“You weren’t supposed to start until next week and my God...” I glanced around, tears falling. “It’s all done.”
I turned in his arms and took in every detail. The incredible wooden saloon doors that separated the bakery and the kitchen. The quaint wrought-iron seats and tables we chose from a catalog weeks ago all set up, ready for guests to sit back and enjoy a tasty treat. A glass vase with a single peach carnation sat on each table. The walls were a peachy tone with the words we chose to use as decoration all etched in gold. Cream boxes with gold-and-peach ribbons were stacked up on one side near the electronic cash register. Above the back wall was a chalk-written list of the various treats we planned to have available and prices we’d set.
“Check this out!” Jasper pulled a cord over on the right side of the board and the chalkboard slowly eased down to a level where we could erase and write on it without having to stand on a chair or ladder. “Kyson built this!”
“Honey.” I choked on my words and faced him. “You did all this?”
He nodded and wrapped his arms around my waist. “My wife and her brother had a dream that was put on hold. It was necessary to do that, but I didn’t want you to wait a minute more to live your dream. You gave me mine when you married me and signed the papers to adopt Hope. I wanted you to have yours.”
I couldn’t handle it. Everything was too much.
Too much joy.
Too much happiness.
Too much love.
I burst into tears and buried my head against his chest, letting it all go. He held me while I cried and rubbed my back until I felt a tug on my skirt.
“Mommy, we have another surprise, and I helped!” Hope exclaimed, her excitement not contained in the least.
I sniffed against my husband’s chest and brushed at my tears. “Okay, little miss, show me your surprise.”
She took my hand and led me to the very back of one of the cases where there were small saloon doors for the staff to get to the other side of the service counter. We pushed through and I let my hand slide along the handmade wooden display. Lincoln was standing by it with his arms crossed over one another.
“You guys did incredible, Linc. Thank you.”
He grinned. “Anything for the woman who not only brought me the love of my life, but also made my brother the happiest man on earth. I figure I still owe you.”
Jasper beamed. “Oh, you are so getting some later for that awesome compliment.”
Lincoln smirked. “I always get me some.”
“What do you get, Uncle Linc?” Hope asked, totally oblivious to the sexual innuendo.
I squinted at Lincoln with a look that clearly stated, “Be careful what you say to my kid,” but he smiled and said, “I get all of Uncle Jasper’s treats, of course.” He grinned playfully. Lincoln had already moved into the apartment above the bakery with Jasper. My bestie felt he hit the motherlode with the antiques and was not ready to leave it. They agreed they would save up for a home together before moving.
Hope frowned. “Nuh-uh. I get some, too.” She pursed her lips into a pout.
“Of course you do. You’re right,” Lincoln answered. “Don’t you have a surprise for Izzy?”
Her eyes widened and she grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the kitchen. Everyone slowly followed us into the large open space.
She went over to the huge, four-tier wedding cake that sat in the center of our island and screamed, “Surprise!”
My mouth dropped open in awe. There were real peach roses on every tier liberally mixed with frosting. The leaves next to the roses were gold and made with an edible sugar coating Jasper had mastered. On the top of the cake were a porcelain man and woman holding on to one another. The cake was dripping in elegant decoration, swirls of frosting and fondant everywhere. And it smelled divine.
“It’s beautiful. Better than anything I could have made myself,” I whispered in complete awe.
Jasper had his hands on Hope’s shoulders, a smile on his face so big it could have brought peace to the world.
Hope raced over and pulled a step stool out from under the table. “And look, Mommy! My very own stool. Uncle Linc made it for me,” she breathed, and bounced on the balls of her feet, which were covered in none other than rainbow Converse. Courtesy of one Uncle Jasper.
I smiled. “Amazing, sweetheart.”
Hope skipped over to me and wrapped her arms around my waist, her chin to my stomach as she looked up at me. “Are you happy, Mommy?”
I cupped her little cheeks as I felt Kyson’s warmth at my back, his chin going to my shoulder.
“Yes, baby, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
“Good!” She squealed. “Can we eat the cake now?” She licked her lips.
“Absolutely. Cake for everyone!” I laughed and felt Kyson at my back, his arm going around my waist as I watched our girl prance over to Uncle Jasper, who got the serving set out to cut the cake.
“We’re going to need another one of those soon,” Kyson murmured against my cheek close to my ear.
“A child?”
“Mmm-hmm,” he rumbled, his hand going to my stomach. “Want to see a red-headed little girl running after her big sister.”
I leaned against him as he wrapped his arms more fully around me. “Give me a year to make my business a success and you’re on.”
“Deal,” he rumbled against my neck before dragging his lips along the column to kiss my cheek. He squeezed me once and then let me go.
I went over to my dad first and he wrapped me in a hug. “I’m proud of you, Izzy. The bakery is amazing and your family is wonderful.” His voice sounded a little ragged and emotional.
“Thanks, Dad. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without your and Papa’s support, love and belief in me throughout the years.”
My papa wiped a tear from his eye and pulled me into a fierce bear hug. “We love you, sweetheart. We only ever wanted you to have a beautiful life.”
“And I do. The best!” I confirmed.
My papa rubbed his hands in front of him. “And, uh, we have a bit of exciting news of our own to share.”
I pulled back and grabbed his hand. My dad Casey took my other hand and Ian looked at him then at me. “We’re moving to Colorado!”
My mouth fell open and a wall of sizzling electricity hit my body, jolting me into action. I jumped up and down and dragged them closer. “Seriously? You’re not fibbing!”
My dad chuckled and shook his head. “When you left and told us you were building the bakery here, we had a sit-down. We didn’t want to be without you, only having short phone calls to check in. Plus, Ian wanted more time with Suda Kaye. It just made sense in the end. We’re investing the money you saved us on our house and expanding your father’s landscaping business to start one out here. I told my company I needed to move to Colorado, and they agreed to let me work from home.”