Wicked & Wildflower by Sarah A. Bailey

Wicked & Wildflower by Sarah A. Bailey

Author:Sarah A. Bailey [Bailey, Sarah A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-10-15T00:00:00+00:00


24

Wildflower

A Whole Damn Village

My stomach twists as my phone lights up with a call where it rests on the counter while I finish frosting Lou’s birthday cake.

When I asked her what flavor she wanted, she couldn’t decide. So I ended up with a three-tiered cake: a bottom chocolate layer, a middle lemon and vanilla layer, and a top layer of red velvet. “For the adults,” she’d said.

She was adamant that she did not want a theme for her party this year, as she was too old for that. She wanted pink, white, and gold decorations, and she wanted the party outside. She also wanted face painting but vehemently refused a clown. Being born in late January, Lou has never had an outdoor birthday party before. Kansas winter wouldn’t allow for it. I wanted to make this one as special as possible, her first birthday in California and away from her old friends—not that she had many of them.

She has been fitting in well at school, has a handful of classmates attending her party today. My heart soared when she asked me to pick up invites for her to pass out to her friends, and I nearly cried when I saw that every single person she invited had RSVP’d. I think she’s secretly nervous, which is why she has been so unable to make decisions regarding the party.

Darby and I have done as much as we can to make it the best birthday she’s ever had.

Though the biggest hindrance to today’s success is calling now. I sigh, setting my knife on the counter and sliding my thumb across the screen to accept the call before wedging my phone between my shoulder and my ear. I don’t want anyone to hear that Jason’s calling me, because I haven’t decided if I want to let him talk to his daughter yet.

She and Darby are out buying snacks now, anyway, but should be home soon. Everett and Leo are setting up the bounce houses we plan on surprising Lou with in the backyard.

“Hi,” I huff into the phone as I answer.

“Hi, Dally.” His tone is warm as the familiar nickname rolls off his tongue. “I know I said I’d call later today after her party, but I was hoping I could speak with you first.”

Jason hasn’t spoken to his daughter in years, but he has been checking in via text message regularly since we moved. His sudden reappearance and concern with her wellbeing coinciding with a new alliance with my father isn’t lost on me.

Which is why I’ve been hesitant to tell Lou her father is suddenly calling, and why I haven’t let her speak to him. He began getting worked up over it around the holidays, so I bought myself time by agreeing to let him video call her on her birthday—after her party, so there is no chance of it being ruined.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

He’s quiet for a moment, as if contemplating what to say. “I just wanted a moment to



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