to be that wanted.

Darned good.

I get dressed in my pajamas, humming to myself as I twirl around, closing my handy dandy blackout curtains to get ready for a nap. Though, I’m not sure how I can with how worked up I am. Instead, I decide that maybe I should eat some lunch first before I try to lay down—a full belly might help.

Maybe if I drink some chocolate milk with it, I think to myself. Always worked when I was pregnant with Sparrow.

I make myself some eggs, bacon, a few sausage links, and some frozen waffles, sighing as I sit down at the empty kitchen table. It feels good to be with Eli, but when he’s not around, I’ve started to feel lonelier than ever. It’s not the greatest, but I suppose that all good things come at a price, and Eli is certainly a good thing, so I’m willing to deal. At least, for now.

My new doorbell rings, singing a sweet little southern melody as it jingles throughout the house. Who could that be? I wonder as I take another bite of my waffle before getting up to answer it. Before I can make it to the door, I’m hit by this sickening dread, and I freeze in place.

I just got back from Eli’s, and now the doorbell’s ringing? I think to myself as I quietly creep toward the door, sneakily sliding an umbrella out of the little metal bin by the door as I brace myself for a slew of vitriol. . . or worse. But as I swing the door open, umbrella hidden behind my back, I breathe a sigh of relief when I see it’s Sparrow and Jade.

“Hey, Mom! You okay?” Sparrow asks.

“Oh! Hello there!” I say as I slip the umbrella back into place. “Oh yes, I’m fine, just eating brunch.”

“You’re sweating,” she says as she points to my forehead and Jade claps and squeals with delight. I put my fingers to it, and sure enough, a well-developed bead clings to my fingers.

“I’m not sweating, I’m glistening,” I joke as I let them in and close the door behind them.

“Must’ve missed a bit when I blow dried my hair after I got home.”

“Oh yeah, your date!” Sparrow says as she lumbers in with Jade and the diaper bag in tow, letting it slide off her shoulder and fall to the floor. She then puts Jade down before rummaging through the bulging bag, pulling out a semi crinkled envelope.

“Happy Valentine’s Day!” she says as she hands it to me. I carefully open it and inside is a lovely card from everyone, and a little folded up heart with Jade’s handprint on it.

“Oh my gosh, that’s so sweet!” I say as I scurry off to the kitchen and put Jade’s little valentine on the fridge, and the card on the table.

“Well, I figured you deserved something nice from your favorite little one,” Sparrow says as Jade crawled over to the little toy chest I had for her. Sparrow sits down at the kitchen table next to the bouquet of wild lilies Eli had sent home with me. “So, how’d that date go?”

“It was amazing! He’s so sweet! We went out riding on his ranch, and I got to play with the piglets. He has such a beautiful property,” I gush, but I hold back a bit, feeling like I have to be careful of what I say.

I know Sparrow is angry at her father, but I would never try to pit her against him, and I didn’t want to offend her by giving her the full scoop.

“Now, I know it couldn’t have been just that with the way you were gushing about him when Daniel and I showed up to help with your car,” Sparrow sighs. Perceptive little bird saw right through me.

“You’re right, it was a little bit more than that,” I say, a smile I can’t contain slowly slipping across my face.

“Well, spill the tea,” Sparrow says.

“We kissed,” I said excitedly, and Sparrow’s eyes went wide.

“Really?”

“Yep! And he asked me to be his girlfriend!” I reply and I’m pleasantly relieved when Sparrow grins.

“I’m so proud of you! Look at you over here glowing!” she says. “You look like a whole new woman.”

“Oh gosh, Sparrow, stop,” I say as I try not to blush.

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