CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“What were you thinking?”
Amy stared at Cami and let out a long sigh. What had she been thinking? That being held in Will’s arms had been the most wonderful thing in the world. That the closeness she’d dreamed of having with him so long ago was even more than she could have imagined.
Instead, she said, “I don’t know.”
“I had no idea when we talked that you were already this involved with him.”
Amy plopped down on the bed across from Cami. Josh, thankfully, had gone on to their room. Amy didn’t think she could have handled both of them right then. “We really aren’t that involved. That kiss came out of the blue. Neither of us planned it.”
She thought Cami was going to continue on about it, but when her sister-in-law spoke, all she said was, “Be careful.”
“I’m trying to be. It’s hard though. One minute I feel like it’s great then the next I’m filled with doubt.” Amy fidgeted with the bedspread. “Right now I wish I had never known him before. It’s left too much stuff is going around in my head.”
“Maybe it’s time to tell him everything. Just get it out there.”
Amy flopped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. “He’ll probably think I’m nuts and drop me like a hot potato.”
“I think his emotions are a little too mixed up in this for him to do that.” Cami ran her fingers over Amy’s cheek. “I can see how he looks at you. I know it took forever for Josh and me to get our act together, but that doesn’t mean things can’t happen much more quickly for others.”
“How do I keep Delia out of my head?” Amy turned to look at Cami. “Do you ever think of Emma?”
“No. But that’s a bit different. I never saw her and Josh together. I don’t know how I’d feel in your situation.” Cami laid down on her side, propping her head in her hand. “Have you prayed about it?”
“I’ve tried, but honestly, I wasn’t sure what to pray.” She frowned. “I’ve had some issues with God regarding this whole situation with Will.”
“Maybe it’s time to settle those and seek His will for what’s happening now. I know it’s hard to not dwell on the past, but it needs to stay there. Delia, your feelings back then, the heartache. It all needs to stay in the past.”
Amy nodded. “I know. Easier said than done, however.”
“We’ll be praying for you. And just so you know, I reminded Josh that no one was really all that keen when he showed an interest in me. He will cut you guys some slack, but if Will hurts you...all bets are off.”
“Thanks.”
Cami pushed herself up. “I’m going to go and let you get ready. Come show me your outfit when you’re dressed.”
“I will. Did you find the outfits I bought for Grace and Jojo? I left them in your room.”
“Yes, I did. They were thrilled with them.”
“I’ve asked Matt if he, and maybe Josh, could take the boys into town or something so they don’t feel too left out.”
“I’m sure Josh will be happy to tag along with them. Is Will hanging around for the party?”
“Oh yes, I told him he had to. Even without tights.”
Cami tilted her head and smiled a gentle smile. “You’ve changed him. And Isabella, too. As his sister, I thank you.”
Amy gave her a hug and then, after Cami left the room, began to get ready for the party.
~*~*~
Will tried to stay out of the way of the large group of fairies that were flitting around the clearing.
He was more than a little amazed at how organized Amy managed to keep it.
The mothers who had stayed were seated around a table with food and drinks of their own while their daughters had their faces painted, decorated wings, blew bubbles, pinned wings on a fairy, and took a whack at the pinata.
And in the midst of that they had eaten butterfly-shaped sandwiches and drank sparkling fruit punch out of tiny plastic cups.
Isabella was in her element. The lavender-colored fairy outfit she wore complimented her dark coloring, and she beamed from ear to ear.
He didn’t think she’d stopped smiling since arriving in fairyland.
And he was equally pleased with the smile on Charlotte’s face as she watched her only grandchild’s delight in the party that had been thrown in her honor.
He thought maybe it was good for her to have a wonderful memory to replace the one that had overshadowed this day for seven years.
For the first time since Delia’s death, his first thought that morning—the anniversary of her death—had not been of sadness and grief.
Instead it had been the anticipation of the wonderful memories that lay ahead for his daughter.
Today they were celebrating life and love instead of mourning loss.
It was about celebrating the parts of Delia that continued on in their daughter.
Will knew that today would forever change how he felt about this day.
His gaze settled on Amy, and he had to work to keep a smile off his face.
She wore a light green outfit that matched the color of her eyes.
