Page 70 of The Ex Puck Bunny
My dad reassures her that next year, we’ll host it.
“We don’t even have a kitchen. How do you expect me to dye eggs?”
“Here we go,” I mutter.
They begin the singular disagreement they’ve had in thirty years of marriage. Okay, that’s not true. My mother refuses to give him those spicy peanuts anymore. Says they’re bad for his digestion and she doesn’t want to stink up Grady’s house.
I explain to him that my mother believes hard-boiled and dyed eggs should be hidden, while Dad insists the plastic eggs are more fun because you can hide a treat inside.
Grady peers through his glasses as if carefully considering his stance. “Hmm. I don’t want to step on toes, but I’m going to side with the plastic eggs.”
I harrumph. “Well, it looks like we have our very first divergence.”
“You mean to say you prefer hunting for hardboiled eggs?”
I burst out laughing. “No, definitely the plastic ones.”
“You fooled me there for a moment.”
I wrap my arms around him. “You have me always.”
Grady kisses me on the top of the head just as we pull up to Lemons’ house for brunch and the egg hunt. We follow laughter and chatter to the backyard.
Even my brother and Deborah are there. She’s friends with Meg and looks like she reverse-aged now that she’s almost officially retired from the military.
Bunny is wearing my rabbit ears from yesterday and is beyond thrilled at being “Fan-cee” in a dress with white gloves and shiny shoes, but even more so when she sees the decorations and other kids.
After we eat, Meg gathers them all around and explains that the eggs are hidden in the yard. “No climbing. The bunny hid eggs on the ground for you. Adults, you might find a few too in some high-up places.” She winks and then blows a whistle that’s as shrill as the coach’s.
The kids are off. My parents trail Bunny, asdelighted by her discovering eggs as she is. She fills her basket and Grady leads me around the side of the yard. “I think I spotted one over here earlier.”
I follow him to a landscaped area with an unmistakable “Amber waves of grain” view over the cornfield.
I trail Grady and remark, “They must get great sunsets over here.”
“Any thoughts about what we should do in our backyard aside from the pool? It’s a blank template.”
“Our backyard? I like the sound of that. I’ll have to think about it.”
“I bet BB would love a play structure.”
I nod. “One cooler than the Schuster’s.”
We both laugh and then I go quiet. “I think I spotted one.” I hurry over to the trellis and grab a pink plastic egg. Grady is by my side as I pop it open, wondering what Meg and Micah hid for the adults.
Inside, is a silver, sparkly ring that looks very real and not like the plastic kind for playing dress up.
The corner of Grady’s mouth quirks with a smile . . . a very distinct smile. “For you.”
“A diamond ring?” The words trip out of my mouth as I try to make sense of things.
Grady lowers to one knee. At my back, I sense a presence. Glancing over my shoulder, everyone from the party forms a half circle, including my brother, Deborah, my parents, and Bunny.
Grady takes the ring and presents it to me. “Heidi, will you be my forever puck bunny?”
Tears of joy pierce the corners of my eyes and I pull him to his feet. Wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders, I say, “Yes, yes I will.”
Everyone claps and we kiss.
