It All Started With a Lima Bean (28 page)

Maria’s boyfriend, Sal asked, “Why wouldn’t you make this Abby? It’s delicious and has become a Thanksgiving staple for us. You can have it at your dinner table when you marry this boyfriend of yours.” Sal winked teasingly. Abby really liked him and thought he was a great man for Maria. Sal had been Leah’s father’s partner on the police force when he was alive so many years ago. Sal’s wife died early on in their marriage as well. Abby was told that their mutual sorrow had brought Sal and Maria together to ultimately heal.

Across the table, Manuel sat and hadn’t looked at her since Leah proclaimed Abby’s love for Caleb. Manuel must have thought this was a good time to speak his mind. “She’s a vegetarian and apparently nothing at this table is good enough for her.”
What the heck was that for? It wasn’t like they’d dated or anything.
She had actually considered it when she first met him because he was really good looking, but then he had to go and ruin it by opening his mouth.

After clearing his throat, Sal took the opportunity to change subjects by standing to make a toast. “I’m so glad everyone was able to make it today. Thanksgiving has always been a special time for us, so I think it is only fitting to finally make an announcement today in front of all of you.” He pulled Maria up to stand next to him. “After all of these years, I finally got up the courage to ask this beautiful woman to become my bride.” Elena started to choke on her food, her face turning a violent shade of red as she struggled to cough up whatever was stuck. Manuel’s chair fell back and banged loudly against the wall as he jumped up and started frantically pounding on Elena’s back.

“Pendejo, that’s not what you do when someone is choking.” Daniella then shot up and started to help her sister out. Once she was okay, all eyes went back to Sal and Maria.

“Well Mama?” Leah asked with hopeful eyes.

Maria threw her hands up in the air as if she was declaring the most obvious thing in the world. A sparkling diamond ring glistened for all to see. “Of course I said yes!”

Every person at the table jumped up to congratulate the couple, except Elena. It was apparent that her pride was hurt from everyone staring while she coughed up her food. She sat slumped in her chair with her arms crossed tightly across her chest and a frown on her face.

“There is more though. As you know, Sal is also running for congress, and if he wins, we’ll be moving to Sacramento.”

“What? When is THIS going to happen? What am I supposed to do?” Elena screeched. She relied on her mother’s help with her kids. Abby cringed and sensed this dinner was about to go from bad to worse.

“ELENA!” Both Leah and Dani yelled in unison, glaring daggers at her.

“Don’t you think it’s a coincidence that mom is marrying Papi’s best friend after he died?” All shocked eyes were on Elena and her almost visible fangs. “Were you guys having an affair when Papi was alive, too?”

Maria’s gasp was audible. “Nina, cómo te atreves! How dare you!”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Dani yelled across the table. “Papi has been dead for thirteen years. Can’t you just be happy for Mama?” Elena’s death glare toward her sister would have made another woman back down but not Dani. “Why don’t you leave? The kids can stay.” Dani pointed toward the front door.

Elena jolted up from the table popping her hip and resting her clenched fist there, an unspoken challenge to her sister. “Are you throwing me out of my mother’s house on Thanksgiving?”

“No. I am.” Everyone in the room went dead quiet as Leah’s normally soft-spoken mother announced. “You need to leave now and come back when you have an apology young lady.” She silently fumed while Sal held his palm lovingly on her back for support.

“Fine. Come on kids.” She grabbed and pulled their arms. Neither knew what was going on because they’d sat at the table focused on their video games.

“Pedo Mami, I haven’t finished my food yet.” Her oldest, Paul said.

“Well tough shit, let’s go.” She continued to yank at both kids.

“Do not treat my grandchildren like that.” Maria growled.

“Fine, you keep them then.” Dropping their arms, Elena stormed around the table and slammed the front door on her way out.

Abby wished that she wasn’t standing in the middle of the drama. She’d wanted to melt into the chair somehow.

“She is such a selfish bitch sometimes.” Leah murmured as she sat back down, throwing her napkin onto her half eaten plate.

“I’m sorry everyone. Please sit, let’s enjoy our meal together. She will blow off some steam; it will be fine.” Maria had so much pain on her face.

“Well Mami, I don’t care what she said, the rest of us are extremely happy for you guys.” Leah attempted to comfort her mom with her words.

Sal still stood frozen. “Mi Amor, it’s okay. Sit down.” Maria begged him.

“Nothing like family drama for the holidays.” Manuel announced. Man Abby was glad she never went out with that guy.

Abby was glad to be home. She adored going to Leah’s family gatherings, but Elena normally did something to cause issues.

She threw her things on the coffee table and plopped onto her soft green, cozy couch. Leah understood that she just wanted to be alone the rest of the night. Truthfully, Abby really wanted Caleb to be there with her. She couldn’t believe how much she missed him in the short time they were separated. Her heart ached in his absence.

Her cell rang just as she was pulling her pajama bottoms on. She hadn’t given him a special ringer or anything but just knew it was Celeb before looking at the caller ID.

“Hello Handsome.” She purred.
Wait, when did she start purring?

“Hello my lovely lady.” His voice hummed through the earpiece, melting Abby’s heart, sending butterflies fluttering in her belly.

“What time is it there?”

“Midnight We got back to Stefen’s a couple of hours ago, and everyone just headed for bed. I couldn’t go to sleep without talking to you first. We have not been apart in almost two weeks.”