Though the top was fitted like a leotard, the skirt was made of what looked like long gauzy handkerchiefs.
She may have let him off the hook, but the green tights had still made an appearance.
Only she wore them along with ballet flats.
Her blonde hair hung in long ringlets over her wings, and she wore a crown of dainty flowers.
She definitely looked the part of fairy princess. His fairy princess.
A couple of the women who had stayed for the party were single moms, and they’d been quite friendly with him at first. However, when he’d stuck close to Amy, they’d eventually gotten the lay of the land and had given up.
For now, he was leaning against a tree watching the girls line up for pictures with the photographer.
Each little girl was more than happy to preen and smile for the camera.
Finally, after the presents were opened, and the cake was eaten, the party began to wind down. Mothers took their reluctant fairies off down the path, the girls clutching the bags he’d helped Amy fill the day before.
Soon it was just him, Amy, and his sisters left.
He’d had Charlotte take Isabella back to the manor to say goodbye to her friends as they left, and Rose had tagged along.
Will thought Amy might take a break, but she started right in on the clean-up.
She’d obviously prepared for it as she pulled out garbage bags and began to clear off the tables.
Violet, Cami and Laurel took back the first load of stuff. When it was just him and Amy in the clearing, Will approached her.
“Hey.”
Amy glanced over her shoulder as she reached to grab the plastic cups and paper plates on the kids’ table and dropped them in the garbage bag. She straightened and turned toward him, a smile on her face. “Hey.”
“Are you happy with how it turned out?” he asked.
“That’s the question I should be asking you,” she replied.
He reached out and touched her cheek. “I’m beyond happy. You did a wonderful thing here for my little girl. I don’t think I could ever thank you.”
“No thanks necessary. I was happy to do it for her. And for you.”
Will stepped closer to her and took her face into his hands. “Still. Thank you.” He lowered his head and pressed a lingering kiss on her lips. “You look very beautiful today, too. And definitely much better in those tights than I would have looked.”
She laughed, her eyes sparkling. “Well, thank you. It was fun dressing up like the girls.”
Aware that his sisters would be returning soon, Will ran his thumb along her cheek before releasing her. “They’re never going to forget this party. And you’ve probably just made life very difficult for the mothers of those girls who are going to be wanting a party like this one.”
Amy picked up the garbage bag and dropped more things into it. “Well, it’s a bit time-consuming, but they could do it if they put their minds to it.”
“Or they could hire you to do it.”
She gave him a small smile. “Maybe.”
Before he could say anything more, he heard the sound of the women returning. He bent to help Amy clean off the table. By the time the clearing was empty of decorations, Matt and Josh had returned, and they came to help load the tables and chairs for the church into the back of Will’s truck.
It was after five by the time they returned to the manor.
Laurel and Violet had food out for everyone since what had been at the party, while filling for little girls, hadn’t been exactly hardy fare for the adults.
Will still hoped to take Amy out for dinner, but when he looked around the kitchen, she wasn’t there.
Hoping she was upstairs changing, he bided his time.
When fifteen minutes had passed with no sign of her, he turned to Rose, who was standing next to him at the island, to ask if she’d seen her.
“I think she went upstairs. Want me to go check on her?” Rose offered.
“If you don’t mind.”
Rose flashed him a smile before heading out of the kitchen, still wearing her fairy attire.
“You going to eat?” Josh asked him as he approached the counter where the food had been spread out.
Taking the risk of telling him the truth, Will shook his head. “I had planned to take Amy out for dinner. To thank her for all her hard work on Isabella’s party.”
Josh lifted an eyebrow. “I hear it was quite the success.”
That hadn’t been what Will had expected to come out of Josh’s mouth, but he was happy to have avoided any sort of lecture. “It was wonderful. She did a fantastic job.”
“She loves children, so I’m sure it was a pleasure for her to do this for Isabella.”
“Will?”
Hearing Rose’s voice, he turned from Josh to where his niece stood. “Is she okay?”
“Um...she’s sound asleep.”
“What?”
“I found her on her bed, still dressed as a fairy, sound asleep,” Rose said.
“I’m not surprised,” Lance commented. “She was up before seven this morning and worked hard all day. She’s probably exhausted.”