Fragile Hearts (Poplar Falls #4) - Amber Kelly Page 0,5
surmises.
“No, someone is a hundred months pregnant, and her feet and ankles are the size of watermelons,” Dallas whines.
“Well, come on, grumpy momma. Let’s get you off those swollen melons and get you something to eat,” Charlotte says as she takes the gift from Dallas and steers us to the table where Sophie is seated between her mother and Elle.
“I hate you,” Dallas says in Sophie’s direction as she drops awkwardly into the seat.
“Hate me? Why?” Sophie asks with her eyes wide.
“Because you look all cute and chipper. And that dress looks great on you. If it wasn’t for the fact that it looks like you shoved a little basketball up under it, no one would ever know you were pregnant. I look like I’m wearing a freaking tent, and I had to come in my slippers because none of my shoes fit right now.”
“You do not look like you’re wearing a tent, Dal. You look adorable,” Sophie replies.
Dallas just rolls her eyes at her.
We are served a delicious dinner before Sophie begins opening the insane amount of gifts. Half of which her mother brought from the city.
“Can you believe she flew a pony in?” Elle asks as Vivian stands beside Sophie, handing her the gifts one by one.
“Yep,” Dallas and Charlotte say at the same time.
“We live on a ranch, and she flew a pony in from Upstate New York. That’s insane,” Elle exclaims.
“That’s Viv. I knew she was going to do something to try to upstage whatever Madeline and Jefferson got them for the baby,” Dallas says.
“Especially seeing as they gave them a home for a wedding gift,” Charlotte adds.
Jefferson Lancaster is Sophie’s father. He and his second wife, Madeline, own Rustic Peak. Madeline is Braxton and Elle’s aunt, and they have lived with them since their parents died in an accident when Elle was three years old. They gave a piece of land on the back side of the ranch that overlooks the river to Braxton and Sophie as a gift when they got engaged. Braxton spent the months before their wedding building their house on that land.
“It’s still nuts. I thought Uncle Jefferson’s head was going to explode when the trailer pulled up with that animal on it,” Elle continues.
“I wish I could have been here to see that,” Dallas says on a giggle.
Then, she groans.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Yes, I think I might have just tinkled on myself a little though. Laughing always does that these days,” she says.
“Ew,” Charlotte says and then thinks better as she reaches over and pats Dallas’s shoulder. “I mean, ah, that’s sweet.”
“Yep, I’m adorable,” Dallas retorts as she pops another meatball in her mouth.
Once Sophie opens all her gifts and everyone has eaten their fill, we get up and start mingling under the twinkling lights.
Elle’s aunt Doreen and aunt Ria are fussing over the baskets at the party-favor table.
“Hi, girls,” Aunt Doreen says before rounding the table and engulfing first Dallas and then me into a big hug.
“It’s so good to see you. How long are you going to be home?” she asks me.
“Through the summer. For now. I’m hoping to start a new job in a couple of months.”
“That’s wonderful. I know the girls are happy to have you home for a while.” She beams.
“You girls make sure to take a basket. It’s the only thing Vivian would let Ria and me handle.”
I check out the small handwoven baskets that have a handwritten card attached that says, Tickled Pink You Came. Inside is a small terra-cotta flowerpot and seed packet that says, Let Love Grow; a bag of white chocolate–drizzled popcorn that says, She’s Ready to Pop; along with an assortment of baked goodies, a set of white-and-pink handmade goat’s milk soap bars, and a tiny bottle of pink champagne that says, Pop It When She Pops.
“These are amazing,” I say as I snatch up two.
“Take one for your momma too. I hate that she was feeling poorly and couldn’t make it. She and Miss Elaine helped us assemble the baskets after church last week. She made the popcorn, and Elaine made the soaps.”
They helped Momma make the favor baskets for Dallas’s shower too.
A basket full of their love.
“These are charming. You guys outdid yourselves. And this shindig, woohoo,” I muse.
“It is lovely. I know Viv can be a bit much, but the woman knows how to throw a party,” Aunt Doreen praises.
We hear a whistle just as Braxton, Walker, and Jefferson round the house.