Page 13 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
He toed off his shoes, then bolted toward the kids’ room, yelling, “Ben, I got a Pickle!” as he disappeared.
We were at the farmhouse for a spur-of-the-moment Saturday barbeque because the one thing Gigi Cleary loved more than her family, friends and Halloween was hosting parties. It was still early, only four in the afternoon, and Coby and I were the first to arrive. I was here to play sous chef while he ran around with Gigi’s son, Ben, who was just a few months younger.
I hung my purse on a hook in the entryway and walked toward the kitchen at the back of the house. “Hey,” I said, giving my best friend a one-arm hug, then depositing my grocery bag on the island. “I brought tortilla chips and fixings for my guacamole.”
“Perfect! I think I’ve got all of the burgers, brats and hot dogs prepped. I made a fruit salad, a pasta salad, a green salad, baked beans and spinach dip. Oh, and some brownies.”
There were only going to be eleven adults and six kids here tonight. “Yikes. We’re probably going to run out of food,” I deadpanned.
She smiled. “Probably.”
“Hey, Maze,” a deep voice said from behind me.
Gigi’s husband, Jess, walked into the kitchen with their almost-two-year-old daughter, Adeline, perched on his arm. “Hi, Jess. Hey, Miss Adeline.” I stepped up close and tickled her side.
She giggled and ducked her head into her dad’s neck.
“What’s new?” Jess asked, grabbing a handful of the trail mix Gigi had set out on the island.
“Not much. Just gearing up for tourist season. What about you? Arrest anyone lately, Sheriff?”
He smiled. “Nope. Things have been slow.”
“Just the way we like it.” Gigi slid into Jess’s free side and wrapped her arms around his waist.
I smiled. “Good.”
Blissfully happy and carefree was a great look for them. I gave myself a mental pat on the back for getting these two hooked up. I’d played matchmaker with them years ago, and though they’d gotten off to a bumpy start, they’d found peace and love in this farmhouse.
“Maisy!”
I spun away from the island and braced, ready to receive a crashing hug from Jess and Gigi’s oldest daughter. “Rowen!” Ever since she was a little girl, Rowen’s hugs had been wild and crazy. So I made sure mine were just as wild and crazy back.
“Guess what?” she shouted with her skinny arms wrapped around my waist. “Daddy finally agreed to let me get my ears pierced! Mom and Aunt Lissy are taking me to Bozeman next weekend to get it done. Can you come too?”
“Totally! I’d love to.” Roe didn’t know it but Gigi had already invited me to join her and her sister-in-law, Felicity, while Jess watched Coby. All I needed to do was convince my mom, dad or one of my brothers to be on call at the Bitterroot in case something happened with a guest.
“I’m so excited!” She let me go and flipped her long brown hair over her shoulders so she could prance around the kitchen, holding out her naked earlobes. “I’m getting diamond studs because Aunt Lissy says they’re timeless.”
I swallowed a laugh. This girl was as diva as you could get for a nine-year-old. “Well, she’s right about that.”
“Roe, sweetie, can you run and check on your brother and Coby?” Gigi asked, letting go of Jess to start setting out plates and silverware.
“Sure, Mommy.” She smiled and skipped out of the kitchen in her pink-glitter ballet flats.
I let go of the laugh I’d been holding in. “Do you think she’s going to be crushed when she realizes the ‘diamonds’ at Claire’s in the mall are fake?”
Gigi scoffed, shoving the silverware drawer closed. “Oh, didn’t I tell you?” She flicked her wrist toward her handsome husband, who was shaking his head. “Jess came home with diamond earrings for her last night. He’s going to surprise her tomorrow.”
My jaw fell. “You’re kidding.” I didn’t even own diamond earrings.
Gigi shook her head. “Nope. Tell her your reasoning,” she ordered Jess.
He just shrugged and grabbed another handful of trail mix. “Figured if I set the bar high enough, she won’t ever find a boyfriend that can live up to it. Probably won’t want to date until she’s thirty.”
I burst out laughing. Now how could I argue with that? Gigi was trying to hide her smile behind her wineglass.
“When Adeline gets old enough, she’ll have diamonds too.” Jess pressed a kiss to the soft curls of her brown hair. “All my girls get diamonds.”
