away from her sweet, cowboy boyfriend and tucked herself into his side.
“Okay,” Hailey said. “Should I go over the bar, Daddy?”
“Let’s wait until everyone’s here, sweets,” he said as the sound of the front door opening and twin two-year-olds entering met their ears. “Sounds like Ida and Brady are here.”
“You got Brady to come?” Etta asked. “That is a feat.” She suddenly wished she’d put on makeup, though a voice in the back of her mind asked, Why? August clearly didn’t care.
“It’s my birthday,” Ida said, clearly overhearing Etta. “He took the day off.”
“The whole weekend,” Brady said from her side. He grinned at Etta and came toward her. “Happy birthday, Etta.” He hugged her, lifting her right up off her feet.
She laughed and said, “Thank you, Brady.” As she settled back on her feet, she looked at Ida, who had Mother on her arm. She left August’s side to go to them, and the three of them hugged silently for several long moments.
“Mother, you sneak,” Etta finally whispered, all she could get her voice to do. “You must’ve been in the car when I called.”
“She was,” Ida said. “I’d just gotten her settled. It’s a miracle you didn’t hear Judy having her meltdown.”
Etta leaned forward and kissed Ida’s cheek. “I love you, sissy. Happy birthday.”
“Love you too. We have the best birthday in the world, because we get to share it.” She glanced over to August and Hailey, and when she looked back at Etta, so much was said.
This is pretty spectacular, right?
He did this for you, Etta. That means something.
I think he’s in love with you.
I’m so happy for you.
Etta gave a quick shake of her head, the conversation she’d have later with Ida, during their twin-only lunch, already overwhelming her. She went back over to Hailey and August. “I think you can go ahead.”
“No,” Ward said. “Dot’s coming over. And Ace is on his way in with Preacher.”
“I maybe invited Preacher too,” August said, grinning at her. “He’s my boss, and he and Charlie may have helped with the whole concept.”
“The waffle bar concept?” she asked.
“I came up with the waffles,” Hailey said. “Charlie said, ‘you know what Etta would do? She’d have a whole waffle bar!’” She grinned at Etta, who was utterly charmed by the girl. “And she got Holly Ann to make the caramel sauce and the maple syrup.”
“Morning,” Holly Ann herself chirped, and she arrived in the arched doorway a few moments later, both of her children with her. Etta wanted to reach for Pearl Jo, the precious baby that had joined the family a couple of months ago. Instead, she stayed right under August’s arm, enjoying the weight of it across her back, the way he curled his fingers along her hip.
“Look,” Hailey said, running toward her. “Look how we laid it all out.”
Holly Ann beamed down at her and then came over to the island, where the waffle bar had indeed been carefully laid out. “It looks amazing,” Holly Ann said. “Like a real caterer would do.” She reached out with her free hand and stroked Hailey’s hair back. “You’re a pro.”
“I followed your map.” Hailey’s face held only sunbeams, and Etta admired the lengths she and August had gone to for her birthday.
“Okay, we’re here,” Ace said as he opened the side door. Dot preceded him, handing a very sleepy-looking Glory to Ward, who kissed the baby and tucked her into his chest. Etta would be surprised if the girl didn’t fall right back asleep, a fact that made her smile.
Behind him, Preacher entered the homestead, Charlie and Betty hot on his heels. “I may have said something about waffles to Judge,” he said, his eyes searching out August’s. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” August said. “There’s plenty.”
“Plenty,” Holly Ann echoed, and she moved toward Ace, not even offering Pearl Jo to Etta. She let her go, because this was her birthday, and it was obvious that no one was going to let her hold a baby while they ate and she stood out of the way.
“Go over the bar, sweets,” August said, nudging Hailey. “If others come, they’ll know what to do, I’m sure.”
“Okay.” Hailey cleared her throat as she stepped up onto the stool Etta herself had perched on many times. She couldn’t help giggling at the girl, her heart swelling and swelling with love.
“It’s a waffle bar,” she said. “We’ve got a bunch of waffles warming in the oven, and we can make more if we run out. There are