Remy placed her arms through and then her head into the top. Out popped her face, and it was wide with a smile.
It was one of a kind because I’d made it all myself. No pattern. Just a sewing machine and measurements of my little niece. Something I knew she’d love.
Pink felt legs, arms, and head. Blue felt for the dress and bow. A tangle of pink hair sticking out of the top. All of it, I got on sale; thank you very much. It was really only my time, and I loved every second of making it for my girl.
Remy was literally Poppy, a cartoon Troll, from head to toe. Her eyes were set in amazement like she didn’t know what to do.
“You do realize she’s never going to take that off, right?” Ensley said, coming up next to us.
I shrugged. “It’s the great thing about being an aunt. I give. I see smiles. I get hugs. I leave. No issues on my end.”
Ensley chuckled as Remy started to move away. “Wait!” I called to her, and she stopped mid run. “I need a picture before you go.”
“But I wannna shows everybodys,” Remy whined, face turning down at the delay.
“Well, I guess I can take Poppy back home…” I led, knowing for sure I’d never take this away from her, but she didn’t need to know that, right?
“Dine,” she grouched.
As soon as I pulled out my camera she was all smiles and striking poses here and there, making everyone around us laugh, including me. “Thank you, bug. Now you can go.”
Remy didn’t waste any time going to every person in that backyard individually and showing them her costume. She even struck poses for them as well. She was such a ham, and I expected nothing less.
“You’ve still got the touch,” Ensley said, watching her little girl.
“Huh?” I questioned, feeling immense joy that I was able to give this happiness to Remy.
“You were always so good at sewing.”
I gave a little chuckle. “Yeah, that’s why I had to spend hours and hours making clothes for everyone at home. I actually hated it, but making this for Remy helped me not hate it as much.”
“You could totally make these things for kids for Halloween or whatever. You could make a killing,” Ensley said as Austyn came up.
“Woman? You made that? Like needle and thread shit?”
A smile came to my lips. “Yeah. One thing I can do is sew.”
“And design,” Ensley threw in, making me chuckle.
“Yeah, button-up shirts, skirts, and pants in the most boring patterns and scratchy fabrics; not really designing.”
Ensley chucked me in the shoulder. “Shut it. I bet you didn’t use a single pattern for this and had it done in less than a week.”
“Five days, but who’s counting.” Plus, I worked during that time too, but no need to throw that tidbit in.
“It looks like you made it for a prop at Disney or some shit,” Austyn tossed in. “Woman, you have a talent there.”
My head shook. “Nah, just do it to make that little one happy.”
“No, seriously.” Austyn turned to me. “Can you design dresses?”
My eyes squinted. “Ummm. I guess I could, but what do you need a dress for?” Designing a dress, now that was new.
“Ryker is taking me away in a few months to Cancun, and I want something pretty. Different. Me.”
“Hmm… I don’t know. I’m not really a designer, but I guess I could draw up some sketches, and you can tell me what you think.”
Austyn’s smile widened. “Perfect. You do that, and we’ll get together.”
A bit embarrassed with having my talent of sewing out on display, I could feel my cheeks heat. It sounded stupid even to my own ears, but this little thing, Austyn asking this of me, made me feel included. Like I had a purpose in this group. Small, but it was there. A spark of hope.
Yeah, stupid. Chances were the type of dress Austyn would want would be something there was no way in heck I could do.
“Looks like you get the award for best gift,” Dryerson said, coming up behind me and causing me to jump. His hands instantly went to that special spot on my neck, and I settled.
One touch. That was all it took. That was just not right.
Blowing out a deep breath, I responded, “Not goin’ for an award. Just wanted to make her happy.”
“And you hit the nail on the head with that one. That girl is on cloud nine and not expected to come down any time soon.” Dryerson’s words brushed my ear, so he must’ve been bending down a bit because he was much taller than me. I could feel him, as if his hands were caressing every inch of my body.
“Good. That’s what I want for her. A life full of joy.”
Ensley pulled me away from Dryerson and wrapped me in her arms. “You’ll find happiness and joy too, Katie. I swear it.”
I felt the tears begin to form in my eyes, and the pain of those words rolled through my brain. She didn’t understand, and thank God she never would. Pushing back the wetness with everything in me, I enjoyed my sister's embrace. She didn’t know, but I needed it more than I cared to admit. Inside I was cracking.
Whatever I could do in this life to make Ensley and Remy’s better, I would in a heartbeat. My sister’s arms were exactly what I needed. As she pulled away, she brushed the hair away from my face. “Swear it, Katie. Swear that you’ll grab happiness with both hands and hold onto it.”
The words were so low, I knew no one around us heard, but I couldn’t answer her. I couldn’t promise something like that. It was too monumental. Holding myself together took every bit of strength I had left.
Instead, I pulled her into my arms again and squeezed her with everything I had.
“Can I steal her for a bit?” Dryerson asked, pulling us out of our moment and crushing Ensley’s desire for answers.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know which one was worse. My sister or him wanting a moment ‘to talk’. The way I burned up on the inside just from his words, it had to be him. All him.
“Actually, I’m going to go,” I told both of them, looking for some way out of this mess. Talking to either of them had their issues, and I’d held it together, kind of, during this party. I didn’t need to push my luck. It wasn’t very good as is.
Dryerson grabbed my hand, and instantly I tried to pull away, but he didn’t allow it. Instead, he said to Ensley, “I’ll bring her back to ya in a sec,” then began to tug me along through the crowd of people.
“Dryerson!” I yelled, getting nowhere. This man was incessant and didn’t respond. And to make matters worse, none of the people we went by or ran into stopped him. Not that I expected them to, but there was a sliver of hope there.
With a huff and a roll of my eyes, I decided not to fight. It would only make this take longer than it needed to be. Better just to get it out in the open. Whatever ‘it’ was…
He led me down the hall and directly into the room where I used to stay and closed the door. I began to look around but was halted as my back was pressed to door. Dryerson’s body was against mine, his heat stirring this primal need inside me.
His lips came down on mine, and only then did he let go of my hand to place it in the curve of my neck and shoulder. That darn sweet spot … he knew me too well.