Page 103 of The Fine Art of Faking It
The house was full of holiday smells and the laughter of every member of the Pierce family, dogs included. There was music playing in the background that no one could hear over the din of family and fun. Reva went back to the couch where she and Evan were watchingNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Aurora and Caleb were sneaking appetizers off of the dining table and taking them upstairs to Caleb’s room. Joey had outdone herself with the spread. Eden’s pants felt tighter just looking at the plates of bruschetta and stuffed mushroom caps. Most of the action centered around the kitchen island where Jax played bartender for the adults in the family. Phoebe was sitting on a stool critiquing his martini shaking.
“Thank God you’re here,” Eva said, appearing at Eden’s side. “Taste this!”
She pressed a glass into Eden’s hands.
“What is it?” she asked, sniffing the purple liquid.
“Cranberry apple cider sangria,” Joey answered, leaning in to bite Jax’s earlobe.
Eden turned her back on the festivities. “Why haven’t you told anyone yet?” Eden hissed.
“We’re spilling the baby beans at the main meal when Donovan’s parents will be here,” Eva whispered. “Just a few more drinks and you won’t have to cover for me anymore!”
Eden chugged the drink and handed Eva the empty cup.
“The lovebirds are here,” Beckett announced. He juggled Lydia over to his hip and dropped a kiss on Eden’s cheek. He shook Davis’s hand.
The greetings flew fast and furious with everyone talking all at once. Joey opened one of the bottles of wine and proceeded to pour half of it into Phoebe’s super-sized wine glass.
Eden found Davis being pulled from her grasp as the Pierce men decided to congregate in Jax’s office to talk “man” things.
Summer herded her two-year-old daughter Meadow onto the rug with the bribe of coloring books and crayons. Meadow’s brother Jonathan was laying on Mr. Snuffles, Franklin and Phoebe’s sinus-challenged pug, while Grandpa Franklin read him a story.
“Have you guys read the new book club selection?” Summer asked over her shoulder.
Phoebe slapped the counter with enthusiasm. “Yes! Amazing. I challenge any of you not to like it.”
“Freaking hilarious,” Eva agreed.
“You had your babies vaginally, didn’t you?” Phoebe asked Gia innocently.
“Um. Why?” If Gia thought it strange that her mother-in-law was questioning her vagina, she didn’t show it. The Pierces were uncomfortably close like that, and Eden felt a little twinge of sadness that she didn’t get her own overly involved family antics today.
Her parents had called that morning from Atlantis’s house over a noise factor much the same as the one in the Pierce house now. It made Eden feel just a bit homesick and happy that she hadn’t stayed home alone.
“Because Pippa Grant will make you pee yourself laughing,” Phoebe announced. “I woke your father up laughing in bed over the hockey players autographing people’s foreheads.”
“So, Eden, speaking of romantic comedy,” Gia prodded, smugly popping a pickle into her mouth. “How are things going with you and Davis?”
The Beautification Committee was everywhere.
“We’re great,” Eden insisted, smiling brightly and helping herself to a glass of wine. “He’s wonderful. I just feel awful for him being displaced from his home for the holidays.” She couldn’t help herself, reminding the guilty of their crimes. She shook her head sadly. “It’s so disheartening to know that someone was malicious enough to want to hurt him like that. I mean, he’s homeless for the holidays. Can you imagine?”
Eva and Gia looked like Eden had just run over their favorite baby bunny with a lawnmower.
“It is really unfortunate,” Phoebe agreed, sloshing the wine around in her glass. “It almost makes me question just how safe this town really is.”
“Me, too,” Eden agreed seriously, enjoying the way the sisters squirmed. “He’s homeless, and because of this mean-spirited prankster, the insurance company won’t pay out.” She sighed. “Davis may not show it, but he’s really hurting. We’re really hoping the police find out who did it.”
Eva’s lower lip trembled.Home run.
Sure, maybe it was mean to poke them on a holiday built around gratitude and sharing. But because of the Beautification Committee, Davis didn’t have a home in which to celebrate Thanksgiving. Eden went in for the kill. “I just feel bad for the police.”
“Why’s that?” Eva asked, glancing nervously in the direction of Jax’s office.
“Well, think about it. This is a small town. Your husband, Layla, Colby, they know everyone,” Eden pointed out. “Imagine having to charge someone you know or care about with arson.”
She shook her head, enjoying the stricken looks. “And can you imagine the trouble he could get in if it turns out to be someone he knows? He’d be accused of covering it up, collusion. His career could be sunk, too. It’s just a really ugly situation,” Eden tut-tutted.
