Page 15 of Surprised By Love

We make our way to the diner with Amelia and Jenna in front of us. They’re animated as they talk the entire way to the diner. Once we reach the diner, Vicky greets us with a big smile on her face. “How about you girls share a piece of Sam’s apple pie with some ice cream?”

“Please,” Amelia says. “My mom’s apple pie is the best ever,” she says to Jenna.

The girls sit down and enjoy their pie while Becca and I have a coffee. They talk nonstop. I’m surprised they can even eat the pie. Once they finish, I take the dishes to the counter. The girls give their aunt Vicky a hug and we head to the park.

“I’m so happy we’re going to the park. I saw it on our way here and I wanted to play right away. It looks so much fun. Can we go on the slides? What about the swings and can we go on the big round thing there? I’ve never been on one of those. What does it do?” Amelia asks.

“Oh, my gosh, it’s so much fun,” Jenna says. “You sit on it and hold on to the railing and somebody spins it around and around and around. Sometimes when you get up, you’re dizzy from spinning and you fall on the ground.”

“That sounds like so much fun. Can we go on that first? Can we, can we, momma?”

“Sure, sweetie, you can go on that first.”

We get to the park and there are a few kids already playing on the lazy Susan. The woman who’s spinning her kid around on it stops it, so Amelia and Jenna can get on. We stand there and the adults take turns spinning it around. The kids, laughing their heads off.

I haven’t seen Amelia look so happy in forever. It makes my heart hurt that I’ve deprived my daughter of this happiness for so long, but it ends now. This is where we belong.

After about 5 minutes on the lazy Susan ride, the girls stand up. Dizziness makes them both fall to the ground, laughing.

“Kay, next I wanna go on the big slide. Can we?”

“Sure sweetie, auntie Becca and I will sit on the bench here watching. Go have fun.”

Becca and I take a seat on the bench facing the slide with our coffee in our hand. “Soooo. I got a fun call today,” she says, grinning. “Vicki told me a story. Do you want to fill me in on what happened today at the diner?”

I groan. “Not really.”

“Oh please! Vicki couldn’t stop laughing. I need to know the truth. Did you actually hide under the table?”

“Ugh,” I say, placing my face in my hands. “It was horrible.” I shake my head, the muffled sound coming through my fingers.

Becca cracks up laughing. “I can just picture it.”

“Stop.” I push at her. “It’s not funny. I’m so embarrassed. I’ll never be able to show my face in the diner again.”

“Oh please. Do you know how many embarrassing things we’ve done in the diner since we were little? Way too many to count.” Becca sips her coffee. “So, you had no idea he was from here or that he was a sergeant?”

“I had no clue. I assumed he was probably from around here, but I never would have guessed he was from Sunset Creek, let alone the town’s sergeant.”

“He’s one of the town’s favourite bachelors, so I want to give you a heads up. I wouldn’t say he’s a player, but he doesn’t date seriously, if you know what I mean. Rumour has it he never dates anybody from town. I don’t want you to get your hopes up that there could be something between the two of you, because I’m not sure if he’s that type of guy.”

“Oh. I just thought he was good looking. I’m not sure if I want to date anybody, but Vicki is determined to set me up. She says it’s been way too long and I need to get out there.”

“You definitely do, and when she sets you up, I need to come over to do your hair.”

I touch my hair nervously. “Why? What’s wrong with my hair?”

“There’s nothing wrong with it. Your hair is gorgeous, but you never style it. It’s always up in a ponytail.”

I sigh. “Fine, whatever. I’ll let you know if it happens and you can come do my hair. Vicky wants to do my makeup. I don’t know why you guys are so picky about that stuff.”

“Sammie, you’re gorgeous, and any man would be lucky to have you.” She puts up a hand to stop me before she continues. “Derek doesn’t count. He’s an asshat.”

She places her hand on my lap. “We want you to see how beautiful you are. I get you have a kid you’re raising, so do I, and a lot of times there is no time for makeup. I don’t want this to sound harsh, but you’re not the same Sammie. The Sammie we knew used to wear makeup, sometimes way too much.” She laughs.

“You and Jess used to fight over who could do their makeup the best. It was so funny, Grams would sit watching the two of you fighting over who got to wear the brightest lipstick and then she’d pull out this almost neon red lipstick and declare herself the winner.”

We burst out laughing at the memory.

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