“I was thinking about calling too, but figured you were already asleep. How is my Maddie Girl doing?” Abby picked up the remote control from the couch, tossed it onto the coffee table, then curled up in the corner anticipating his voice answering through her phone.

“She’s been asleep for the last few hours. Bri has her in the guest room with her. I got stuck on the couch.” He chuckled.

“Is that why you have the low voice? I thought that was for me.”
What was she saying? She wasn’t normally all flirty.

“Oh, it is for you.” How was it possible for a few words to make her body actually tingle? She started to breathe heavily. “And is the panting for me? Abby, you can’t do that when I’m not there to pull you into my body.” Damn she was about to burst into flames. “Abby? You still there Baby?” His deep voice vibrated through her ear straight to her heart.

“Stop that, no fair. You are better at this than me.” She was blushing even though he was not there to see it.

“Better at what? Missing you?”

Not sure where their conversation was headed, she shyly said, “No, you know, the sexy talk.”

“This is not sexy talk. I’m saving that for later.”
Did she just stop breathing, because she was suddenly lightheaded?
He must have heard her lack of breath. “Relax. I’m only teasing. Maybe I spent too much time with Stefen today.” He laughed out loud at that.

“How was your Thanksgiving?” Needing to change the subject, she was ready to jump on a flight to Chicago to attack him.

“The usual. Parents arguing, drunken aunt passed out, pissed off uncle because of said drunken aunt. Stefen, Bri and I sitting back, watching it all unfold just like we did when we were kids.”

“I’m so sorry, where was Madison?”

“I know better than to subject her to that. I always have the nanny I had growing up, come when we are here so she can spare Madison from the spectacle sure to take place. They ate dinner and went up to the study to read and color. My nanny was more of a mother to me than my real mother was.”

“You haven’t told me about this before.” There was so much they still had to learn about each other.

“I know, it’s not something I enjoy talking about. Stefen, Bri and I all grew up with absentee parents. It’s why we are all so close. We had to rely on each other. Our dads were always working or out of town with their girlfriends, and our moms were either fighting with each other, with our dads, or at some type of charity event. You’d never guess they were best friends in college.”

“They were best friends? What happened?”

“My mom and dad got pregnant with me, and then were forced to get married. My aunt kind of had a thing for my dad, so it was quite a shock for her I guess, and it’s been crap since.”

“I couldn’t ever imagine Leah and I fighting over a man.” Abby didn’t understand why girls would throw away their friendships over guys.

“I hope not. I really like Leah, but I love you, and I am the last guy you will ever have in your life.” Silence.
What was she supposed to say to that
? “Too soon to make those kind of declarations?”

“No, you just caught me off guard.” He was beyond swoon worthy. Now that she thought about it, she would willingly spend the rest of her life fighting off any other women that would want him.

After a slight lull in their conversation, Caleb switched topics. “So you haven’t told me about your dad. Have you given any thought about finding him? I have some connections and can help you.” She’d forgotten that on the way home from the observatory, they’d talked about her looking for her dad.

Not wanting to sound like she didn’t appreciate his concern, she replied “No I haven’t and honestly I’m not interested in it. He made his choice and I’ve been in Santa Barbara my entire life, so he can find me if he wants to. I’m not hiding anywhere.”

“How would you feel if he came looking for you?”

“I don’t know. It would be difficult seeing him, but I wouldn’t shut him out.” She didn’t hate her father but was still hurt that he left them, and besides the money he’d left for her college fund, he never made contact.

“Okay well just let me know if you decide to. I’m here for you, whatever you want.” Loving the fact that he was genuinely concerned about her, she would do anything to be able to snuggle up to him right then.

“Thanks, but I don’t see me changing my mind.” A little chilly, she shivered lightly and pulled one of the throw comforters from the back of the couch around her body.

“You didn’t tell me about your Thanksgiving. How was it?”

“Full of drama as well.” She continued to tuck herself into the blanket carefully pushing the soft material around her feet.

“Do tell. I haven’t had enough of my own.”

Not really wanting to relive her evening, yet accepting any excuse to keep him on the phone, she shared what had happened. “Well there was some great news. Leah’s mom and her boyfriend announced their engagement and the possibility of moving away when Elena freaked, caused a scene, then got kicked out of the house. Oh and she choked on her food, so Dani had to save her life.”

“Oh. My. Gosh.” Caleb full on laughed. “I’m happy for Leah’s mom, but what was up with Elena?”

“She’s always like that. She can’t stand to see other people happy. She gave me dirty looks as a matter of fact when she found out we were dating.”

“So you were talking about me huh?”

Abby couldn’t help but smile. “Well, Leah told her mom, and then she asked me about you, so yeah, I guess I was talking about you.”

“Good because I talked about you too.”

“To your parents?”

“Yeah but mostly to Stefen and Bri. Stefen likes to give me a hard time but Bri validated that you are quite the catch so he went easy on me. Julianne was really happy to hear about you and can’t wait to meet you.”

“Julianne?”
Who the heck was Julianne?

“Yeah my nanny.”

“Oh, you hadn’t told me her name.” Relief filled her.

“Were you just jealous?” His teasing voice did crazy things to her tingling body.

“No.” She lied. “It’s just funny for me to hear a grown man refer to her as though she was still your nanny.”

“She will always be my nanny. She treats me like a son, chastising and all.”

“Did you misbehave and need a scolding?”

His husky voice lowered, “I always need a good disciplining Abby.”
Crap there he went again.