Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
“ W oo!” Estelle clapped and shouted as Layla swung at the pinata. The bright pink display was shaped like a star, and several kids had already begun to burst it at the seams. All it needed was one more good hit…
Thwack!
More shouting ensued as the children scattered, racing around the yard while they searched for the treasures. Estelle laughed, leaning into Crew’s side, his arm around her waist.
The sun was bearing down on her head with an amazing heat, and Crew kept the rest of her warm with his body as they watched the chaos. A sudden urge to have her own child running amok slammed into Estelle, and she gasped, the feeling stealing her breath.
“You okay?” Crew squeezed her waist, and Estelle wiggled in response.
“Fine,” she said. “No tickling.”
Crew grinned, but didn’t press her.
Which was a good thing because Estelle was still trying to catch her breath from the onslaught of maternal thoughts. She surreptitiously looked up at Crew. He was smiling and laughing at the scene, enjoying every minute.
What would it be like if the child running around were hers and his?
That heat from the sun very quickly became too hot, and Estelle shifted again. “I can’t see,” she said when she felt Crew’s eyes again. “Did Layla get any candy?”
“More than she needs,” he muttered. “I’ll be helping Harper with sugar highs for a month.”
Estelle knew he was simply teasing so she didn’t bother to point out that he wouldn’t be there another month.
Stop it, she scolded herself. Why was she always looking at the bad part of life? So he was leaving. She knew that. But her mom was right. There were ways to keep communicating. It wasn’t like the goodbye had to be forever.
No, they wouldn’t be able to touch, to hold hands, to cuddle or kiss, but…surely if this…this thing between them was meant to be, it would last long enough to make it through the next few months of difficulties.
A ringtone went off, and Crew grabbed at his back pocket. He glanced at Estelle. “Be back in a minute, ‘kay?”
She nodded and watched him go, feeling lonely within a half second. Plastering a smile on her face, she went back to the party. Why was she in such a fight with herself? It seemed so ridiculous. The fact that she wanted to sigh with longing at Crew’s short absence should tell Estelle everything she needed to know.
She was falling in love.
When she was with Crew, she couldn’t stand to not be side by side. She craved his touch and his words. She loved it when he crowded her and overwhelmed her senses with his presence. He didn’t even have to actually touch her to turn her into a puddle.
It was worse when they were apart. During the time she was supposed to be helping Antony or taking care of her father, Estelle’s brain was constantly wandering to the man who wasn’t there. The one who had jumped in to help her without a second thought and who had supported her as if she was someone worth supporting.
What woman wouldn’t absolutely trip over herself to keep a man like that around?
A woman who’s too lost in her own misery to see the life all around her.
Estelle closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Fresh grass, wildflowers and the slightest tang of ocean hit her nose. She’d gotten so angry at Antony the other day about how he was letting life pass him by when he had the ability to keep living and yet here she was, acting like life had already passed her by.
She needed to shout at herself instead of her brother.
Wake up! You’re still living! Be grateful for that instead of mourning what you don’t have.
Estelle huffed a laugh. Her brother was still ticked about her arguments, and he’d be extremely smug to hear that she was starting to realize how much the words applied to her as well as him. Antony hadn’t forgiven her yet, despite Estelle’s apologies, but at least he wasn’t giving her the complete cold shoulder any more. Hopefully, he’d come around in time.
“Hey, sorry about that.” Crew’s hand immediately came to her waist again as he stepped up to her side.
Heat spread up Estelle’s neck and face, and she didn’t fight it when she melted into his side. “It’s fine,” she whispered. “I know you’re busy.”
He chuckled. “I’m on vacation. I’m not supposed to be busy.”
Looking up, Estelle raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been busy at my house. I’m not sure how you can call that a vacation.”
Crew made a face. “I’ll give you that one. But at least it means I can spend time with you.”
She could see him waiting for her response. Despite making his intentions clear and despite their kissing, Estelle had still been holding this man…this amazing man…at arm’s length.
