Page 146 of Giddy Up, Daddy

“Shall we go?” Bo extends his arm. The five of us make our way out to the SUV Nate bought when we realized that Violet was more like an adopted daughter to us than just a nanny and we make the quick drive to the restaurant.

The parking lot is full. Unexpectedly so for a Wednesday night. “You made a reservation, right?” I ask nervously as I glance around the lot.

“Mmmm,” Nate murmurs.

When we walk up to the restaurant, a sign on the door says,Closed For A Private Party.

“What did you do?” I hiss when Bo pulls it open anyway.

I don’t have to wait long to find out. The chorus of “Surprise!” rings out as soon as I step over the threshold, and even though I’d known something was up, I hadn’t expected this. Twinkle lights hang creating an air of ambience, soft but upbeat music plays. A stunningly decorated three-tier cake sits in the center of a buffet table adorned with gorgeous floral pieces—no roses in sight. Cater-waiters walk by with trays of champagne in crystal glasses.

Nearly the whole town had turned out. Elle and Mack are here, and the Mayors King. The owners of neighboring ranches, Everyone from the paper, Violet’s friends from the Rose Center.

Damon and Finn are here with their baby girl, Sabrina. They have a crowd around them as usual. Even though she’s a hometown girl, Blue River folks still haven’t quite gotten used to a celebrity living in their midst. To tell the truth, I still get a little starstruck whenever she’s around too.

The place is packed. “Wow!” I cry. “For me? You guys!” I turn to kiss my Daddies and hug Violet, then wade into the crowd to mingle, taking all the hugs and well wishes I’m offered.

The crowd is friendly, but there’s a slight tension still, a buzz of anticipation in the air that makes me uneasy.

As I always do when I feel off, I sidle up to Elle. “Hey babe, what’s going on? Why does it feel like the party hasn’t started yet?”

“What? Oh, um… I dunno.” Elle’s hesitation and the way her gaze darts around the space tells me she’s lying.

“Eleanor.” A voice from my left side stops me in my tracks.

I turn, my heart pounding, to see the man I hadn’t seen or heard from since the day he’d cut me off. “Father.”

My brain races. My palms are clammy. I’d all but written him out of my life, and I’d come to terms with what I thought I’d left behind not being big losses after all.

But it was all pretty easy to do when I didn’t have to face my father or explain my choices. Now I’m wondering what he’d think. How he’ll judge me. How to introduce him to Bo, Nate, Amelia and Violet. What he’ll think. If it will ruin this night that my Daddies have worked so hard to make so special.

And then it hits me. He’s here. In Blue River. At Pacifica. During the exact time my birthday party is going on. A private, closed-to- the-public event. This isn’t a coincidence.

As if perfectly timed to match my thoughts, my family steps up behind me just as Elle and Mack step away to give us space.

“How?” I stammer. “What?”

“Surprise, baby,” Nate says, kissing my cheek. I nearly jump away from his touch, but he extends his hand to my father, and says smooth as silk, “Nate Bowery. We spoke on the phone.”

“Right.” My father beams at Nate as he would any business associate he was trying to impress.

What is happening?

“And I’m Bo, Sir. Bo Harris.”

“Very pleased to meet you.” My father zeroes in on Amelia in Bo’s arms while I wait for the other shoe to drop.

“And this must be the grandbaby I’ve heard so much about.” My father reaches for Amelia while I stand there with my mouth hanging open.

Seriously, what is happening?

“Father, I…” I stutter. I don’t even know what to say.

But my father just leans forward to kiss my cheek. “Happy Birthday, Elle.” He whispers in my ear, “We’ll talk soon. I have to admit I was surprised to hear you were in Blue River and engaged, and even more surprised to learn about your unconventional family, but I’m proud of you, Eleanor.”

“You are?” I’m so surprised, I practically yell the question.

My father’s smile has a hint of a smirk in it. “I am. You’ve settled down, you’re a wife, a mother, making a family, a home. I hear you’ve got a job and that you’re quite good at it, and you are obviously well loved.” He nods. “It looks like you’re doing something right, my dear. A lot of somethings.”

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