Chapter 19
TESSA
I watch Daisy fidget nervously in her chair, silently hoping she’s learned her lesson from today’s hair fiasco. But to be honest, I can’t muster even a shred of remorse. It was just a few colorful strands. Harmless fun. But Jace and that damned vice principal didn’t see it that way.
So, to keep the peace and prevent the tension from escalating into a full-blown storm, I prepare myself to undo what I did. “Alright, Bug, time to restore things to normal. Daddy likes rules, so we follow them.”
Daisy pouts, clearly disappointed. “But I liked my pink streaks!”
“I know,” I say, ruffling her hair. “I did too. But sometimes, to keep peace with the big, scary, grumpy cowboy, we compromise.”
“Do you think Daddy’s still mad?” Daisy asks quietly, picking at the hem of her pajamas.
I crouch down so we’re eye level. “Your dad doesn’t stay mad for long. He just worries too much.”
“Because I’m little?”
“Because he loves you.”
She hums at that, processing it in her thoughtful, seven-year-old way. I tuck a stray pink strand behind her ear and say, “And because he secretly likes your hair. He’s just pretending not to.”
Daisy grins, gap-toothed and radiant. “You think so?”
“Oh, absolutely. He’s just scared you’ll have more fans than him.”
She laughs again. Her joy is contagious, and I feel it deeply, warmth spreading in my chest.
I’ve been in hiding for months, but somehow this bathroom, this little girl, and even her cranky cowboy of a dad have dragged me back to life.
I hold up a fresh box of blonde dye that Jace was more than happy to provide. “Time to turn your hair back to its natural color.”
She nods begrudgingly and lets me get to work.
Half an hour later, the bathroom looks like a shampoo commercial gone wrong. There’s conditioner on the mirror, streaks of dye on my shirt, and Daisy’s head is wrapped in cling film like a shiny science experiment.
She keeps squirming on the counter. “It itches!”
“I told you not to move.” I point my dye-covered brush at her. “Hold still, or you’ll end up with a patchy cow pattern.”
Daisy giggles so hard she snorts. “Like our cows outside?”
“Exactly like that. You’ll be Daisy the Calf Girl.”
She howls with laughter. “Daddy would hate that.”
“See? Motivation to stay still.”
We fall into an easy rhythm, me working carefully through her hair, Daisy talking about school, horses, and her secret plan to teach me to ride a bull.
How did we go from horse riding to bull riding?
This tiny cowgirl wants to kill me. But I still find myself nodding along.
She’s so full of light it almost hurts to look at her.
By the time we finish, her hair is back to the normal blonde curls, neat and rule-abiding. She sighs dramatically, but I see a spark of mischief in her eyes. Same as me. And somehow, I think Jace will never truly tame that spark in either of us.
We migrate from the bathroom to the kitchen once the hairdryer war ends. Daisy plops into her usual seat at the counter, munching on animal crackers while I scrub the last of the dye off my hands. The mirror-cleaner and bleach smell still clings to me, but her grin makes it worth it.
“See?” I tell her. “Crisis averted. Daddy won’t even know you ever joined the Punk Rock Rebellion of 2025.”
Daisy crunches another cracker. “He’ll know. Daddy knows everything.”
She’s right. Jace has that way of looking at people—steady, unblinking, like he’s peeling back your excuses and reading your soul at the same time. It’s infuriating and unfairly attractive.
I clear my throat and focus on wiping down the counter. “Well, then we’ll just distract him.”
“With what?” she asks, her eyes lighting up.
“Hmm.” I tap my chin theatrically. “A distraction so brilliant, he won’t even remember the word pink.”
Daisy gasps. “Like a surprise?”
“Exactly like a surprise.”
She leans forward, eyes wide. “A surprise like what?”
I mull over it for a moment, then I recall a certain detail about Jace. I grin, having come up with the perfect idea. “How about a surprise for his birthday?”
Her face lights up like the Fourth of July. “Daddy’s birthday!”
“Yep, he’s turning thirty-four this weekend. We can surprise him.”
“Can we make him a cake?”
“Of course we can. But not just any cake. We’re gonna make this birthday the best one he’s ever had.”
Her eyes widen. “With balloons? And music? And everyone?”
“Of course. We’ll need reinforcements—Ella, Beck, Zane, Ava, Quinn, even Grandpa Hank.”
She gasps like I’ve handed her a secret mission. “We’re making Daddy a super-secret birthday party!”
I crouch beside her, holding out my pinky finger. “Deal?”
“Deal!” she says, hooking hers with mine.
Our fingers lock, sealing the pact, a promise to bring joy to a man who spends too much of his life carrying everyone else’s burdens.
We spend the next hour brainstorming. I sketch out a quick plan for decorations, a cake, and gifts. Daisy eagerly adds ideas: balloons, a banner, a handmade card.
Every now and then, she looks up at me, eyes sparkling. “Tessa, do you think he’ll be surprised?”
I smile, my heart warming. “Oh, he’ll be shocked, and then he’ll love it. Trust me. He may act grouchy, but he’ll be touched.”