No more .
Her fight with Antony resonated with her. It was time to start living. Time to stop moping about, waiting for life to find her. Okay…so she had heavy duties at home, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t still find joy.
Isn’t that exactly what Crew had been hinting at earlier? She couldn’t choose her circumstances, but she could choose her response to them. And no one said she couldn’t change her mind if she didn’t like how it was turning out.
“I’m glad you came,” she said softly, swallowing afterwards as nerves began to dance in her belly.
A slow, delicious smile grew across Crew’s face. “Yeah?”
Estelle nodded. “Yeah. Thank you for coming, and thank you for being willing to stick around despite…everything.”
Reaching out with his free arm, Crew tugged her into a full hug, whispering against her hair. “Why did we come to this dang birthday party? I think a nice quiet afternoon together would have been much better.”
Estelle laughed and patted his chest. “This dang party is for your niece. I think it was your whole reason for coming to Oregon at all.” She looked up. “And once again, I find myself grateful.”
Crew kissed her forehead. “I should take phone calls more often if this is what I come back to.”
“Speaking of…is everything alright? Is your business okay?”
Crew pursed his lips and nodded. “It’s all fine. It was just a friend from back home.”
A loud shout brought their attention back to the yard, and Estelle realized they were opening presents. “Shoot, we’ve missed some of it, and my mom will be ticked if I don’t record Layla opening her gift.”
“My niece has to be the most spoiled little girl in the world.”
“Loved,” Estelle corrected him with a wide smile. “She might be the most loved child in the world, but don’t worry. Between Harper and Aspen adding more children, it’ll mellow a bit. Quinn and Michael, my cousins, are due soon as well, and the parties around here are going to be insane.”
Crew chuckled at Estelle’s description, though he knew there was absolute truth in it. Seagull Cove wasn’t perfect, by any means, but there was this…core…of friends and families who had created a support system that he’d managed to stumble into.
It was so different from what he’d known growing up that part of him wanted to scoff and declare that it wouldn’t last. Only it had. Mason and Harper were proof that this tight-knit group was life changing.
As Estelle snuggled into his chest deeper, Crew wanted more. Not just Estelle, yes, he was falling for Estelle, but now he had to acknowledge that he also wanted this.
He wanted to be part of this group, this family. He wanted to know what it was like to be loved and supported by so many people that others thought he was spoiled. Huh. It was kinda odd that he was actually jealous of what his seven-year-old niece completely took for granted.
Snorting quietly, Crew tightened his hold on Estelle for just a moment, then released her. “I think she’s getting ready to open more stuff.”
“Shoot. Let me get out my camera.” She fumbled in her pocket and pulled up the right app before they shifted so they could get a better view for her to record.
“What do you say, Layla?” Harper reminded her daughter.
“Thank you!” Layla shouted with a wide smile as she looked at another child in the back of the crowd.
“I should grab a garbage bag and pick up the wrapping paper,” Crew muttered. “Be right back.”
Estelle nodded and kept up her filming.
Walking quickly, Crew hurried inside and began flipping through cupboards. He’d done a lot of dishes and other chores around the house in the last couple of weeks, but he wasn’t sure where the garbage bags were kept. Muttering under his breath, he kept looking, pausing only when his phone buzzed in his pocket.
With a quick glance out the window, he grabbed his phone and pressed the call button. “Hey,” he said when Daphne answered. “Did you find it?”
“No,” she responded. “I thought you said it was in the garage.”
“It is,” he told her, pressing the phone between his ear and shoulder. “I always keep my surf wax there.”
“Well it’s not there now. Any other guesses?”
Scrunching up his face, Crew tried to think back, but all he could process was the desire to get back to Estelle and watch Layla continue to laugh and smile at every little thing. It was the most domestic, but also the most enjoyable experience he’d ever had…other than kissing Estelle, anyway. “I got nothing.”
Daphne sighed. “No biggie. I’ll just have to give in and go buy some. Poor me.”
