Renee'

I may have gone a little overboard, but once I'd started thinking about different tea party ideas, I couldn't help but want to make it a birthday this little girl would never forget.  I'd chosen a delicate tea set with pretty pink rosebuds, lots of pretty pastel decorations and flowers. Tons of flowers.

Colorful macaroons, sweet little sandwiches, tiers of cupcakes coupled with strawberry punch, lots of ffun candies and cut outs for the photo booth, all teamed together to make a nine-year-old's birthday dream come true.

My sisters and I had loved playing dress up as girls and being in the kitcchen had always been my passion, so it hadn't been hard to tap into my inner child when deciding what to do for Amora.

I just hope she likes it.

I was getting out of my 4Runner and heading to open the back when the front door opened and John came out of the house and jogged toward me.

I don't know why, but I found him jogging towrd my in loose fit jeans and bare feet strangely sexy.

"Hey, hi, how are you? John asked as he approached, causing me to smile up at him.

"Great, how are you?" I countered as I opened the back and bent to pull out a container.

"Let me help," he said, suddenly right behind me. His breath hit my neck and I barely suppressed a shudder. "i'm great as well. So excited that you're here ... er ... that you could do this party for Mor."

"I'm happy we could fit it in. I had a lot of fun putting it together," I admitted I hope she loves it.

He grabbed a coupe containers out of the back and gave me a sincere grin

"Im sure she will."

I let him lead the way into the sweet little ranch-style house. It had an open floor plan, with the large living room leading into the kitchen and eat-in dining area. The style was comfortable, but contemporary. It definitely had a woman's touch.

"You can use anything you'd like. I figured we'd set up the table for the tea party, but that's about as far as I got."

"Don't worry, I brought everything," I assured him, then went back out for another load, with John hoat on my heels.

"So, how have you been?" John asked, and I could swear he sounded as nervous as I felt.

"Great. Busy. We have a total of five events this weekend, including yours, so I spent most of my night, and morning in the kitchen."

"Wow," he said, catching my eyes with his as he lifted the box full of china. "I hope I didn't make things more difficult. Sorry about the last-minute request."

"Careful," I warned, then gave him a warm smile. "It's no problem, really. I usually stay in the kitchen chained to the stove," I chuckled softly. "My twin sister, Suzanne, she's the event planner and decorating queen, while our younger sister, Jennifer is the brains behind the business.  She's our business manager and accountant. They are really the faces of the company. Scheduling, planning and executing events. I'm much happier planning the menus and making the food. This is actually the first event that I headed up myself."

"Well, thanks, really. I'm sorry to give you more work, but I'm extremely grateful that you agreed to help."

John's smile was so sincere that I felt my heart swell as my sstomach did a mervous little dance.

"It's my pleasuure," I replied, feeling my cheeks warm as I took out the last few bags and shut the door. "Those must be getting heavy," I added, indicating the china and hoping to get the attention off of myself and get to work. I hated being the center of attention and appreciated the fact that my sisters were happy to take the spotlight off me and allow me to hide in my kitchen.

We got everything inside and put on the counter, then John said he was going to go check on Amora and I got started.

First, I laid out a pastel-pink table cloth and covered it with a white lace runner, then I set up my serving platters and display racks. I covered the chairs with matching pink covers, ten tied a large white bow to the back of each.

When John walked back into the room, I was strategically placing flower vases that I'd pre-arranged around his dining area.  "How long was I gone?" John asked, his head swiveling around comically.

I laughed and said, "I'm used to working quickly."

"Do you need any help?" he asked, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Yeah, cound you take all the candy necklaces out of the wrapping and hang them on that jewelry holder?"

While Jackson began opening the plastic bags, I crossed to the bakery boxes and began organizing the goodies on the table.

"So, Renee," John began, causing me to look up form my macaroon placement. "I was wondering if you're ... taken, and if not, do you think you might want to go out sometime ... with me?"

I blinked slowly as the blood rushed through my body, but as I opened my mouth to speak a squeal came from the hallway.

"OH. MY. GOODNESS!"

A beautiful little girl, with long curly hair and a huge smile, stood there with her hands up in the air. She was already dressed for her party in a pretty pink dress that matched my decorations perfectly.

I gave myself a mental high five, then watched as John smiled beautifully ar his daughter as he crossed the room and lifted her in his arms.

"Do you like it?" he asked, laughing as she threw her arms around his neck. 

"I love it, Daddy!" she cried, and I felt the back of my eyes burn.

Jackson put her back on her feet and she ran over to where I was finishing up the table.

Amora placed her hand on the lace and ran her hand over it reverently, then looked up at me with her father's smile and asked, "Did you do this?"

I nodded and replied, "Guilty," then gasped when the little girl crashed into me and hugged my waist.