The Path to Sunshine Cove (Cape Sanctuary #2) - RaeAnne Thayne Page 0,72
help?” Jess asked after Cody left.
“Nothing. It’s your birthday party. You can sit down and relax while I go see what I need to fix out there.”
“Or I can come out and help you,” Jess said with her usual stubbornness.
Rachel sighed. “Okay. But I’m afraid it’s going to be ugly.”
“Sounds like it’s been a rough afternoon,” Jess said as they made their way back to the patio off the kitchen.
“Cody was supposed to be home an hour ago to help me but got tied up on a job site, as usual. Silas has been on a rampage all day. Cody took the kids outside to do a few things while I finished up in here and apparently Silas discovered how fun it can be to spray his sisters and father with the garden hose.”
“Who wouldn’t enjoy that?” Jess teased.
“Me. Apparently I’m the party pooper because all I can think about are the ruined decorations.”
“Like Cody said, it’s probably not as bad as that. Let’s go see.”
When they walked to the patio, Rachel wanted to cry. The big tissue flowers she had made so carefully were soaked, their colors running onto the soaked tablecloth. The place settings were wet. The live palm tree she had bought at the garden center still looked good, at least.
“We can fix this.”
“Not by the time Eleanor and her family get here,” Rachel wailed.
“First of all, they won’t care. Trust me. Second of all, I can help.”
“It’s your birthday. Your only job is to enjoy yourself. I wanted it to be perfect for you.”
“I appreciate that. And the perfect birthday for me would be one where you let me help you fix this.”
How did Jess always manage to turn things around so she ended up with her own way?
“Fine. Help me clear these dishes off and take them inside. We can’t do anything about the flowers, but I’ll figure something out. Meanwhile, I don’t want to serve food on dishes that have been sprayed with the garden hose so we’ll have to use the everyday dishes. Fortunately, they’re white and will go with anything.”
“Sounds like a plan. Operation Party Repair. Let’s do this.”
She and Jess hurriedly cleared off the cutlery, glasses and plates and carried them into the sink, then Rachel went to her linen closet. She could only be grateful she kept it organized enough that she could quickly find a pale green tablecloth of the right size.
Working quickly, she and Jess reset the table. She ended up taking a few of the extra leis that she and the girls had made and artfully arranging them along with some shells from a basket she kept in the living room.
“Beautiful,” Jess declared.
It wasn’t close to as gorgeous as the original table had been, but it would do in a pinch.
At least the night was lovely, warmer than usual with a soft, sea-scented breeze. And she had to admit, it was nice to work with Jess, united in a common cause. When they returned to the kitchen, slightly breathless from the frenzied repair job, Cody was coming down with all of the kids in tow.
Rachel mourned the girls’ hairdos, which were now damp ponytails, but had to approve of the flowered dresses they wore.
“Will this work?” Cody asked.
She wanted to say something about how the little matching muumuus would have been better. She swallowed the urge and nodded instead. “It’s good.”
“What do we need to do?”
“Start the kebabs,” she told him. “We’ve cleaned up out there. The Whitakers should be here any minute.”
“I’ll go check the coals and then come back for the meat.”
“I’ll bring it out.”
She saw that Jess was currently entertaining all three of the kids, having them give her a tour of the elaborate, though still unfinished, playhouse Cody had been working on.
When Rachel carried the platters of meat out to the grill, Cody grabbed her for a quick hug. He smelled so good right after he showered. She had bought a new soap on Etsy, scented with cedarwood and sage and citrus. It made her want to just stand and inhale his neck.
“You fixed it out here. It looks great.”
Not as good as it was but it would do. “Jess helped.”
“I am sorry, babe.”
After a minute, she stepped away. “It wasn’t your fault. Silas is quick.”
“He didn’t understand what he did wrong. I know it was a disaster but I really do wish you could have seen him laughing as he sprayed everything in sight. He was just like any other kid, up