Chapter Forty-One

Jen

 

“You could come,” I said to my family when it was time to head to Beth and Jake’s. “There’s probably more than enough food.”

“Plenty,” Dylan confirmed.

Mom hugged me before putting my pile of gifts in my hands. “It’s alright. I have a turkey breast that’s going to be scrumptious. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Smiling widely at the thought, I nodded. “Okay. Love you!” I said to the three of them in the hall, then joined Dylan on the porch. He waved goodbye, then started for his truck.

I unlocked the CR-V.

It was a longer drive to the compound, especially due to not being able to make it a straight shot. I envied birds. And pilots. With five acres, they had enough space to land.

Three o’clock in late December meant sunset was pretty soon, so it was just dim enough to see the Christmas lights had been turned on. Since the last time here, the front fence and gate had warm-white lights woven into them. The gate opened and I followed Dylan in to park.

Mike’s Camry was here, and Maria’s minivan.

“We beat people here?” I said when Dylan came to my door. I grabbed my coat, purse, and the bag of gifts. Luggage would wait.

“Bob and Celeste were visiting her family first.”

“She has family around?”

“I didn’t know, either, but with the engagement, I guess they had to make appearances.”

I had everything on my right, so he linked his fingers with my left hand. “Where do we go?”

“The farmhouse.” We walked on the path connecting the houses, past the pool.

More of the white lights decorated the patio, and the doorframes of the barn. The white house was where all the color was, with rainbow light strands and a wreath in every window.

The front door was open, only the screen closed, letting heat and sound flood onto the porch. Dylan opened the door and we got a chorus of welcome from the first to spot us.

Beth’s dad, brother, sister-in-law, and niece were here, along with Jake’s mom and Mike and Hannah. Maria, Beth, and Darcy were in the kitchen being busy bees.

Dylan dodged getting run over by two toddlers. “Whoa!”

“Sorry,” Darcy called out before returning her attention to mashed potatoes.

We hung our jackets on the rack and continued into the living room.

“Happy Christmas!” Jake said. “What do you want to drink?”

“I’m fine right now,” I replied.

“Eggnog?” Dylan requested.

“On it.” He went to brave the kitchen.

“Everyone else has been yelled at if they dared,” Andrew said. “Jen, right?”

“Good memory.” We shook hands with him and Beth’s father.

“Vivian Lindsey,” Jake’s mother said. She reminded me of Jane Seymour. “Dylan, she’s lovely.”

He squeezed me in a one-arm hug. “I know.” We sat.

The little girls came zooming by again.

“Sarah, we don’t run in the house,” Mr. Lawson said. She skidded to a stop for her grandfather. Alyson followed her lead.

Andrew pulled Sarah onto his lap and Vivian beckoned Alyson to her.

“Are you hungry?” she asked in a refined English accent, tickling the girl’s belly. “Mummy’s going to feed you soon.”

“Here you go, mate.” Jake handed Dylan a mug and sat on the arm of the sofa nearest his mother’s chair. “The bird is resting.”

“It must, Jacob, or you have a very dry turkey.”

“I know that.” He eye-rolled. “How’s your morning?” he asked us.

“Good. They say hello,” I replied.

“They could’ve come, I suppose.”

“We tried, but they had plans,” Dylan said. “I gave Shelley a VIP pass to L.A.”

“Ohh…”

“We’re a little more deaf now,” I said. Hannah laughed, knowing my sister.

“April’s going to be here like that.” Mike snapped his fingers on the last word. “Is Linc coming tonight?”

“I think so. Bethie’s the taskmaster of the guest list,” Jake replied.

“What did you call me?” she yelled.

“I love you!” he yelled back, then grinned the smile that had made thousands of women scream at his concerts.

“Speaking of things related to Linc, we didn’t scare Michaela off, did we?” Dylan asked.

“She seemed okay when we dropped her off at an apartment in the ‘burbs. Beth confirmed the time for tomorrow.”

“Was the neighborhood safe?” I asked. “I got the impression she’s used to living on not much.”

Jake seesawed his hand. “Could’ve been better, definitely seen worse. There was another girl in there when the door opened, so it looks like she has a roommate.”

I nodded, that bit of anxiety leaving my gut.

“I’ll repeat what I said when we first heard her—how is she not signed already?” Dylan said, respect for her talent clear in his tone.

“You’ll love her voice, Mum,” Jake said. “Reminds me of the folk chicks you listened to when I was a lad.”

Vivian glanced up at him. “Like Carole King?”

“Eh.”

“What’s like Carole King?” Lincoln said at the door.

“You’re late!” Beth scolded.

“Sorry, had to detour around a minor fender bender.” He moved left to join us.

“Everyone, this is Lincoln Adams,” Jake said. “Linc, meet everyone.”

“Hey.” There were no more seats, so the poor guy was stuck with leaning against the stair rail or sitting on the floor. Like last night, he was styled nice.

“Linc is our new drummer,” Jake said to his mother.

“Oh. Right.”

So she’d heard about Aaron.

“Knock, knock!” came from the front door. Our heads swung that direction. Celeste entered the house, followed by Bob.

“You’re late!” Beth said in the kitchen.

“Food’s not on the table, yet, so apparently not!” More jackets on the rack. “Hey, gang.”

Beth walked in from around the staircase. “Au contraire, my friend. We have all the dishes laid out except the turkey. Everyone grab a chair.”

The resident dining table was fairly large, but wouldn’t seat fourteen including two high chairs, so a second had been brought in to create an L.

“That’s my cue to go,” Maria said. “Bon appétit.”

“Hang on.” Jake hurried to catch her at the door and hug her. “Thank you. Again.”

She patted his face with motherly affection. “I’m off to be with my boys. Goodnight, all.”

A chorus of byes, then we filled the dining room.

The toddlers were not put next to each other. It didn’t matter where anyone else sat.

Beth’s tables had red tablecloths and white china. No room for decorations with all the serving dishes of so much food. Thank goodness I went light on breakfast, or oh my God.

None of us would fit into our dresses tomorrow.

She sat last. “Thank you all for making our lives so fulfilled. Now dig in!”

Dishes were passed around with sliced turkey, classic stuffing, dressing with giblets and nuts, homemade cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, asparagus, crescent rolls, and Hawaiian rolls. Glasses of sparkling cider for some of us, wine for others. Ever been seated at a large dinner party? It’s loud.

But I wouldn’t be anywhere else.