Page 153 of Champagne Nights

She walked back into the house with another white box in her hands. “Here. Take this to Ben’s tonight. It’s that lemon tart your father loves. I’ll pick another one up on my way home.”

“No, Mom. It’s okay. Take that to Dad.”

“Don’t be silly. You’re taking this, and that’s all there is to it. Do you have a nice bottle of wine to bring as well? If you don’t, I can run out and grab one.”

I laughed. “Mom, sit down. Let’s enjoy these amazing French pastries you brought over. I have a bottle of wine, and now I have a lemon tart. Ben will be thrilled. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiled. “Why don’t you ask Ben to come to Thanksgiving dinner?”

“He has his own family, Mom. I’m sure he wants to spend it with them.”

“It would have been nice to see him again.” She smiled as she petted Romeo.

I got up from the table and took our plates to the sink. “I’ll tell him you said hi.”

“All right, honey. I better get going before your dad calls and asks where his French pastries are.”

She walked over and kissed me on the cheek. “Have fun with Ben tonight, and I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Bye, Mom. Thanks again for the lemon tart,” I yelled as she shut the door behind her.

Ben

I was in the grocery store's produce section when I saw Keaton picking out some limes.

“Hey, Keaton.”

“Ben, my man. How are you?”

“I’m good. Limes?” I asked.

He looked at the one in his hand and smiled. “Yeah. My mom asked if I could pick some up. She wants to make a homemade key lime pie for Thanksgiving.”

“Ah,” I said as I nodded.

“What are you shopping for?”

“I’m cooking dinner tonight for your sister, and I’m not sure what to make.”

“You’re cooking dinner for Paisley?” he asked.

“Yeah. Want to help me out here and tell me some of her favorite foods?”

“She loves chicken cordon bleu.”

“I can make that.” I smiled.

“Actually, she’ll eat just about anything, but chicken cordon bleu is her favorite.”

I held up my hand for a high five. “Thanks, Keaton.”

“No problem, bro. Have fun tonight.”

I walked away with a smile on my face and bought everything I needed for dinner. As soon as I got home and unloaded the groceries, I started to prep the chicken. My phone rang, and it was Finn. I pressed the speaker button.

“Hey, Finn.”

“Do you have me on speaker?”

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