From Scratch (21 page)

Lowering his forehead to hers, his face reflecting his tender sincerity, he whispered, “Really.” His lips brushed hers lightly with barely the weight of a breeze.

Sparklers lit in her belly, tiny bright bits of light bursting through her.

He rested his chin on her head. She was content to simply stand in his embrace.

Voices grew louder, a mix of deep, male tones and sweeter, high-pitched girl voices, breaking the tender bubble they'd created.

She took a step away from him, his arms still hung loosely around her waist. Lifting her gaze, she met twinkling brown eyes reflecting the feelings bubbling inside of her. She had no doubt that he truly loved her. No doubt. And with the assurance, she needed to tell him everything. She couldn't wait any longer. She had to tell him. Tonight. “Hey,” she whispered. “After dinner…are you doing anything with your brothers?”

“Nothing definite…why?”

“I just thought you could stay for a little while after you bring me home. We could talk about some stuff.”

“If you want to.”

“I do.”

“Then it's a date.” He laid a quick kiss on her forehead. “We have company.”

Henry was walking with two little girls, about five and seven years old, who were spinning around as they each talked.

Joey was behind them talking to Jake, who was carrying something wrapped in a blanket.

The puppy scurried to meet the girls.

“GORDIE!” The younger of the two girls dropped to her knees and scooped up the dog. His hind legs dangled nearly to her toes as she struggled to carry the puppy.

“Hey Lizzie, why don't you let Papa carry Gordie into the house?” Henry lifted the puppy with one hand and carried the dog like a football under his arm. His thick mustache hid most of his wide grin as he stared at his granddaughter. “Hey kids,” he shouted to Sean and Maggie. “Joey and Jake say that Bitsy's raring to go with dinner. We best be getting inside.”

“Yes, sir.” Sean draped his arm over Maggie's shoulders and they strolled toward the house.

Joey slid up beside Maggie and mirrored his brother, throwing his arm across her shoulders. “What were you two doing?”

Sean smacked Joey in the head. “None of your business. You already got sent outside once for being an idiot. Idiot is not a streak to keep alive.”

Joey rubbed the back of his head. “Good thing Joe doesn't need his head to hit the long ball.”

Sean snorted. “Boy, you better pay closer attention to this off-season training and less attention to the off-season girls.”

“Hey,” Jake came up beside them. “Little ears.” He pointed to his two daughters trailing their grandfather.

“Looks like you got the littlest ears tucked away in that blanket.”

Jake lifted the top of the afghan and revealed a tiny tuft of white blond hair and the fullest cheeks Maggie had ever seen on a baby. “Oh, he's adorable. What's his name?” she asked.

“Henry. After his grandpa.”

“Good choice,” Joey said. “One of the best men I've ever known. Couldn't have asked for a better fill-in dad.” The corner of his mouth lifted to a grin. “Taught me how to make the throw to second with barely a hop.”

“Not a bad father-in-law, either.” Jake followed Henry and the girls through the backdoor.

Joey turned and blocked their entrance. “Just so you know. Those girls saw you two making out. I would be prepared for some serious interrogation at dinner. If not by Bitsy, then by Lizzie, who might be worse.” He left Maggie and Sean on the back patio.

“Which one's Lizzie?” Maggie asked.

“The little one who tried to pick up Gordie.”

“Well, she's too small to ask any real questions.” Maggie nodded for confirmation.

Sean laced his fingers through hers. “You haven't met Lizzie.”

~*~

“Bits, I couldn't eat another bite. Everything was so good.” Henry leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach.

Bitsy lifted her linen napkin to her lips and dabbed. “Oh, thank you, Henry. But it wasn't just me. Molly did all of the work on the gravy.”

Molly looked up from feeding the baby. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Of course, dear. But I do hope you all saved room for Maggie's desserts.”

“I'll go get everything set up.” Maggie pushed away from the table.

“I'll help you.” Jane followed her into the kitchen.

Sean resisted the urge to follow. He didn't want to leave Maggie for even a second. But he sensed that Jane wanted to talk with her alone. She was the closest thing to a best friend that Maggie had. Girls needed friends. He wanted Maggie to have everything. He would give the world if he could.

