Page 50 of Karma's Kiss

Fortunately, I have plenty to distract me. Once the food is set up and ready to go, I help Lindsey get Cruz dressed in his party clothes. Of course he has a Sesame Street t-shirt that coordinates with the banner we made for him. “It’s Cruz’s World!” it reads underneath a photo of him superimposed beside Elmo. Lindsey combs his hair back with a little pomade, and I know I’m biased,but he’s the cutest one-year-old I’ve ever seen. He looks like a miniature David but he has Lindsey’s big green eyes.

“May May,” he calls me, clapping his hands with glee when I tell him how handsome he is.

A few of the guests have already started to arrive once Cruz is ready to make his debut. I hold one of his hands and Lindsey holds the other, and the three of us walk out onto the porch so Cruz can get scooped up by Queenie then handed off to friends and family one after another. He giggles with all the attention and I’m smiling, enjoying myself for the temporary moment when I forget Sawyer is out here too. Cruz goes wild when it’s Sawyer’s turn to greet him, but then I would go wild too if someone threw me up into the air like that. Big whoop.

“Say-ya” is Cruz’s cute little name for him, and when he says it, everyone laughs.

It’s clear Sawyer and Cruz have quite the bond, even more so than Cruz and I do, but that’s because I’ve been living in Alabama. It’s hardly been a fair fight for Cruz’s love and affection. That changes today.

“Cruz! Want to go in the bouncy house?”

Never mind that I’m wearing a dress. I’m going to be the fun aunt even if it means flashing everybody at this party.

“Say-ya,” Cruz replies.

“What was that?May May?” I’m forcing it a little here, but get it together, kid!

Cruz tugs on Sawyer’s hand then clasps his little fingers around mine as well, making it clear he expects us both to escort him to the bouncy house.

“Your aunt doesn’t want to bounce with me, Cruz,” Sawyer says once we’re out of earshot of the other adults.

“Yes because Sawyer has been a real poopy head.”

“Oh that’s good. Teach the kid bad words.”

“I hardly think poopy head is anything to worry about. I’m sure Cruz has heard far worse from his father anytime there’s an SEC football game on TV.”

His shrug says,Fair point.

“You won’t even fit in there anyway.” I point to the Sesame Street themed bouncy house that’s taking up a good portion of David and Lindsey’s backyard. The opening on the side is child-sized.

“I’ll manage.” Then his eyes drag down my body. “How are you going to jump in that outfit?”

I toss his phrase right back at him. “I’ll manage.”

I’m the first to shimmy my way through the tiny opening on the side, and it delights me to no end to watch Sawyer try to force his way in after me. His shoulders get stuck for a second and I think,Good, he deserves to die with the lower half of his body sticking out of Elmo’s mouth.But then I feel bad because Cruz is legitimately worried about “Say-ya” so I roll my eyes and hold my hand out for him to take. “Here.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Fine. Stay down there, but I won’t apologize if I accidentally jump on your head.”

This warning makes him come to his senses. With Cruz grasping one hand and me pulling the other, we heave Sawyer into the bounce house with all our strength. Cruz does most of the work.

I wipe my hands like it’s a job well done. “Of course, now that you’re in here, it’ll be impossible for you to get out again. I hope you enjoy spending the rest of your life in this rented bounce house, traveling from kids’ birthday party to kids’ birthday party, never getting to see your precious vineyard again.”

I can tell he wants to laugh, but he doesn’t. To laugh would be to admit defeat, and neither one of us is prepared to throw in the towel. “That’s some imagination you have.”

“I can go on if you want.”

“Let’s not scare the birthday boy.”

We don’t need to worry; said birthday boy is too busy chewing on the mesh netting to listen to us.

“Err, let’s not eat that, buddy,” I suggest helpfully. Though of course when I tug him away from the netting, he starts to wail as if I’ve completely ruined his life. “Okay, shh!” I push him back in the direction of the netting, giving the poor kid whiplash. “Don’t get me in trouble. Eat the netting if you want to! What do I know?” I look up, terrified that Lindsey will come out of the house and see me standing over a crying Cruz. I’ll be kicked out of the party. Maybe even kicked out of my family. “Shh! It’s okay!”

“You’re a natural,” Sawyer remarks drolly before he scoops Cruz up into his arms and starts jumping around with him. Cruz—of course—loves this, and his crying immediately gives way to adorable high-pitched giggles.

“High! High!” he demands, and Sawyer delivers.

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