49. Millie
CHAPTER 49
Millie
Between the banging, barking, and clanging outside my bedroom window this morning, and Elodie’s deep, quaking snores inside, any hopes I had of a long lie quickly evaporated not long after 7 a.m. Maura’s been on some sort of mission ever since, much like the day of the Barnhoff wedding, and we’ve all been slapped with a job to help ensure things run smoothly.
It’s the annual Braggan Valley Community Fundraiser, and this year, Braggan Valley Lodge is in charge of the event. Each fall, the town gets together to part with some cash for good causes and enjoy the last of the sun before winter sets in. Maura’s got her sights set on this being the fundraiser to beat all fundraisers, but I’ve seen the pictures from last year's Fire Station car wash, and I think it might be a hard act to follow.
The open space between the lodge and the staff house has been transformed, with a small stage set up by the creek, several trestle tables lined with homemade salads, pastas, and appetizers, and three industrial BBQs manned by Chef Raph and his culinary team. The lawn is strewn with mismatched tables, chairs, and picnic benches for the guests and drinks are aplenty, with an old bathtub filled to the brim with ice and a mixture of local beers and soda’s from Braggan Brews.
For the kids, an entire section of grass has been cordoned off with celebratory bunting – inside, there’s a life-size chess board, a timber climbing frame and what seems like hundreds of multi-coloured space hoppers. It’s magical, but most of the children seem to be more interested in the Soak The Teacher stand , where poor Principal Bates has just taken yet another sponge to the face.
We’ve been lucky with the weather, the sun beaming through the trees making it feel like the perfect summer's day even though the larches are already well on their way to their fall oranges and yellows. It’s the final touch on an already perfect set-up. This could never have been a half-assed fundraiser with Maura at the helm, but it’s even more filled with life than I’d imagined it would be.
I pluck a pamphlet from one of the empty tables, glancing over the entertainment order of the day, it’s mostly smaller artists or bands, with the exception of the final act, Weston Hayes. He’s an up-and-coming country artist from Calgary, no doubt used to bigger, and more equipped, venues than this one. Lord only knows what kind of strings Maura pulled to make that happen, but I’m sure it’ll bring in the crowds to top up donations later in the evening.
“Miss Adams!” I hear the rattling of coins in the base of a bucket as Elodie takes long strides in my direction. “Care to donate to the cause today?”
I've already donated, but I know Elodie is on a mission to beat her donation target before the first hour of the event is through, so I pull another ten-dollar note from my pocket and slide it through the slot in the top of the bucket.
“Thanks, babe,” she beams, her green eyes glistening in the hazy sun. “Your donation will make a big difference to the library’s Early Years Literacy Program.”
Choosing Elodie to be the donation bucket bearer was another of Maura’s smart ideas, I have no doubt she’ll be able to get additional donations out of some of the most tight-fisted guests here today.
And she’ll do it with a smile.
“I don’t know how you look so full of life right now,” I groan. “I heard you giggling at what I can only assume was 3 a.m.”
“Listen…” She fakes a sigh. “I had every intention of going to bed at a reasonable hour, but just as I was about to close my book, Ronan and Elira finally made it to the village… after a five-hour trek through the forest… and there was only one bed at the inn. How do you expect a girl to stop reading at that point?”
“You’re obsessed.”
“Guilty as charged.” She shrugs. “Anyhoo, gotta dash – this bucket won't fill itself.”
She trots in the direction of the next table, animated and vibrating with energy as she encourages more guests to pull out their wallets.
I slide onto the nearest picnic bench, taking in everything going on, all of the mingling and laughter. I know everyone at the lodge, and a fair few locals from town, but there’s still an overwhelming number of new faces. I need a minute to psych myself up before I throw myself into the introductions and small talk that come with still being relatively new around here.
“Maura, darling!” Stella’s shrill voice comes from the make-shift parking lot as she throws open the passenger door of Frank’s beaten-up truck and jumps to the ground.
“Stell!” Maura’s voice is bright, almost childlike, as she jogs towards her. “You’re here!”
I watch as the pair reconnect like they haven’t seen each other in years, dancing around the lawn in each other's embrace with an infectious energy that screams girlhood.
Frank follows behind, his arms laden with bags, and two small humans hot on his heels – their grandchildren, Reuben and Daisie.
“Hi Cade!” Reuben squeals, noticing him before I do. It’s the first time I’ve seen Caden all day, he’s been busy setting up and making sure everything’s done right. “Put me on your shoulders! Put me on your shoulders!”
Caden wastes no time swinging Reuben’s body in the air like he’s weightless, letting little legs fall around his shoulders as he runs the perimeter of the main house.
They disappear out of view, but I can still hear Reuben’s hearty chuckles as they round the corner.
Daisie stays glued to Frank’s side, pulling on his trouser leg to get his attention. He bends at the hip, pointing her in the direction of the kids’ area, but she just shakes her head, clasping her arms tighter around his shin, as though she can’t bear to be away from him.
“Daisie’s turn!” Caden calls as he pulls Reuben off his shoulders with one arm & plonks him down on his feet. “Get up here. ”
She shakes her head again, her eyes fixed on the ground as she pulls Frank’s hand over her face.
Caden doesn’t push, just nods and slumps down on the ground a few feet from her. He sticks his fingers in his mouth, letting out a wolf whistle meant for Doug. On command, seventy pounds of thick black fur careers through the crowd, licking Caden’s face excitedly on arrival.
“Look who’s come to see you.” Caden scratches Doug’s belly as he rolls around like a puppy. “Daisie and Reuben came all the way from Calgary, just to give you a hug.”
Caden keeps talking, directing his words at Doug, though they’re really meant for Daisie. She peeps out from behind Frank’s hand, slowly uncoiling herself as the corner of her lip tips up at the sight of Doug.
With careful, hesitant steps she pushes off from the safety of Frank’s side. Her hands are clenched in front of her, body swaying from side to side, as she asks Caden a question without meeting his eyes.
Dropping to her knees, she lets Caden guide her tiny fingers as she moves them across Doug’s coat in tentative strokes.
My heart melts.
Watching Caden be so good is healing something deep within me. He’s gruff, and stand-offish, and blunt on the outside, but underneath all of that he’s everything a man should be – kind, protective, caring beyond measure.
He’s shown me that good men do exist, and he keeps proving it with his actions, not just his words.
To see him being unashamedly playful with Reuben and then taking his time with Daisie, has just made me fall for him that little bit more. Something that I didn’t even know was possible.
I push up from my spot, making my way in his direction, lingering a little and hoping not to spoil the sweet moment he’s absorbed in. He catches sight of me in the corner of his eye, before whispering something in Daisie’s ear, and jumping to his feet.
Watching him jog towards me, I’m not sure where I played my cards right to bag a man this hot . But I’m counting my lucky stars that I’ve found him.
“My girl.” He pulls me into him as his lips find mine, devouring me like they’ve been starved of me. “I’ve missed you today.”
“I’ve missed you too.” I blush, feeling eyes falling on us. “But you’re going to need to stop kissing me like that in public, people are looking.”
“And?” He laughs. “I’m in love with you, Millie. And I’m not afraid to let the world see that.”
“Say that again,” I say, my lips hovering over his. “I like how it sounds.”
“I’m in love with you,” he whispers, stealing another kiss as he does. “I’m—” another kiss, “—in love—” and another, “—with you.”
I laugh into the crook of his neck, as he scatters kisses up and down mine, loving me out loud without an ounce of shame.
Maura was right, Braggan Valley does have a way of giving people exactly what they need.
And I needed a man like this.
I needed Caden Thompson.