Mac rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “She seems better.”

“Not sure why, exactly, but she's definitely less anxious.”

“Probably the make-out session in the yard.” Joey leaned his chair back on two legs spreading his arms wide. “Joe knows a little action always calms him down.”

Millie threw her napkin at Joey. “Sprout, can you even see maturity on the horizon, or is it so far out of your view you'd need to trek Mount Everest to find it?”

He dropped the legs of his chair with a thud and shoved away from the table. “I'll go see if they need any help in the kitchen.”

“Not without me.” Millie stood. “Who knows what will come out of that unfiltered mouth of yours?”

Jason lifted his glass and took a quick sip, watching them fade. “That's my wife, the ultimate protector.”

Lindy patted him on the shoulder. “She'll make a great mom.”

“I just hope our kid is as good as little Henry.” He nodded toward Molly holding the sleeping baby.

“I don't know whether it's because he's a boy or I've had three, but I would have ten more if they were all as good as Henry.” Molly patted the baby's back. “After Chelsea, it took me over a year to even consider another baby. And then, there's our little Eliza…”

“Wha'd I do?” Her little blonde head popped up at the mention of her name.

A low chuckle rumbled through all of the adults.

“Nothing, Squirt,” Jason said. “I was just telling your momma that I wanted a baby like your little brother.”

“But what if yer baby is a durl instead of a boy? It won't be jus' like Hen-wee, if it's a durl.”

“I guess you're right. Maybe if we have a girl she'll be just like you.”

“I guess. But jus' so you knows, it tooked a lots of work to get me this ways.”

“Really?”

“Yep,” she laid her hand on top of his. “Kids don't jus' come out like me. You gots to work at it. Momma says I'm ‘a piece o' work' almost every day.”

“I see. Thanks for the advice, Lizzie.”

“Anytime.” She turned back to her grandfather and the game of tic-tac-toe resting between them.

Molly stood, cradling the baby in her arms. “The one thing that is certain. You'll never be bored as a parent.” She turned to her husband. “I'm going to lay him down. I want all hands free to tackle those desserts.”

Jake stood. “I'll help you.”

Gordie raced in from the baby's bedroom where he had been sequestered during dinner.

Lindy leaned to the right and lifted the dog into his lap with a single hand. “Settle.”

The puppy let out a deep sigh and stretched across Lindy's lap, his head draped over his forearm so he could watch the table.

“So, how did you end up with this puppy?” Sean patted the dog's head.

“He's my niece, Isabelle's, dog. Gordie was a gift from her boyfriend…the musician. The genius thought giving a grad student a puppy was a good idea.”

“But how did he end up with you?”

“She's in Chicago watching the same boyfriend perform this weekend. Izzy is starting her PhD program in physical therapy at Ohio State this winter. Jane and I thought it would be a good idea to have her stay with us. I travel with the team for some games, leaving Jane home alone. My sister and my mother didn't like the idea of Izzy living on campus, so it seemed like a good fit. She's the only granddaughter and likely the favorite even if my mother won't say it. She's a sweetheart and we're both glad to have her, we just didn't know we were getting the peeing machine, too.”

Mac's eyebrows drew together. “You have a niece old enough to be in a PhD program?”

“Well, she's super smart and a little young for the program, but my sister, Flora, is ten years older than me. So, Iz's more of a little sister than a niece.”

“And the boyfriend?” Mac questioned.

“Skylar…” Lindy shook his head. “He's in a band. Lead singer with tattoos covering his left arm. They've dated for six years. I'm not really sure what she sees in him. She probably wants to save him, or something. He's beyond flakey. He got her the dog when she told him she was moving to Ohio. He thought she would be lonely. Idiot.”

“So…how do you really feel?” Jason leaned back in his chair, a smirk lifting the corner of his mouth.

“I know. I'm a little protective. She's so young and innocent. She's wasting the best part of her life on a moron.”

Carrying a tray of assorted desserts, Jane laughed. “Talking about Sky, dear-heart?”

“He just gets under my skin.”

“Well, Isabelle loves him, so he's family until she changes her mind.”

“I guess.”

