Kristen stood to the side with Sadie and Dylan as Mitch answered questions from Charles and Iris. Emmy, drying her eyes with a tissue Al had offered her, walked over and opened her arms.
“Kristen.” Her voice shook, and happiness shined in her eyes. “You dear girl.”
Before she knew it, Kristen was gathered up in a hug so strong, it stole her breath. Emmy’s arms were warm and comforting, and her whispered bittersweet words coaxed Kristen into sinking deeper into Emmy’s embrace and broke her heart all at once.
“I couldn’t be more proud of you if you were my own daughter.”
CHAPTER 13
Kristen cut the stem of a white hydrangea bloom and placed it in a red vase on a picnic table. She had finally finished decorating each of the twenty tables Mitch had arranged on Hart’s Hollow Farm’s front lawn with red, white, and blue vases filled with hydrangea blooms.
Essie Templeton, owner of Essie’s Odds and Ends, had been extremely generous in renting the picnic tables, chairs, and vases for Hart’s Hollow Farm’s July Fourth event at a very low rate. Her only stipulation had been that customized signage advertising her party supply service be affixed to each table for the duration of the event.
“I found the big one,” Sadie shouted from the front porch steps, holding up a large white vase with red and blue stars on it. “Want me to put it on one of those tables?”
“No, that one’s extra special. We’re going to make a much bigger setting for the front porch. That way Emmy will have something beautiful to admire when she gets tired and needs to rest on the porch swing.” Smiling, Kristen grabbed a bag of supplies, weaved her way through the picnic tables, and motioned for Sadie to join her at one of them. “What do you say we both put that one together?”
“Yeah,” Sadie piped, joining her on the bench.
Kristen dug around in the plastic bag for a pair of scissors, bows, and packets of flower food. “There’s a white basket on the front porch with more flowers. Would you mind grabbing that for me and bringing it down here?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sadie spun around on the bench, hopped down, then ran toward the porch. Her long brown braids bounced across her back with every step.
Ever since Kristen and Mitch had rolled out the new plans for downtown Peach Grove and Hart’s Hollow Farm’s first July Fourth celebration at the county meeting three days ago, Sadie and Dylan had been balls of energy. Dylan had even taken it upon himself to borrow an alarm clock from Emmy and had gotten up early each morning to wake Sadie. While Mitch and Kristen had tended to the crops, Sadie and Dylan had stayed at the house with Emmy, making plans, collecting decorations, and hanging streamers and banners in places Emmy couldn’t quite reach on her own. And they’d done a dang good job of it.
Kristen tipped her head back, shaded her eyes from the late morning sun, and admired their handiwork. Thin red, white, and blue bunting had been knotted and draped elegantly along the porch rails. A patriotic-themed wreath adorned the wide front door, and colorful cushions with celebratory designs had been fluffed and placed in each rocking chair and on the porch swing. A flag had been affixed to a pole on the front porch, and now it rippled slowly in the humid breeze.
“They did a great job, didn’t they?” Big hands settled on Kristen’s shoulders from behind, and warm lips nuzzled her temple. “Never imagined they’d sacrifice TV and lounge time to set up decorations.”
Before she could talk herself out of it, Kristen eased back, nestling farther into Mitch’s embrace. “They know how excited Emmy is about it.” Oh, he smelled wonderful—like freshly tilled earth, clean air, and man. She inhaled, her eyes closing. “They wanted to please her.”
“And you,” he murmured, his mouth moving against her skin. “They wanted to make you happy, too.”
She tensed. “I know.”
And she did. The kids had done everything she’d asked to help prepare for today’s celebration, and they’d even taken the initiative to tackle things she hadn’t asked of them. Like when Dylan had cut the grass after she’d mentioned she didn’t think she would have time to finish the field work before dark and wouldn’t be able to get to the grass until the next day. And the time Sadie had removed the dirty dinner dishes from the table and washed them on her own when Kristen had limped into the house and over to the dinner table with a sore calf muscle.
It was amazing how they’d all pulled together to make today a perfect day for Emmy.
“They’ve been wonderful,” Kristen whispered, opening her eyes and watching Sadie bound back down the front porch steps, flower basket in hand.
“Uncle Mitch, I’m gonna help Ms. Kristen make an extra-special flower ’rangement for Nana.” She grinned and held up the basket.
Mitch’s gentle touch trailed away as he straightened, and then he hugged Sadie to his side. “Thank you for helping, sweetheart. I know Emmy will love it.” Releasing Sadie, he glanced up at the sky. “The fireworks are set up, Charles and Zach are putting the finishing touches on the deco
rations along the driveway, Lee’s heating up the grill, and Ruth Ann and Emmy are making hamburger patties. Everything’s set and ready for guests. It’ll be a perfect day if those clouds will just hold off until morning.”
Kristen followed his line of sight and frowned at the distant dark masses lingering on the horizon and marring the blue sky. “What time are we shooting off the fireworks?”
“Around nine, after it gets good and dark. Lee and Charles offered to take on that job so I could stay with Emmy.”
“Then we should be okay.” Kristen studied the lawn, full of picnic tables and games, and the driveway, adorned with festive welcome signs and arrows to direct cars for parking. “The weather report said the worst of it isn’t supposed to blow in until after midnight.”
“Yeah, but they’re not always right.” Mitch stared back up at the sky. “When it comes to weather, nothing’s ever certain.”
Kristen looked down and reached for the basket Sadie held, her stomach turning. “No. It never is.”
Speaking low, he leaned on the table next to her. “Emmy’s had a really great week so far, and today’s gone well, but I’m planning on staying with her most of the night, just to help her stay comfortable if the crowds and unfamiliar noises agitate her. Would you mind taking my place with her once or twice tonight if I need to check on things?”