Crew chuckled and looked through another cupboard. “Any guess where a woman would put her extra garbage bags? I can’t find Harper’s.”
“I don’t know about Harper, but I keep mine under the sink,” Daphne sang out.
Crew frowned and looked behind him. “Really? The sink?”
“Yep.”
He walked over and opened the door. “Aha! Daph, you’re amazing.”
“Well, I’m glad one of us found what we needed,” she teased.
“You’re welcome to search the whole house if you need to,” Crew assured her. “Sorry. I really thought it was in the garage.”
“No worries. Anyway, gotta run. See ya!”
“Bye.” Crew stuffed the phone in his pocket, grabbed a bag, and rushed back. “What did I miss?” he asked as he panted a couple times. Geez, he needed to work on his cardio. Lifting weights was great, but if he couldn’t run without breathing hard, something was definitely wrong .
“I think Harper was holding yours back,” Estelle whispered, the phone still held high. “She already opened my mom’s.” Estelle looked like she was holding back laughter, and her voice dropped even more, as if to make sure the camera didn’t catch it. “She yelled thank you and promptly threw the dress aside, ready to open another one.”
Crew chuckled. “At this age, I think it’s more about getting to open than what’s actually inside.”
Estelle nodded. “True.” She watched for a moment longer. “Does she know about the cake?” she whispered again.
Crew shook his head. “No. Harper kept her out of the kitchen to keep it a secret. We’ll present it after she’s done here.”
Estelle smiled. “I hope she loves it.”
“She will.” Crew kissed her forehead. “Everything you make is magic.”
“Ha!” Estelle ducked at how loud she’d gotten. “I wish that was true, but remember, you helped with it, as well.”
“If by help, you mean that I followed orders to dump ingredients in the mixer…then you’d be right.” Crew smirked. “I make a really good foot soldier, but not so much a decorator. I’ll leave that in your capable hands.”
Estelle’s smile turned shy, and she went back to watching Layla. “Oh. Here’s yours.”
Crew watched Layla tear through his wrapping paper and had a moment of gratitude that he’d chosen to wrap instead of using a bag. Apparently, unwrapping paper was more fun than unwrapping a bag.
After pulling out the box, Layla held it up, looking for a moment before her eyes widened. “THANK YOU!” she screamed, squealing a little and beaming at Crew.
“She really does like puzzles,” Estelle said with a light laugh. “You were right.”
“Her brain doesn’t sit still,” Crew explained. “Puzzles give her an outlet that doesn’t destroy the house.” He lifted his chin at Layla. “You’re welcome! ”
Thud.
The box landed to the side while Layla grabbed the last one.
Estelle laughed again. “Who knew paper was such fun?”
Crew gave a dramatic sigh. “Guess I’ll go get things cleaned up. From the looks of it, she’ll only make it worse.”
“True enough.”
Crew began to weave between the adults, feeling a loss of heat as he stepped away, once again, from Estelle. Crouching down just behind Layla, he began picking up paper and stuffing it in the bag.
“Thanks,” Harper whispered with a wide, indulgent smile. “I haven’t paid attention to the mess.”
“You’re not supposed to,” Crew assured her. “Watch your daughter. That’s the better memory.”
Her hand landed on his shoulder. “You’re a good man, Crew. I’m so grateful you came to stay with us this month.”
Crew grinned and continued his job.
“Quit hitting on my wife,” Mason growled playfully under his breath.
Crew rolled his eyes and stood up. “If I wanted to hit on her, you’d know it, Sasquatch.” His lips fought against a grin. “Besides…I’ve got my eyes somewhere else.”
Mason’s eyes immediately went across the crowd to Estelle, and Crew followed.
Crew nearly fell forward when Mason slapped him on the back.
“She’s a good one,” Mason said in a low tone. “Take care of her.”
Crew nodded, determination rising thick and bold in his chest. “Don’t worry. I intend to.”