Page 18 of Family Forever
The corners of Dylan’s mouth crept up. “That was supposed to be a secret for after dinner.”
“Aww, how nice, you guys got me a cake. Excellent!” Cole beamed.
“Not exactly. But since Luke brought it up, now works just as well. I’ll be right back.”
Dylan disappeared and returned a moment later with a sheet cake in his hands and set it in front of her. “Happy Birthday.”
Tears swelled in her eyes as she stared at the white frosted cake decorated with pink roses, and her name written in pink letters. She honestly couldn’t remember the last time she’d had her own birthday cake. Her father never made a big deal about it. He was too busy with other things—drinking. And how on earth did Dylan know it was her birthday? She didn't recall mentioning it.
"Nate, why don’t you go and get the presents that are stashed in my closet?"
Presents. Plural.
Dylan set two large white candles on the cake, one in the shape of a one and the other in the shape of a nine. He lit them when Nate returned with her presents, and then they sang to her, all of them. Her already warm cheeks heated even more. They had to be as red as the barn by the time they finished singing to her.
Cole wore a teasing smile, Aric looked annoyed that Dylan made him sing, Braden’s cheeks were a bit red. Nate and Luke seemed to be enjoying their singing. As for Dylan, dark-eyed, handsome Dylan, she couldn’t tell one way or the other what he was thinking at the present moment. Yet, he had to be the mastermind behind it all, just like when he threw the little graduation party for her a month ago. She had no idea he’d been planning anything for her graduation until her couple friends showed up at the house.
Luke handed her a homemade card. The front of the card displayed a red barn, green tractor, and was filled with people, so many in fact they hardly fit on the front. He pointed out each and every one of them as he named them off, including her among all the men with whom she now lived. They had all signed the card. This is what being a part of a family was like.
She stepped toward the little boy, scooped him up, kissed his cheek and hugged him. “This is a beautiful card, Luke.”
As she set the child down, she caught Dylan’s warm gaze and satisfied smile.
Cole stepped forward. “I see my name is on the card too, so do I get a kiss?”
Though he asked, he didn’t wait for her response. He pressed his lips lightly to her cheek. “Happy birthday.”
With another quick glance toward Dylan, she noticed his smile had faded, and his jaw seemed to clench.
Saving the moment, Nate reached out, handing her the gifts. Everyone watched as she opened her gifts including a University of Wisconsin Green Bay hooded sweatshirt, T-shirt, sweatpants, shorts, and fleece jacket.
“There, now you should be set for school,” Dylan said.
They’d done well. She hadn’t expected anything, but to outfit her for college was simply awesome. “Thank you, thank you all. These are great.”
Dylan smiled at her. “I hate to leave all this fun but I have some work to do in the office. And Aric, don’t forget we’re both helping Will with the milking this afternoon, and both shifts tomorrow.”
Aric moaned.
“Well, you can get out of it if you can convince Cole to take your shifts.”
Cole grimaced as he looked at Dylan. “Sorry, no can do. I’ve got plans tonight, and tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’m taking the boys to the beach. Jake is meeting us there with his boat and we’re going tubing.”
Excitement beamed in everyone’s eyes except for Aric and Dylan’s.
“I’m sure you’re not going at four AM, you could help with that shift,” Dylan stated.
“Fine, I’ll help with that one, but I thought you finally hired enough farmhands for the milking,” Cole added.
“I did, but sometimes they need days off, and to ensure I would have off to take you all to the church picnic on Saturday, I gave Thomas and Juan off tomorrow.”
“Can’t you get one of the part-timers to help with the afternoon milking? I want to go boating too.” Aric fixed his pleading gaze on Dylan.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
* * * *
It was mid-morning when Dylan and Cole finished the first milk shift of the day, as well as the other routine chores. When they entered the house Cole shot upstairs to shower. Dylan headed toward the master bathroom to do the same. Then he planned on eating breakfast. The hunger pains he woke up with didn’t subside any while doing chores.
