Page 37 of Two Hearts Reunited

“Oh, my God. You’re right. I haven’t even showered yet. Thank you, Anya,” she said, inhaling a deep breath as she reached for her drink.

After pulling a few things from inside the box and leaving them on the table, Anya just smiled at Eric and pointed at the box filled with appetizers before shooing him away.

He laughed before grabbing a couple of beers from the fridge. After resting them unopened inside the box, he hoisted the box into his arms and carried it through the hallway toward the living room.

Watching Anya begin to efficiently straighten the kitchen, Ashley became calmer.

“Tell me about each parent since I haven’t seen any of them for years. I’ve met all of them at one time or another,” Anya admitted.

Starting to relax, Ashley drank her wine cooler rather quickly as she spoke about each parent with fondness, and before long Anya was reaching for a couple more drinks while she continued sorting through the clutter in the kitchen. With everything rinsed and loaded by the time that Ashley headed upstairs to shower and change clothes, Anya started the dishwasher before pulling the perfectly cooked roast beef out of the oven.

Ashley returned about twenty minutes later, looking much more put together. “Is there anything I can do?”

“You look like you feel so much better,” Anya replied. “I’m nearly done. Let’s have another wine cooler, shall we?”

Ashley laughed, reaching into the refrigerator and pulling out two more bottles.

Finally, Anya sat down with her wine cooler at the table with Ashley. “Is it me, or are we both getting a little drunk?”

Ashley giggled. “I think you’re right. Geez, you’re a lifesaver. Now I should figure out what I need to do with the potatoes, wild rice and vegetables.” She frowned. “I need to make gravy. I’m not too good at that.”

“Don’t worry. I am. That should wait anyway,” Anya said. “If everything is ready to put in the oven, I’d say we wait until we hear from one set of parents, and then get them going.” Anya grimaced. “The roast beef needs to rest a while before we slice it, so let’s go join the guys and Arielle in the living room and have a few appetizers, shall we?”

“Yes,” Ashley said. “Food sounds good. I think I forgot to eat today.”

Anya rolled her eyes. “I did too.”

They laughed, reaching for a couple more wine coolers and heading through the hallway toward the living room.

Chapter Nineteen

Eric made room for Anya beside him on the couch, grinning at the two women as they walked into the living room, each of them most obviously buzzed.

Brian laughed when Ashley sat on top of him. “What’s going on, wife?”

“I think I need to eat a few snacks,” she admitted.

Reaching for the dip and chips on the tray beside him, he scooped some dip on some chips for her, half shoving them into her mouth.

“Okay, okay. I’m not that bad,” Ashley said before biting down on the chips.

Brian kissed her forehead. “I kind of like it. You’ve been too worried about making everything perfect for our parents. You know they’re going to love whatever you’ve got to eat.”

She grimaced. “Whether it’s good or not.”

Anya laughed, after shoving a bunch of cheese and crackers into her own mouth. “Everything turned out great. There’s no need to worry.”

After she was finished, she stood, reaching for one of the bags she’d brought along with her from the kitchen, handing it over to Ashley, still seated on Brian’s lap. “I picked these up for you guys yesterday. I know it’s only your second Christmas inthe house, so I thought you might like some pretty ornaments to get you started since the tree is kind of bare.”

Ashley looked into the bag, her eyes going wide as she began removing the boxes and resting them on the end table. “Anya, these are exquisite.”

“I brought you a mixture of some fancier ones along with some plain colored globes,” she said. “I get to do the ordering for a lot of the things we stock in the shop, and I’ve always thought those silver and crystal Christmas angels were so pretty.”

“Come on, Brian, Eric,” Ashley said, carefully climbing off Brian’s lap. “Help me and Anya put them on the tree while Arielle is still asleep. She’s probably going to be stirring soon.”

After they finished adding the three dozen extra ornaments, the tree looked much more decorative, Eric decided.

“That’s much better, isn’t it?” Ashley said, her hands on her hips. “Angels and ballerinas.”

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