By the end of our planning session, we’re both practically buzzing with excitement. This isn’t just about Jace’s birthday; it’s a chance for us to show him how much we care, in our own chaotic, colorful way.
Daisy leans her head against my shoulder. “Thank you, Tessa. You’re the best.”
I squeeze her hand. “Nope. You’re the best. But together? We’re unstoppable.”
So much for the agreement I had with myself to stay away from him. This is bigger than me, though; it’s for Daisy too, so I’m willing to break my own rule for her.
“Alright, Bug,” I whisper conspiratorially, “time to get the rest of the gang on board.”
Daisy nods solemnly, like we’re about to embark on a top-secret mission.
It’s right on time for dinner, so everyone is gathering at the dining table. Jace is usually the last to arrive, so we take the chance before he arrives. Daisy sits beside me, barely containing her excitement, bouncing her heels against her chair.
I nudge her gently with my elbow. “It’s now or never, kiddo.”
She grins, eyes sparkling. She stands on her chair and announces to the table, “We’re throwing Daddy a surprise party!”
The room stills for exactly three seconds, long enough for forks to freeze halfway to mouths, for Zane to choke on a laugh, and for Beck to mutter, “Oh, hell, this is gonna be good.”
Ella’s the first to recover. “You’re what?”
Daisy’s practically vibrating. “A surprise! For Daddy’s birthday! Tessa and I are planning it!”
Ava sets down her wine glass, smiling. “Well, I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard all week.”
Even Hank, who’s usually the stoic observer at the head of the table, hides a grin behind his napkin. “You planning to do it here at the ranch?” he asks.
“Yes!” Daisy says, nodding so hard her ponytail bounces. “We’ll decorate it and make cake and—“
“And we need everyone’s help,” I cut in, smiling at her enthusiasm. “He can’t know. Absolute secrecy.”
Quinn leans forward, chin in hand. “You do realize he can read people like open books, right? He’s going to smell the plot from a mile away.”
“Then we’ll outsmart him,” I say, matching her grin. “We’ll keep him busy until everything’s ready.”
Ava glances around the table. “Alright. Who’s in?”
A chorus of “me’s” and “I’m in” follows, even Zane’s begrudging grunt of agreement.
“Perfect,” I say. “Ella, you’re on cake duty. Quinn and Ava, decorations. Zane, you’re handling music. Beck—“
“Grill, I know,” he interrupts with a resigned sigh. “If I hear one more person say they love my ribs more than me—“
Hank clears his throat, interrupting his rant. “And I suppose I’m in charge of keeping the birthday boy distracted?”
“Yes, sir,” I reply. “You’re the only one he won’t argue with.”
“Oh, he’ll argue,” Hank says, eyes twinkling. “But I’ve been winning those fights for thirty-four years.”
The table bursts into laughter, and I glance around at the teasing, warmth, effortless chaos of this family. It’s loud, a little messy, but so full of love it aches in the best way.
I catch Daisy watching everyone with that bright, proud smile, and in that instant, I know she feels it too: the magic of belonging.
It’s strange. I’ve never been part of something like this. A family that jokes and plans and loves loudly. Jace has no idea what’s coming. And for once, I can’t wait to surprise him.
It takes a whole week of planning, keeping secrets, to make sure Jace doesn’t find out, until the big day is finally upon us.
The house is buzzing with quiet energy as we finish the last-minute preparations. Balloons float near the ceiling, a banner stretches across the living room, and the cake, perfectly decorated with chocolate frosting and little edible stars, is perched precariously at the center of the room.
The house hums with quiet, purposeful chaos, the kind that only happens when everyone’s trying really hard to act normal.
Hank took Jace into town early, claiming there was an urgent supply run and a broken trailer hitch that needed fixing. Knowing Hank, he probably threw in a detour or two just to buy us more time.
Daisy tugs on my sleeve. “Do you think Daddy will like it?”
I crouch down, smiling at her eager face. “He’s gonna love it. How could he not?”
She tilts her head. “You think he’ll forgive us for the pink hair too?”
I chuckle. “Oh, definitely. He might even forget all about it.”
She nods, serious as ever. “Good. Because I don’t like it when Daddy is mad at me.”
“I know, kiddo. I don’t like it either.”
I peek out from behind the doorframe, checking the driveway when I hear a truck pull in. “Okay, everyone, they are here. Lights off! Beck, dim the lamps. Daisy, you know what to do when he walks in.”
And then we hear the sound of his wheelchair coming up the ramp. The chatter dies down, everyone crouches behind furniture or around corners, and I give Daisy a quick nod. She ducks behind the sofa, practically vibrating with excitement.
The room goes dark except for the soft glow from the fairy lights. The air stills, charged with that giddy, nervous kind of excitement.
The door opens, and Jace wheels in, still in his work clothes, eyebrows already knitting in suspicion at the strange quiet. He pauses, scanning the room.
And before anyone else can move, Daisy leaps forward and yells, “SURPRISE!”