“I know.” She slid the tray on the back sideboard and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Telling a girl who she should love never works out.”

Millie followed Jane into the room with a matching tray. “Yep, cause look how it worked out for you.”

Lindy snatched Jane into his arms, jostling the puppy, who jumped from his lap. He kissed Jane with a loud smack and smiled. “I think she did pretty well. I know I sure did.”

“Aw, man.” Joey was quick on Millie's heels, carrying a tray laden with coffee, cream, sugar, and mugs. He dropped the tray on the table. Cups clanked together, several landing on their sides. Milk sloshed onto the clean surface. “I just ate. That stuff should be reserved for dark corners of clubs or your personal space, not in broad daylight after I had enough turkey to make an entire football team comatose.”

Bitsy swatted his hand. “Shush up. It's wonderful to see my girl so happy.” She turned to Henry. “Don't you remember how we used to worry that poor Janie would never find anyone?”

Patting her hand, he lifted his gaze from Lizzie and the tic-tac-toe. “Yes, dear. Very worried.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Jane pushed herself off of Lindy's lap and distributed the cups to the adults, dabbing up the spilled milk with a napkin.

“Do I smell coffee?” Molly asked as she and Jake returned to the dining room.

“Maggie even brought specialty coffee to go with the sweets. And just look at the variety.” Jane swept her hand across the trays of petite, individual desserts.

Henry stood and moved the tiny plates around with a single finger. A grin stretched across his face.

“I thought you were full, dear?” Bitsy laced her arms.

“Oh, well, I wouldn't want to make Maggie-girl feel bad after putting in all of this effort.” He snatched up an oatmeal cookie, consuming half of it in a single bite.

Sean chuckled as the dessert line formed.

Molly led her two daughters. Lizzie pointed to each individual treat while Chelsea only wanted a single chocolate mousse tart. Molly lifted a raspberry shortbread bar and topped it with homemade whip cream for her own plate before filling a cup of coffee and leading the girls back to their seats.

Gordie trotted behind them sniffing the air for falling crumbs.

Jason held Millie's hand as they each filled a plate with an array of tiny treats.

His brothers weren't as shy, filling extra dinner plates rather than the petite dessert plates.

Jane and Lindy shared a single piece of pumpkin pie.

Smiling, Sean pushed away from the table, dropping his napkin on the chair, and left the room with enthusiastic murmurs of delight trailing behind him. The chef should be showered with the sounds of delight not futzing around the kitchen.

Maggie was wiping the gleaming marble of the island. The popping of a second pot of coffee brewing echoed off of the kitchen walls.

“Hey lady, you've some new adoring fans out there who are singing, or at least ‘mmmming' your praises. Clean-up can wait.” He lifted the dishcloth from her hand and kissed her forehead.

“I just like to have everything in place before I settle down to dessert.” She turned to the coffee pot and filled an empty carafe; steam pillowed around the top as the liquid slid into its new container.

“Do I smell snickerdoodle coffee?”

“Well, it's someone's favorite and everyone should have their favorites on Thanksgiving. Don't you think?”

“Yes, I do.” Sean drew her into his arms. He lowered his lips to hers, brushing them with the softest caress. The feel of her hands sliding up his chest threw a riot of tremors through his body. He wanted to ignore everyone and everything, but he needed to stop. He wanted to honor God and to honor Maggie and both required control he wasn't sure his body could manage. He rested his chin atop her mass of curly hair.

She smiled as he trailed his fingers up and down her back. “I think that might be my favorite.” She whispered.

“I agree.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. Taking a step back from her, he squeezed her shoulders. “But too much of even our favorites can be dangerous.”

She nodded and turned away from him.

He shoved his hands in his pockets to avoid reaching for her. He loved her, but he trusted his mind more than his heart.

~*~

Maggie's hands shook as she slid the clear tureen in front of her. She methodically layered the final pieces of the custard and berry, a favorite the brothers had discussed the previous evening. She lifted the finished dessert, layers of rainbow fruit sandwiched between vanilla custard, whipped cream, and a mixture of coconut and ginger shortbread crumbles. “We should probably get back. Do you mind grabbing the coffee?”