Page 34 of The Way Back Home
Eli laughed out loud—a wonderful, rumbling laugh—and even Alex’s lips quirked.
“Why?” Teagan asked. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” Noah assured her, though the way he avoided her eyes suggested he wasn’t being entirely truthful.
Placing his hand lightly on the small of her back, Noah led her toward the house, with Bear trotting along happily beside them.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TEAGAN
Stepping into the Ziegler homestead was like walking into another world. Warm and inviting, the air held traditional holiday aromas—pine, cinnamon, cocoa, cookies.
The scents triggered vague, hazy memories. Standing on a chair, scooping dough onto baking sheets; sipping hot chocolate loaded with tiny marshmallows while hanging homemade decorations on a tiny tree. Listening to Christmas carols and sneaking peeks under the tree to see if maybe, just maybe, Santa had come early.
Teagan closed her eyes and savored the moment. The images grew fainter with every passing year. She wasn’t even sure they were real anymore.
“Ready?” Noah whispered as he took her coat and hung it on an open hook.
“As I’ll ever be.”
“Relax.”
“Easier said than done.”
“If you start to feel overwhelmed, squeeze my hand, okay?”
Teagan nodded, even though every cell in her body wanted to turn around and walk right back outside. In and out, that’s what Noah had said. It seemed like such a small ask in the grand scheme of things.
She could and would do this for him.
From the foyer, they entered a living room bigger than her first apartment. A fire blazed in the hearth, which was decorated with pine garland and festive candles. In front of the bay window stood one of the prettiest Christmas trees Teagan had ever seen. Twinkling white lights covered every branch, and pearly, satiny bows and ribbons cascaded like tiny, glittering waterfalls from top to bottom. Half a dozen children of various ages were scattered about, laughing and playing among twice as many adults.
An attractive, golden-haired woman in her early twenties was the first to spot them. A huge grin split her face as she exclaimed, “Noah!” and ran across the room to hug him.
Another young woman, identical to the first, was right behind her.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re really here!” the second woman said, kissing him solidly on the cheek. “Now it really feels like Christmas!”
Noah smiled and hugged them both, one in each arm, with affection. The family resemblance was striking.
They turned and focused their attention on Teagan, their amber eyes glowing with excitement and blatant curiosity.
The first woman smiled warmly and extended her hand to Teagan. “Hi, I’m Lydia.”
“And I’m Miriam,” said her twin, doing the same. “Thanks for bringing this guy home to us. He’s easily our favorite brother.”
“They say that to all of us,” Noah said, but Teagan could tell he was pleased.
She summoned a smile and accepted each of their hands, hoping they wouldn’t notice how much her hands were shaking.
“Uncle Noah! Uncle Noah!”
Teagan stepped back, making room for the rush of little bodies anxious to greet their uncle. Bear placed himself in front of her again, providing a furry barrier against anyone who might try to hugher. She made a mental note to buy the protective beast a big, juicy bone the first chance she got.
Teagan pasted on a pleasant, casual smile as Noah greeted his family and did introductions. She avoided direct eye contact when possible, focusing on their shoulders or foreheads instead, and tried to breathe through the tightening in her chest.
There were too many to remember, but she managed to catch a few names. Bree, Adam’s wife. Daniel’s wife, Kelly, who looked like she was ready to give birth at any second. Kinsey, Brandon’s also pregnant wife.
