A Perfect Storm(57)

"I snuck and took it," Chris told her, "because Alani wanted you to have  a family photo, but she also wanted it to be a surprise."

Her heart lodged in her throat. Jackson and Alani stood together, facing  the camera, full of smiles, while she wore a silly smirk, her gaze on  Jackson. It looked as if she'd been laughing at something he said.

"I love that crooked grin," Alani told her.

Jackson reached across the table to tweak a long hank of her hair. "It's cute."

Cute. Not a word usually applied to her, and maybe that was what she  loved most about Jackson-he saw her differently than others did.

It was also a problem, because in the most important ways-like attitude  and determination-she wasn't different at all. And for a woman to be  like Jackson … well, it was hard for others to accept. It was especially  difficult for macho, protective guys.

Like Jackson, Dare, Trace … and Spencer.

But, yeah, in the photo, she didn't look bad. She actually looked … happy.

Swallowing hard, she forced herself to face Alani. "It's great." More  wonderful than she'd ever imagined anything could be. "Thank you."

"So you like it?"

Luckily it was a five-by-seven, not larger, because she didn't have a  wall to hang it on. She lived out of her trunk, utilizing motel rooms  and other various dives. But, yes, she liked it very, very much. Maybe  she could attach it to the dash of her car somehow.

Words seemed impossible, so she nodded.

"It's a digital camera, so you can hook it up to any computer and print  off more pictures. Eventually you'll fill the album." Alani smiled at  her. "It'd be nice for you to have photos of all your family."

Leaning in, Chris bumped shoulders with her. "She means us, you know. We're adopting you whether you like it or not."

"Hey, what's not to like?" Jackson grinned at her. "If she can tolerate Trace, the rest of us are cake."

"Ha!" Priss stretched across the table to smack Jackson. "Trace is the best part and you know it, Jackson Savor!"

"Depends on who you talk to," he told her while ducking another swat from her. "You can't take Trace's word for it."

Trace pulled Priss back to his side.

Playful insults ensued, along with lots of camaraderie and laughter.  They all interacted so comfortably. They were a family, in the truest  sense of the word.

But she had no idea how to fit in.

Her heart aching, Arizona glanced over at Jackson. In so many ways, he'd  tried to include her. But he would soon marry Alani, and not long after  that, he'd have a baby.

His own family. A real family.

Not for a second was Jackson oblivious to Alani-what she did, how she  moved, probably her every thought. All through dinner he had watched her  eat, his intense scrutiny of her mouth almost embarrassing. His  awareness of her was palpable and very sweet.

How could she ever intrude on that?

Chris bumped his knee into hers, jarring her from her melancholy yet again.

She eyed him and caught his look of understanding.

"Don't let the inmates get to you." He handed her another gift.

"I like hearing everyone joke around," she admitted.

"There you go," Chris said. "Can't beat 'em, so you may as well join 'em. Now stop hedging and open another gift."

She received some funny T-shirts from Priss and Trace. One said, "Power  in a Ponytail." That made her laugh, especially since that was how she  often wore her hair. Another said, "A Real Princess Can Save Herself,"  and that was so absurd, she snickered. "Nice. I love them."                       
       
           



       

From Molly and Dare she received a small bottle of perfume that smelled  like heaven, along with some very feminine hair clips that, oddly  enough, she liked, even though they were far more girly than anything  she'd ever purchased.

Chris took one from her and stuck it awkwardly in her hair, making Molly laugh.

Dare leaned in and repositioned it. "Very pretty," he pronounced.

"Really?"

Jackson laughed. "You could shave your head and still be stunning, Arizona, but, yeah, it looks great."

"You have such amazing hair," Molly said.

And everyone agreed.

Blushing, Arizona glanced at Spencer.

He winked, then handed her another gift. "This one is from me."

She accepted the gift. "When did you have time to do this?"

"I found a website that'd expedite things, and then had it sent here overnight."

"No way."

"Way." He smiled. "The hardest part was using the internet without you catching me at it."

"Sneaky." Amazed that he'd managed it without her knowing, Arizona took  care not to rip the pretty paper as she peeled it away. Moving aside  layers of tissue, she unveiled a stunning silver jewelry box with her  initials ornately engraved in the lid.

It looked expensive, and incredibly personal.

Since she had only a few pieces of jewelry, none of it costly, she  didn't understand. But because it was from Spencer, she loved it.  Coasting her fingertips over the engraving, she said, "It's amazing."

"Look inside," Spencer told her.

"Oh, okay." Without even realizing it, she held her breath as she lifted  the lid-and found a matching jewelry set of bracelet, necklace,  earrings and ring, all with her birthstone.

The pieces were delicate and so very, very pretty.

Sunlight glinted on the stones and in the silver. She lifted out the  bracelet. "It's all …  It's … " Moisture gathered in her eyes. Damn it, she  would not cry. "I've never seen stuff so pretty."

"Maybe someone should have gotten her a mirror," Chris quipped, and the women quickly shushed him.

Spencer reached for her hand, took the bracelet from her and latched it  around her wrist. Still holding her fingers in his, he said, "Everyone  should celebrate their actual birth date."

"Not a made-up date," Jackson told her. "With us, it's the real thing."

"Although much as I like a party," Chris added, "we could always celebrate birthdays real and staged."

Arizona looked around at everyone, marveling at them.

Molly sat on Dare's lap. He accepted that as ordinary, as expected,  looping his arms around her and kissing her ear with honest affection.  "Same here. Any excuse to get together with friends and family is okay  by me."

"Next will be the wedding," Alani said, and she looked at Spencer. "I expect both of you there."

"Arizona has already agreed to bring me along."

Right. Spencer was the one who'd agreed so that she wouldn't have to attend alone. But she appreciated his discretion.

When Alani spoke of her pregnancy next, Trace just smiled, hugging Priss  closer into his side. She whispered something in his ear that made him  go still, and, his eyes glittering, he whispered back, "Behave." But he  kissed her, and Priss, wearing an evil grin, rested her head on his  shoulder.

Despite their career paths, the men were generous and attentive.

Despite the husbands they'd chosen, the women were confident and happy.

For Arizona, it was all such an alien concept-to be … content.

She'd never known contentment. She'd never known that level of peace.  She tried to fake it around them, but even now, even with them going out  of their way to include her, she knew she didn't belong.

Given the way Spencer watched her, he probably knew it, too.

Now that she'd opened her gifts, Arizona thought about slipping away  before they decided to swim. But … they'd only follow. Earlier, before  they'd eaten, she'd tried that. But everywhere she went, they followed  like she was the Pied Piper or something. They were determined to  include her.

She didn't want to be the spoilsport, not when they were all relaxed and comfortable.

"Thank you all so much. I don't even know what to say about all the fuss and-"

Chris stood. "You're not done yet." He unearthed one more gift from  beneath the piles of wrapping paper. "You still need to open my present  to you."

"Another gift?" Never in her life had she been given so much. "I'm  speechless." Unnerved by all the attention, Arizona opened the gift-and  stared in disbelief. She almost forgot to breathe.                       
       
           



       

Grinning like a sinner, Chris said, "Well?"

"Oh, my God." She wheezed in air, and each word she spoke rose higher  and higher. "Are you freaking kidding me?" She lifted out the heavy  knife, the same one she'd been saving for, and hefted it in her palm.  "Oh, my God, Chris, it's awesome!"

Silence fell around the table.

Neither she nor Chris cared.

"You like it?" Chris asked.

"Are you serious? Look at that blade! Look at the anodized titanium  handles, the double thumb openers." She turned it this way and that.  "What's not to like?"