34. Ella
34
ELLA
M aybe I should be more nervous to meet these people as Bodhi’s girlfriend but I’m not, the excitement forcing away all other thoughts as he parks the truck in front of the light blue farmhouse with the wraparound porch. It’s beautiful with rocking chairs and a black and white cat walking along the railing.
We’d left early, traveling about thirty minutes north to pick up a rescue donkey named Blu with a pretty white spot on her face. She’d spent most of her life traveling with a pop-up carnival, her steps slow from having been ridden for so long. She nuzzled against my hand as we loaded her into the trailer, something Bodhi had done with ease, his competence so incredibly sexy I’d almost thrown myself at him.
Later.
“Ready?” Bodhi asks softly, my hands gripping the pie dish as my gaze darts around.
“What? Yes, of course.”
Chuckling, he steps out and rounds the front of the truck to the passenger side, his smile knowing as he opens my door and holds out a hand. I take it but I’m more than a little distracted by the way his plain long-sleeved shirt is molded to his chest and shoulders, his jeans hugging his narrow waist and muscular thighs.
Dammit, I should have made him pull over before we got here.
“It’s gonna be fine,” he murmurs, pulling me against him, his lips curving up on one side.
“I know; I’m just takin’ it all in.” I grin back, popping up on my toes, careful not to squish the pie as I plant a quick kiss on his mouth.
“Y’all coming or what?” a feminine voice calls from behind me and Bodhi sighs, taking my hand as we turn toward the house.
“Montana unable to hold you back any longer?” Bodhi asks the grinning brunette. She’s gorgeous with a kick-ass energy that radiates from her. I haven’t seen her in years but Ellison Mills—Greene, I guess now—isn’t someone you’d soon forget.
“Oh, please,” she laughs, “like that man could stop me from doing anything.” She snorts as she greets me with an outstretched hand. “Ellison Greene.”
“Ella. Thanks so much for having us,” I tell her, juggling the pie with one hand and returning her shake. “I always thought your name was so much fancier than mine.”
She laughs but her eyes are sparkling. “Fancy—I like it. But I think fancy is a state of mind, don’t you?”
“Uncle Bodhi!” a young girl yells, bursting through the door and launching herself at Bodhi.
“Oof,” he grunts, staggering back a couple of steps as he absorbs the impact. “Missed you too, kid.”
Burying her face in his neck, I watch as he just holds her, like it’s the easiest thing in the world. “Will you braid my hair tomorrow?” she asks, lifting her head and making the biggest sad-eyed face I’ve ever seen. “Mama said you were busy this weekend but it’s my first game.”
I grin and nod when Bodhi’s gaze strays over to mine. “It’s no problem,” he says, pressing a kiss to her forehead and turning toward me. “Holland, this is Ella.”
“Mama said she was pretty,” Holland stage-whispers as she looks at me and I grin, loving her immediately.
“It’s really nice to meet you,” I tell her as Ellison takes the pie from my hand.
“Holland, will you take this inside, please? And then tell everyone to come out here? I have a surprise.”
After Bodhi reluctantly sets her down, we watch as Holland races toward the house, only slowing as she hops up the porch steps.
“Do you want me to take the trailer in the back?” Bodhi asks but Ellison shakes her head. “Later. Can you bring her out?” she asks before pulling out a collar with an oversized tag on the front from the pocket of her dress.
What else does she have in there?
My eyebrows pinch together as she runs her thumb over the tag before turning it to face me.
We’re Pregnant!
I gasp, the sound making Bodhi turn to look at us.
“Oh my gosh!” I whisper squeal. “Can I hug you?”
“Yes,” she laughs, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “Stupid hormones.”
The words are muttered like she’s really put out by it, but the way she hugs me says that she’s completely overjoyed.
Walking slowly, Bodhi brings the donkey around to stand in front of us, the sweet girl completely unfazed by the people now pouring out of the house as Ellison slips the collar around her neck.
“Got the goats in the back too,” Bodhi murmurs, making her grin as he wraps his arm around her shoulders. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“What the hell?” Montana cries, exasperation in his tone as he stalks down the steps, all dark hair and broad shoulders as he stands in front of her with his hands on his hips. “We don’t need a donkey.”
“Her name is Blu and look at her face,” Ellison says coyly. “Look, she even came with a name tag…”
Narrowing his eyes, he takes a step toward the donkey, one hand gently petting her snout before he stumbles back a step.
“Eddie…” he rasps—an affectionate nickname if I were to guess—“are we? I mean you’re?—”
“Pregnant,” she confirms, tears pooling in her eyes as they stare at each other before he lets out a whoop , picking her up and spinning her around.
“We’re havin’ a baby!” he yells, the crowd going absolutely wild with the news.
Bodhi winks at me from where he’s still holding on to Blu, the donkey still perfectly content as someone’s arm slides around my waist.
“Welcome to the family,” the slight blonde says, her smile bright and happy. I’d met Bea Carter in passing when she stopped by Wandering Pages to drop off some of her lotions and soaps. Hannah can barely keep them on the shelves. My own bathroom has more than a few of the goat milk products, not just because the tag, Bea’s Bubbles and Balms, is adorable, but because my skin has never felt so soft.
Plus I’m a sucker for a seasonal scent like everyone else.
“Thank you,” I tell her with a laugh as she gives me a real hug, her positive energy infectious—or maybe it’s the love absolutely gushing from everyone here. Either way, I can’t help but soak it up, my heart soaring at being a small part of this newfound family.
“It’s usually not this chaotic…” she trails off and shakes her head. “What am I talkin’ about? It’s always this chaotic but it’s fun, I promise.”
“I can’t wait.”