Page 55 of Seaside Cowboy's Fairy Tale

“Come to the living room if you’re done in the kitchen! We want to see what you think of this.” Kennedy’s friend and sister-in-law Marina rushed into the kitchen. “Oh, sorry. I wasn’t interrupting anything, was I?”

Rachel squared her shoulders and stepped forward, though she was curious about what Kennedy was about to say. “Not at all. Let’s see it. Though I’m already sure it looks fabulous.”

“Thanks.” Marina grinned.

Giant sea-green balloons and colorful banners met Rachel in the living room. As the expecting mother loved the sea, seashells, and nautical things, the wall was decorated with seashell cutouts, and the gift table with transparent vases housing real seashells. Pastel seahorses floated in the nautical pattern on the tablecloth, and on the snack table, it was no surprise to see golden fish cookies. Everything matched the seaside theme.

“It looks beautiful,” Rachel said, and Kennedy echoed the sentiment. “You’ve done a fantastic job.”

Then, with a more critical eye, Rachel looked at the banner displaying glittery green letters. “Maybe the left corner needs to be a little higher.”

Marina tilted her head. “You’re right.”

“I’ll move it,” Saylor said.

As Kennedy and Rachel guided Saylor, Rachel stole a glance at Kennedy, who was smiling as if it was her celebration. Kennedy was friendly and kind to Saylor later when they put up a few more green balloons and added saltwater toffee to candy bowls, as well as fancy jelly beans that could pass for whimsical sea stones. Rachel wasn’t sure she’d treat someone who’d crushed on her husband with the same joy as Kennedy treated Saylor.

Then again, Rachel didn’t have a husband. Or a boyfriend. The man she loved practically ran away from her to his important job.

Her heart constricted as she glanced at the corner for presents where a rocking chair—Kennedy’s gift—played host to plush toys side by side with the luxury pampering basket full of fluffy towels and lovely self-care items Marina provided for the mom-to-be. Then Rachel returned her attention to taping another cutout seashell to the wall.

“Some people think there can’t be too many seashells,” she muttered under her breath. As much as she loved the ocean, she wasn’t those people, but she wasn’t the expecting mother, either.

Until she’d met Tex, she hadn’t cared about getting married and/or starting a family. After all, her role model and boss didn’t, either, and the few guys at work Rachel was friends with were either single or divorced. Considering the way she’d grown up, she’d equated relationships and family with heartache and disappointment. As well as people who took advantage of her.

But now something stirred in her soul. Maybe because she got to see a different kind of family in Kennedy and Austin, in Tex’s mother and brothers, in Tex himself. Relationships here reflected natural, effortless joy and care for each other, and she was more drawn to that than a mouse to cheese.

“I hope it’s okay to steal these.” She sent a few cheesy golden fish crackers to her mouth.

Kennedy chuckled and did the same. “I’m sure it’s fine as long as we don’t wolf down all of them. How’s your arm, by the way?”

“Much better.”

Or maybe Rachel had started pondering marriage because, due to her injury, she had too much time on her hands. A lot of seconds, minutes, and even hours to see, to think, to ask herself questions she had no answers for. To feel the longing for Tex that wouldn’t go away.

Too bad that once again, the family and love so many others took for granted wasn’t meant for her. Her stomach clenched despite the cheerful decorations surrounding her.

“Well, I believe we’re done here.” Kennedy stepped back to observe the room and nodded to herself. “Yup.”

The oven chimed in, and Rachel glanced in that direction. “The cookies must be ready. I’ll get them out of the oven.”

“I’ll help you.” Kennedy followed Rachel into the kitchen.

Rachel put on the mitten and opened the oven, greeted with heat and the scent of freshly baked sweets. She removed the tray with them, closed the oven, then blurted out, “Why do we always want things we can’t have?”

Kennedy’s gaze became thoughtful. “Because we can’t have them. But I pray you’ll get whatever it is your heart desires.” Then she winked at Rachel. “And I think you will.”

Riiight.Rachel nearly snorted as she munched on a still-warm snickerdoodle cookie from the previous batch. “I learned a long time ago that my life isn’t a fairy tale. Well, not the part with the prince and the palace. At least, I’ve got my mice.”

Kennedy pouted, feigning offense. “Tex’s family loves you. And Tex is taken with you. And you know you’ve got me.” She gave Rachel a quick hug. “I want to believe I’m better than a mouse.”

Gratitude edged out Rachel’s sadness. “Thank you for being my friend. And yes, you’re better than a mouse, but please don’t say so in their presence.” Then her phone rang in her pocket. She fished it out and glanced at the screen, and her heart skipped a beat at Tex’s name.

Kennedy waved to her. “Please go ahead and take it. The preparations are done anyway.” Then she hurried out of the kitchen, probably to give Rachel privacy. Kennedy was tactful like that.

Rachel could use some of that tact because the first thing she said after swiping the screen to answer was, “Wonderful for you to finally call.”

There was a pause. “I–I called three times today. You missed the first call.”

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