Falling into You (Falling Stars 3)

I’d gone over the options with her on the phone two days ago, and she’d said she would give it thought and make a decision by this evening.

Emily glanced at Royce, the two of them sharing a private conversation before she turned back to me. “No. I think everything taking place here is perfect. More than perfect. A dream come true, honestly. I can’t imagine a more beautiful setting in the entire world.”

“I think it’s perfect, too,” Mabel agreed, her face tipped toward the waning sky as if she were taking in the last rays and picturing the most joyous day for her daughter.

“Um…is there even a question? It has to be here. I can feel it.” This from Melanie.

I started to reply only to pause when I sensed the whip of energy in the air and a rustle in the branches above.

My attention darted up to the tree, and I peered through the leaves, praying I was imagining things. That the direction my worry went was unwarranted.

Getting riled up for nothing.

But no.

My instinct was spot on because dark eyes stared down at me, her smile bigger than her surroundings where she was high up in the towering tree.

My heart bottomed out, and a blaze of fear went streaking across my skin. “Daisy. What do you think you’re doing up there?”

“Hi, Mommy! I’m just checking out the weddings plans for your friend. Hi, are you my mommy’s friend? You gonna get married?” she shouted from where she had climbed about halfway up and then out onto a thick branch, the child leaning over it and peering down.

My little daredevil.

Emily giggled though it was in discomfort. “Why, hello there. Are you supposed to be all the way up in that tree?”

Emily shot me a worried look.

“Oh, my,” Mabel wheezed.

“No, she is most definitely not supposed to be all the way up in that tree,” I scolded, my words meant for Daisy.

She knew better.

On top of that, I’d told her to stay in the house with her papa while I worked. The last thing I needed was her getting in the middle of this.

Getting close.

Involved.

Mixed in with the people who I had lost.

I couldn’t handle it.

“Get down, right now. And be careful when you’re doing it,” I all but hissed, trying not to point to the ground and stamp my foot, or worse yet, break down and cry.

I could feel the surge of concern.

The way the air shifted and shook.

A shimmer of protectiveness.

I gulped, squeezed my eyes, tried to pretend that the man wasn’t there.

Encroaching.

Coming closer.

“Ahh, Mommy. You’re no fun. None ats all. Dontcha know life is supposed to be fun and full of the adventures? ’Sides, Papa said you used to climb this tree all the time. Never listenin’ to a word you were told.” She said it like I was the troublemaker.

“Do you like adventures?” She was back to talking to Emily who was still staring up at her.

“Yes, I love adventures. But you must be careful when doing them,” Emily encouraged her.

Daisy started to climb down, talking while she did, “Like a weddin’ adventure?”

“Yup.”

“You need a pretty flower girl? I got new pretty shoes. You wanna see? I put them on so I could shows you. And I’m the best dancer. You think you want me to be in your weddin’ like my mommy?”

I pressed my hand to my forehead. Oh, god, what in the world was she doing? Wearing her dress shoes up there and inviting herself to be in a wedding?

You are so gonna be in time-out, I silently shouted.

“Oh, oh, well,” Emily stammered, trying to hold back a laugh. “I’m sure you would make such a pretty flower girl, but guess what? Royce has a little girl who is just about your age, and we were hoping she might get to be the flower girl as long as everything works out just right. But maybe you could help with everyone getting signed in on the guest book? I bet you would be great at that and so pretty doin’ it.”

Daisy squealed, her excitement a torpedo through the air. “Yes! I would be so good at that, I’m bettin’. I got a dollar. I’m so excited. You wanna see my shoes? I can get different ones if you want me to, but I like these ones the best!”

She started to rush, coming down fast.

My pulse spiked.

“Daisy, be careful!”

And I wondered if I’d seen it coming all along because that was the same second the slick sole of her shoe slipped off the branch she stepped down onto.

The child losing footing.

Losing hold.

She screamed as she started to fall through the dense branches.

My spirit groaned in a plea of agony.

A moaning from deep within as I stood there helpless.

My breath hitched when she caught onto one and held it by a single hand, but she was dangling way up high, and my heart was on the ground as terror took hold of every cell.