Page 32 of Family Forever
“Thanks. I hope it stays moist, I may have started it a bit early.”
“I’m sure it will be perfect.”
“So, Aric said that none of you have had any luck with the deer hunting yet? Said you guys have only seen four does between the three of you.”
She talked to Aric. When? Had he even come downstairs since she got home?
“Yeah, it seems to be slim pickings this year. Braden and I each saw one doe on opening morning, and Aric saw one, too, and one on Sunday.”
“When I talked to Aric on the phone Monday he said his friend got a nice eight pointer.”
“You called Aric?”
“No, he called me.”
“He did?”
She flashed him a puzzled look and shrugged. “Yeah, we talk to each other a couple times a week. Not as often as I do with the rest of your brothers, but some.”
He knew Braden, Nate, and Luke talked to her because they did when he talked to her, once a week when he called her, but judging from what she’d just said they were all communicating more than he’d thought. And here he’d purposely forced himself into only calling her once a week as to give her the space he thought she needed to explore and enjoy her new world.
“Maybe you guys will have better luck tomorrow. Aric tells me that rarely does a year go by that you and he don’t get deer. He said he doesn’t even know why Cole bothers to buy a license since he rarely goes into the woods or gets a deer.”
Dylan chuckled. “Yeah, Cole isn’t one for the cold outdoors. I think he hunts out of obligation.”
Marissa set the pot of potatoes on the stovetop. “What do you want me to do next?”
“Everything’s pretty set for dinner. We could set the table. I’ll grab the table leaves from the closet. There’s a long red tablecloth in the drawer next to the built-in hutch, and we’ll set the table with the china.”
“You use that beautiful antique china?”
“Only for holidays, and the boys know there will be hell to pay if they break any of our Grandmother’s china.”
Dylan heard a car door shut and glanced out the window to find his Aunt Mitzi and her family had arrived. He yelled up the stairs, telling his brothers to come down. It sounded like a herd of cattle beating against the steps as they quickly bounded into the kitchen.
Jessica and Bianca set the pecan and pumpkin pies they carried onto the countertop, each had a duffle bag slung over their shoulder. His Uncle Bob wheeled a larger suitcase behind him, and his Aunt Mitzi carried a grocery sack in her hand. If Dylan was a betting man, he’d bet that sack was filled with wine bottles.
With the table spread as long as could be and everyone standing in the kitchen, the large kitchen suddenly seemed very small. Dylan took the sack of wine from his aunt and set it on the counter, then turned, kissed her on the cheek, and hugged her. She was a hugger, but he didn’t mind, he always welcomed her reassuring hugs, especially since his parents died.
“I’m so glad you guys are here.”
She placed her cold hand on his cheek, her loving gaze held his. “We are too.”
She turned and glanced around the room, scanning over her nephews, smiling warmly. “This bunch gets handsomer every year.”
Each of his brothers took their turn greeting their aunt and cousins with hugs, and handshakes for Uncle Bob.
After a while of visiting, Dylan glanced at his watch, then swung his gaze around the room. “Dinner will be ready shortly, why don’t you guys go ahead and get settled in. Uncle Bob and Aunt Mitzi, as usual, you guys are in my room. Aric, why don’t you help your cousins with their bags.”
His aunt hung back in the kitchen to help him and Marissa finish up with dinner as everyone else disappeared.
She cracked open a bottle of wine and poured herself a glass, and offered Marissa a glass as well. Marissa’s nervous gaze landed on him and she looked as though she was waiting for direction from him before answering his aunt.
He glanced toward his eccentric aunt.
Though her sly, teasing wink said enough she spoke anyhow. “It’s a holiday, Dylan, loosen up.” Without missing another beat, she poured a short glass of wine and handed it to Marissa.
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