Chapter 8 #2
The next present is from Justice for Maddy. A big pink box filled with wooden stacking blocks painted with letters, numbers, animals, and shapes. There’s also a pull-along wooden ladybug toy with wheels that click when it moves.
“Educational,” Justice says with mock seriousness.
Demon snorts. “You don’t know what educational means.”
Justice flips him off.
Justice’s matching gift for Madison is another wooden block set, but hers comes with a pull-along wooden puppy painted white with red ears and a little bow around its neck. Madison immediately tries to chew on the puppy’s ear.
Next is a present from Devil and Sarah for Maddy. A giant gift bag full of dress-up baby dolls—one with a little red tutu, another in a Minnie-inspired dress—plus a tiny toy stroller with a bow on the handle and a soft cloth diaper bag stocked with fake bottles, a bib, and a toy brush.
Johnny stares at the stroller. “Can I push it?”
“No,” Sarah says at the exact same time Kelly says, “Maybe later.”
They got Madison a matching set of another toy stroller and baby doll bundle, but her doll has a red polka-dot dress and a stuffed plush bottle that squeaks when squeezed.
Stryker mutters, “We’re all gonna regret how many noisy toys these girls own.”
He’s probably right.
The next gift is from Ghost for Madison. A pink rocking horse with a soft white mane, wooden handles, and a little heart painted on the side. Tied around the handle is a small bag containing board books—Goodnight Moon, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, and a Minnie-themed counting book.
Kelly’s face softens at the sight of the books.
“Those are perfect.”
Maddy gets a matching white rocking horse with red accents and a black saddle, plus her own stack of board books—animal sounds, first words, and another bedtime book with thick pages perfect for little hands. Madison tries to climb off my lap and onto the horse immediately.
“Not yet,” I tell her.
She glares at me like I’ve ruined her life.
Maddy’s next present is from one of the old ladies.
A carefully wrapped quilt made by hand, stitched in red, white, and pale pink squares with little Minnie silhouettes embroidered into the corners.
Folded inside it is a silver charm bracelet tucked away in a velvet box for when she’s older, engraved with her name and birthdate.
Kelly touches the quilt with obvious care. “Oh, this is beautiful.”
Madison gets a matching handmade quilt in red, white, and soft gray, plus her own silver bracelet engraved with Madison and the same tiny birthstone charm hanging from the clasp.
The old lady smiles proudly from her chair, and Kelly promises she’ll treasure both.
The next present is from Roach for Madison. A giant ball pit play tent—red and white, with mesh sides and a tunnel attachment—plus two bags of soft plastic balls in every color imaginable.
Johnny gasps loud enough to turn heads.
“They got a BALL PIT?”
Roach grins. “Sure did.”
Maddy’s matching part of the gift is the tunnel extension set that clips onto the tent and a little pop-up crawl cube with soft hanging toys inside.
“Your living room’s gonna hate me,” Roach says.
“It already does,” I mutter.
From one of the prospects and his wife, Maddy gets a full tea party set—tiny plastic teacups, saucers, a toy teapot, plates, and pretend cupcakes with Velcro centers so they can be “cut” apart with a plastic knife. It all comes in a little wicker-style basket lined with red gingham.
Madison gets the matching play picnic basket set, complete with toy sandwiches, fruit, plates, and a red-and-white picnic blanket small enough for toddlers.
Kelly laughs softly. “Great. They’ll be hosting tea in the clubhouse before they’re three.”
From another Old lady, Maddy gets a custom baby memory book with her name embossed in silver across the front, plus a set of matching photo frames for the monthly milestone pictures.
Kelly clutches that one to her chest for a second before setting it aside.
Madison gets the same custom memory book and photo frame set, only hers is embossed with a tiny bow next to her name.
Another brother and his old lady got Madison a ride-on Minnie Mouse car with a little push handle on the back, horn sounds, and storage under the seat.
“Absolutely not,” Kelly says under her breath, already picturing the girls tearing through the house on it.
Maddy’s is the matching ride-on car, but hers has a white bow and a different horn sound.
Johnny leans over and whispers to me, “Can I ride it when they go to bed?”
“No.”
He sighs.
Kelly’s Aunt gets Madison a little gold cross necklace tucked into a velvet box for when she’s older, a pair of boots with bows on the sides, and a framed handprint kit so Kelly can preserve the girls’ little prints from their first birthday.
Maddy’s matching gift includes her own gold cross necklace, white bow boots, and handprint frame kit.
By the time the twentieth present is opened, the grass around us is buried in wrapping paper and bows. The girls are overwhelmed in the best way, surrounded by toys, blankets, books, and enough new stuff to take over half the damn house.
Johnny is still kneeling at the front of the pile, cheeks flushed with excitement like he’s the one who just got spoiled rotten. Kelly looks over at me with a smile that’s half amusement, half disbelief.
“They got so much.”
“They’re gonna own more than we do,” I mutter.
That’s when Demon clears his throat. Loudly. Every head turns toward him. He’s leaning back in his chair with that smug look on his face—the one that usually means trouble.
“Told y’all my gifts were last.”
I narrow my eyes.
“What did you do?”
He grins wider.
“You’ll see.”
Then he jerks his chin toward Ghost and Justice.
“Go to my truck and bring the gifts around back for the girls.”
The whole yard goes quiet for a second.
Ghost blinks.
“Gifts?” he repeats.
Justice looks between Demon and me.
“How many gifts are we talking here?”
Demon lifts his beer and takes a slow drink like he’s enjoying the suspense way too much.
“Enough.”
Johnny shoots to his feet so fast he nearly trips over the wrapping paper.
“There’s MORE?”
Demon points at him.
“Kid, you better be ready.”
I look at Kelly. Kelly looks at me. And judging by the expression on Demon’s face…Whatever the hell is in his truck is about to be a problem.