Page 60 of Maybe This Christmas
“Will you two of little faith knock it off?I’ve got this handled.Now get inside, Caleb.Your mama is waiting for you,” Dad said.
“And don’t worry, we know how to put out a grease fire this time,” Uncle Gordon called after him.
Not feeling particularly soothed by that thought, Caleb stepped inside.The house was almost as lively as it usually was.With Gretchen and Sebastian’s boys running around, and everyone gathered in the kitchen.
The only ones missing were Poppy and Emerson.A wave of loneliness hit him.It’d been over a week now since he’d seen his girls.
Soon enough, they’d be back in the fold.It was important for them to know all the branches of their family tree, not just his.That slightly soothed the ache of loneliness.
“You look like a deer about to go on a date with a pickup truck.”Sabrina approached him from the side and swooped the wine bottles out of his hands.“You all right?”
His eyes focused to attention.“Are you sure the lodge will be all right tonight, with all of us here?”
She cocked her head.“It’ll be fine.There are no major events planned tonight anyhow.Nice way to evade my question, by the way.”
He cleared his throat.“I’m fine.Just missing the girls.”
She patted his hand.“I miss them too.Caden and Graham are hopped up on sugar.”She gestured to where their nephews were dancing wildly in front of the television to one of those super-stimulating cartoons.
Lainey popped her head out of the kitchen.“There you are, Caleb.Have your father or uncle burned off their eyebrows yet?”
“Eyebrows were intact, as of two minutes ago.”
Emma appeared behind Lainey, a smear of something red on her cheek.He exhaled a long breath.God, she’s beautiful.
“I hope that’s not blood on your cheek, Em.”
She reached up to swipe a finger across her face.She stuck it in her mouth.“Nope.Raspberry jam.I’m almost done with the trifle—do you want to help?”
The kitchen emptied out as he followed Emma in.By the looks of the stove and counters, dinner was about ready—save the questionable turkey.
Emma had taken over one edge of the kitchen island with her trifle.She wiped her hands and looked up at him.
“It’s not weird I’m here, is it?”
He exhaled.“Why would you say that?”
She gestured to him.“Your vibe is off tonight.I just want to be sure you’re not weirded out.I mean, not that I can go anywhere.I can’t imagine how much an Uber up the mountain would cost.”
He brought his hand to her face, forcing her to look at him.“I know how my mom can be.She probably steamrolled right over you.”
Emma began opening cabinets.“She did, a little.But we were talking about the space, and when I looked up, I was at your parents’ house and in charge of dessert.”
“What are you looking for?”
“Does this trifle dish have a lid?”
He turned, remembering where his mother kept them.She had them organized by shape and purpose.It took him a moment to locate the right one.
He handed it over to her.“I know how my mom is.And yeah, I’m not going to lie, it was a little weird.But it’s not like you hid in her trunk or anything to get down the mountain.You had a reason for being with her in town.”
Emma snapped her fingers.“Damn, there goes my idea for hitching a ride into town tomorrow.”
She snapped the lid on the trifle container.Caleb opened the refrigerator door and the two of them groaned as they began to move everything around to make space for it.
“It’s just been a while since anyone I’ve had a romantic connection with has been at my parents’ house.And with my girls being with their mom, I guess I feel a little off tonight.It’s nothing to do with you, I promise.The weirdness is all me.”
They fit the container in the fridge and Emma closed the door.
