Page 164 of That First Flight

Peyton was nice enough to let us host the party here since she has space. She was adamant about Mackenzie getting a bounce house after watching her face light up at James’ birthday party.

But this isn’t your normal bounce house. She upgraded to a colossal obstacle course bounce house that takes up a huge spot in their backyard. One end of it has a basketball net to jump and play, then there’s a little course leading to a slide that you have to climb up to get down it.

It’s perfect for her and she’s had the time of her life today.

“What kind of cake is it?” Mackenzie beams.

“You know I got the vanilla with pudding and strawberries in the middle,” I assure her.

“Yes!” all the kids shriek in excitement.

“Hmm, fan favorite I see,” Oliver says as he comes up behind me. My body heats up with his closeness the way it always does. Something I will never get over. “Did you want any help with that?”

“Yes, yes!” Mackenzie jumps in her seat. “Ollie will cut me the biggest piece there is.”

“I take offense to that.” I laugh. “But we have to sing first.”

I turn my head to the left and Avery nods her head, flicking the lights off and making it just as dark as it is outside, our only light being the flickering of the number nine candle on the cake.

The crowd starts singing. Everyone is smiling and all their eyes on Mackenzie.

How did I get so lucky?

The sentence has been on repeat since Oliver and I made it official. I didn’t just fall in love with the greatest man I’ve ever met, I gained an entire family in the process—people who would drop everything for me and my daughter., who show up when it matters the most.

A lot has happened since the last time I saw my parents.

The same two people sitting off to the side singing happy birthday to their granddaughter with an adoring smile on their faces.

Remember when I told you I had to make the hardest and easiest decision of my life? I had to do it again two weeks ago when I found the courage to reach out to them.

Thanks to the support of Oliver and Peyton, I called them and invited them to her party. We all agreed since the party would be out here, that it was a neutral ground since it’s not actually where Mackenzie and I live with Oliver.

This would have been the first party they missed.

As much as they hurt me, Mackenzie was just a pawn in their game. She was an innocent bystander who ended up being just as hurt as me in the process. At the end of the day, these are her grandparents.

The hurt Mackenzie felt during everything was because she was hurtfor me.

Before I made the phone call, I had a long conversation with her asking her if she wanted them there. No matter what they did to me, I will never take away her happiness or stop giving her what she wants.

To my surprise, she wanted them here, and in the end, they’ve behaved all day and haven’t cause a scene.

Theyknowthey are here for her and only her.

The singing stops and I snap out of my haze. I round the island and bring my girl in for a hug as tears well in my eyes. “I love you so much, baby,” I whisper into her ear.

“I love you too, Mom. To the moon, stars, and Jupiter.”

I give her one more squeeze before I release her.

Oliver, of course, cuts the cake and I can’t help but roll my eyes.

After everyone is served, my mother taps me on the shoulder.

“We’re going to head out,” she says, fiddling with her handbag.

“Thank you for coming.” I nod.

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