CHASE ADJUSTED HIS shoulder splint and stepped around to put his good side next to Nichole. He reached over with his left arm and stopped Nichole from dumping her cup of flour into the mixing bowl. “You need to scrape off the extra flour from the top of the measuring cup.”
Nichole frowned. “With what?”
Chase handed her a butter knife. “Just a smooth slice across the top.”
“I could slice cheese even better.” Nichole cleared the extra flour from the measuring cup and grinned at him. “I haven’t forgotten about the grilled cheese recipe.”
“We aren’t making grilled cheese.” Chase tweaked the tip of her nose.
“Yeah, Mom. You’re supposed to be making sugar cookies.” Wesley laughed from the far end of the table. He’d pulled up a chair beside Nonna. The pair had decided to devise a kitten-naming challenge to begin after dinner. A dinner that had grown to include more than just them. Nonna and Wesley were currently detailing the rules and regulations of the challenge on a whiteboard.
“Nonna and I already made those last week and ate them all,” Wesley added.
Nichole aimed her measuring cup at the duo. “I have a rule to add. The winner gets full naming rights. There will be no veto powers handed out.”
“That’s two rules.” Wesley frowned at her.
“And we really must reserve the right to veto.” Nonna winked at Wesley. The two had become quite the united front. Nonna continued, “After all, we can’t have the kittens running around with poorly chosen names.”
Wesley nodded, his face and voice somber. “They’ll feel really bad if we give them bad names.”
Chase covered his mouth and his laugh. They’d been debating the best names for more than two weeks. He’d heard Nonna and Wesley already calling the kittens, Misty and Trixie. Both names Nichole had come up with after she’d won the first board game contest to determine naming rights. Chase guessed that now Nonna and Wesley simply enjoyed their game nights and joking with Nichole.
“Fine, but I want veto power too.” Nichole set her hands on her hips and looked at Chase. She missed Nonna and Wesley silently sharing a giggle. Nichole asked, “What’s next?”
The flour on Nichole’s chin distracted him. He reached over, rubbed her jaw and leaned in for a soft kiss.
She laughed and stepped away. “You’re supposed to be teaching me to bake. Stop diverting my attention.”
“We don’t really need cookies.” Chase adjusted his shoulder splint. But he had needed another kiss.
Nichole fended him off with her measuring cup. “I’m supposed to be learning to cook while you recover from surgery. So I can help out in the kitchen.”
She’d already helped him. She’d been with him every step of the way, from the time he went into pre-op to the moment he opened his eyes in recovery. She’d held his hand. Made him laugh. Brought him red licorice and kept her promise to always be beside him. Just as he would be for her.
The doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” Wesley jumped up from the table and shouted, “It’s the rest of the family!”
Chase curved his good arm around Nichole’s waist, tucked her into his side and kissed her. Voices and laughter vibrated through the house, extending into every corner and filling every part of Chase.
Elliot and Travis challenged Dan and Drew to a car race on the video game console in the family room. Ben and Wesley shouted advice and driving tips. Josie and Brooke each cradled a kitten on the sunporch. Theo, Josie’s boyfriend, shook his head at Chase and grinned at Josie after her suggestion that they adopt some kittens too.
The doorbell rang again. His mother and sisters swooped into the kitchen, carrying casseroles and dessert trays. More family and friends crowded into the house. More laughter and warmth surrounded him.
Nichole touched his cheek, drew his attention to her. She asked, “Are you sure you’re up for this?”
“There’s no place else I’d rather be.” He kissed her again, allowed their love to flow through him. “What about you?”
“You’re beside me and then there’s all this family.” She placed her hand over his heart. “I’m home and it’s better than any dream.”
Home. He lifted her hand, pressed his lips against her palm. He finally understood Nonna’s words.
The only home he ever wanted to run to was Nichole.
* * * * *