The Birthday List(66)

“Get Aunt Poppy!” Finn yelled to Kali, who immediately started chasing me.

“No, Kali! No!” I pretended to run fast but let her catch up and lob a yellow balloon at my back. The sticky paint instantly soaked through my thin white tank and coated the backside of my arms. “You got me!”

She giggled, then raced back to the bucket to reload. “Get Daddy!” she squealed, aiming a green balloon at Finn. She took off, joining Molly and Max as they chased Finn and pelted him with balloons.

For the first time in months, Finn and Molly were actually smiling at one another. Genuine smiles. I wasn’t sure if they were getting along because this paint fight was for Jamie, or maybe they were putting on happy faces for me. Regardless, it made this whole idea just that much more fun.

I was so lost in watching the smiles on their faces that I didn’t notice Cole sneaking up behind me. One second, I was watching Kali toss the green balloon at Finn’s white T-shirt. The next, blue paint was streaming down my hair.

“Gah!” I spun around just in time for Cole to break another on my head, this one orange. “You!” I pointed a finger at his smile, then raced back to the tub for a handful of balloons.

I tried to hit him, but he was too nimble. He dodged each of my shots until the grass around him looked like a rainbow unicorn had puked at his feet.

“I give up,” I pouted at Cole, then went back to reload. When I came back to the fight, I chose a different target. “Gotcha!” I cheered as the red balloon I’d thrown burst against Randall’s chest.

He looked to his jumpsuit and sneered. “You’ll pay for that.”

I stuck out my tongue, daring him to come after me, just as Jimmy snuck out from behind a tree carrying the huge balloon he’d hidden when we’d arrived.

I braced, waiting for the inevitable, but just as Jimmy was lifting up the balloon high, Randall turned. With agility I never would have expected from the old man who walked with a cane, he skittered backward, throwing the balloon he’d been carrying at Jimmy’s monster.

Hot pink paint flew everywhere.

Jimmy’s short white hair was covered. His face. His shoulders. Everything was dripping pink.

“You son of a bitch,” he spat, sending pink splatters to the ground.

“Ha!” Randall laughed. “That backfired on you, didn’t it?”

At my side, Cole started to laugh. Then Finn and Molly joined in. I tried to keep a straight face, but as the pink paint kept dripping off Jimmy’s nose, I lost the battle. I laughed so hard and so long my sides ached.

I bent over in half, fighting to get my breath back as happy tears mixed with the paint smears on my face. “Oh my god. That was hilarious.”

When I stood, Cole handed me one of the towels I’d brought. “Here.”

“Thanks.” I used it to dry my face and then handed it to Cole so he could wipe his hands. He’d gotten hit with a green balloon right in the middle of his chest. The color and the bright afternoon sunlight made his eyes fiercely bright as he grinned.

Those beautiful eyes held mine as he stepped in closer, taking the towel and dabbing the side of my face. “You missed a spot.”

Without thinking—or caring—about our audience, I stood on my tiptoes and touched his mouth with my own. “Thanks for coming today.”

“Sure.”

I’d shocked him a bit with that kiss, but I was glad I’d done it. Especially here. In front of family and friends, I wanted them to know that he was someone special.

After all, that was what today was all about. Today was to have fun with the special people in my life and honor someone who’d been special but was no longer with us.

“That was fun.” Jimmy came over and I handed him a towel. “I think we did my boy proud.”

“Me too,” Finn said as he cleaned off Max’s face.

“Agreed.” Molly nodded. “Jamie would have loved this.”

I smiled up at Cole, then looked into the blue, cloudless sky.

“Yeah. He would have.”





“I’m forgetting something.”

I was staring at my stuff in the backseat of Cole’s truck, sure that I’d forgotten to pack something important. It was the weekend after the paint fight and Cole and I were driving up to hike in Glacier National Park.

What am I forgetting? I had my bag of clothes and toiletries with extra panties, pajamas, socks and a T-shirt, just in case. I had my hiking boots, hiking socks and canteen that I’d dragged out of storage. I had my purse with wallet, phone, phone charger and the lip balm and hand cream I used before bed each night.

Still, I couldn’t shake the niggling feeling that something was missing.

“Poppy!” My eyes snapped up to Cole in the driver’s seat, his fingers tapping the steering wheel.

I waved him off. “I’m forgetting something!”

“Poppy, you’ve been staring at that pile for five minutes. You’re not forgetting anything. We’re only going for one night. We’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Fine.” I huffed and slammed the back door. Then I jumped into the passenger seat and slammed that door too. Nothing bothered me more than being unprepared for a trip, but since I couldn’t remember what I was missing, I had no choice but to go without.