Page 167 of Champagne Nights

“You should start getting ready. We have to leave in half an hour.” I signed.

She gave me a nod as she walked out of the kitchen. I sat down at the table, fuming inside about that phone call.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Paisley

It was almost two o’clock, and my stomach started to flutter at the thought that Ben would be here soon. The smell of cooking turkey filled the house, as did the pumpkin pie my mom baked. Fragrant fall candles burned in every room in the house, adding a cozy and inviting warmth for anyone who walked in. A beautiful tablecloth in burgundy, oranges, and browns lay over the table, where beautiful white China sat on top with matching cloth napkins folded and secured by a mandarin satin ribbon that said “Gobble Gobble” across it. The focal point of the table was the beautiful fall centerpiece made from fresh orange roses, yellow and red carnations, greens, and gold-glittered pinecones that were spread sporadically throughout the arrangement, and the three tall orange candles that were placed in the middle of the arrangement.

I heard the door open, and the voices of my two sisters echoed through the house. I walked to the foyer and kissed each of them and their significant others on the cheek, wishing them a happy Thanksgiving.

“You okay?” Charlotte asked as she gently placed her hand on my arm.

“I’m fine. Ben will be here soon with his sister, Leah.”

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

“It’s not like we can talk to her. She’s deaf and won’t be able to hear us. So, actually, we can talk about her, and she won’t even know,” Keaton said, chuckling.

I smacked his arm. “You. Are. Mean! Knock it off! And I swear to God, if you embarrass me, I’ll string you up by your balls, Keaton Christopher.”

“Damn, Pais…you a little cray cray.”

My eyebrows furrowed at him as the doorbell rang, and my tummy, which had finally calmed down, started to flutter again because I knew it was Ben and Leah. I walked over to the door and opened it. A smile fell upon me when I saw Ben standing there, looking as sexy as ever in his khaki-colored dress pants and a black cotton button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hair was just as perfect as the smile splayed across his face when he saw me.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Paisley.” He smiled as he kissed my cheek.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Ben.”

They stepped inside, and Ben introduced me to his sister.

“Leah, this is Paisley.” He signed.

“Paisley, this is my sister, Leah.”

Holy fuck. Watching him sign turned me on, and I couldn’t help the ache that suddenly formed between my legs.

“It’s so nice to meet you.” Ben translated for me as I hugged her, and she handed me a decorative tin with a cover.

She smiled and signed. “It’s great to meet you. Thank you for having me.”

She was a beautiful girl who stood about five feet, four inches tall and had the waist of a Barbie doll. Her long hair was brownwith gold highlights that reminded me much of Ben’s. Her brown eyes were the color of milk chocolate, and she had the cutest dimple on her cheek when she smiled.

“As long as you look directly at Leah, she can read your lips,” Ben said.

I led them to the kitchen, where the rest of the clan was hanging out. I introduced Leah to everyone except Keaton. I didn’t know where he went. A few moments later, he walked into the kitchen.

“There you are. I want you to meet Leah.”

I lightly touched her shoulder, and when she turned around and looked at him, I saw something. The look on Keaton’s face was one I’d never seen before. When I introduced them, and they shook hands, Keaton’s lips parted, and I swore I heard him take a sharp breath. He looked at me and didn’t say a word. My God, I think the boy, for once in his life, was speechless. My mom announced that dinner was ready and everyone was to sit at the table. I took my usual spot, Ben sat down next to me, and Keaton offered his spot to Leah as he sat next to her.

“That’s my seat, little brother,” Piper said.

“Not today, it’s not,” he replied through gritted teeth.

“What the—” Piper started to say and then stopped when she looked at Leah. “Alrighty then,” she said as she walked around the table. She and Liam took the seats across from them.

Thanksgiving dinner turned out to be better than I expected it to be. I wasn’t referring to the food. I was referring to the overall day. It was a day that I had been dreading for a while, knowing that it was my first without him. The past Thanksgivings were always filled with extra love, laughter, and fun when he was around. Having Ben sit beside me and celebrate with my family made all the difference in the world. As I looked over at him, interpreting the conversation between Leah and my family, I felt myself smiling, and a happiness filled my soul—a happiness I hadn’t felt for so long and never thought I’d feel again.

---