Page 17 of Ace of Spades
“Come on, sleepyhead,” she teases. “Rise and shine, today is your day—plus, I made you coffee.”
I open one eye at the mention of that, reaching one arm from my cocoon to accept the drink.
“Thank you, but it’s really nothing special, mom—we don’t have to make it a big deal.”
“But your father and I rarely get to see you, lately,” she pouts. “We finally just got you back, and now you’re off at rodeosevery weekend.”
“I’m sorry, mom. Have you talked to Dad about coming to see me one weekend?”
As much as I hated to admit it, I knew better than to keep my hopes up at this point. Dad was a busy man, I knew that—I just sometimes wished that he would make an effort to come see me, even just once.
He used to come to some of my local junior rodeos when I was in high school, but he had stopped showing up as soon as I started traveling more for the college circuit and now for the pro circuit.
I tried not to take it too personally, and I really tried not to hold a grudge, but sometimes it was easier said than done.
“Yeah—we did, actually,” she responds, getting me to actually sit up in bed.
“Wait, really?”
“Of course, sweetie. It’s not that we don’t want to, it’s just that every time we plan on it, your dad has some of his work stuff come up. As it turns out, he’s looking at getting some WRS box seats to come cheer you on at the finals in December—how exciting is that!”
My heart drops just the slightest.
“But that’s almost a year away,” I say. “And besides, I don’t even know if I’ll qualify.
“Don’t be silly, of course you’re going to qualify. You’re already in the top twelve of the circuit right now for both events, I know it’s still early but that’s such a promising lead. If you keep it up I have no doubts that not only will you qualify, but you’ll actually place, too.”
I offer her a soft smile in thanks. I suppose that’s better than nothing.
“Now,” she states. “We’re leaving you the estate tonight since Ava practically begged us to let her throw you a party. You’re having lunch with your father and me in an hour before we leave for the ski lodge, so no more sleeping in for you,” she ruffles my hair like she used to do when I was little.
I playfully roll my eyes at her, taking a sip of the much-needed coffee. I had just gotten back from another long weekend, another long drive back from Texas knocking me out as soon as I was able to hit my bed yesterday.
I finished my coffee in bed before getting up to hit the shower and brush my teeth, straightening my dark hair and applying some mascara. I found a cute knit sweater dress for lunch, meeting my parents at the table right on time.
“Sweetheart,” my dad greets me, rising from his place at the table to offer me a kiss on the forehead. “Happy Birthday.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, wrapping my arms around his waist like when I was little. Sometimes it felt like nothing had changed—like I was still his little princess.
“Please, sit. I had Grace make a bunch of your favorites, it should all be ready any minute now. How about in the meantime, we do gifts?” he winks.
“Oh, gifts!” mom claps excitedly.
“Sure,” I agree, nervously tucking a strand of my long hair behind my ear.
I open gift after gift—a sterling silver charm necklace with my initials, a new set of cowboy boots, a custom headstall foreach of my horses, and my favorite perfume that mom has bought me for my birthday every year since I turned sixteen.
Dad pulls out one last gift, sliding it my way. I pull at the ribbon wrapping the small blue box, lifting the lid to find a set of keys waiting for me inside.
I look up at my parents, awaiting an explanation.
“We got you a house!” my mom exclaims, no longer able to hold in her excitement.
“I’m sorry, you bought me awhat?” I ask in disbelief.
“That’s right, sweetheart. As much as your mother and I love having you living here with us, we figured it was about time you had a place to yourself,” Dad added, reveling in my shock. “I know you said you don’t know if you want to stay here or not yet, but you can live there until you decide. And if you decide you want to leave, you can keep it and rent it out or sell it, it’s your choice. Think of it as an investment.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I understood you correctly—you guys bought me a house? Like the structure people live in, with a roof and walls and everything?”
