Page 403 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
"Pig," he mumbled at Landon and glanced up to find his little brother watching him closely. Landon's blue eyes were filled with some hidden emotion, his messy blond/brown hair making him look ten years younger than he was.
Landon snorted and reached out, stealing the sticky bun off Jake's plate before running to the living room.
"There are five more. Nugget head." Jake got another one and walked toward the back door. "I'm going to go out on the porch with Kari and Dad. Make sure they aren't naming our kids together."
"You know your father. He loves the sound of little feet. I'm sure he's ready to have some around here again." Her voice was filled with emotion.
It was time. Where Jake's older brother, Kade, should have been the first to produce kids, he was too busy with his military career. He wasn't involved with anyone, or no one that Jake knew of. A sharp echo of pain rolled around in his chest over Kade not being home. It didn't seem right.
"You haven't been home for Christmas in four years thanks to Bethany," Jake mumbled under his breath and walked out onto the porch as Kari and his father turned their attention on him.
"You talking to yourself, son?"
"Sure am, Dad. I'm the only one that won't disagree with me." He offered them a cheeky smile and sat down beside Kari, lifting the plate toward them.
"Thanks," his father responded and grabbed one of the two rolls.
Should have brought three.
"Share this one with me?" Kari picked up the other one and gave him a knowing smile, reading him like an open book.
"Yeah." He smiled and took the bigger half when she offered it. "Thanks, baby."
"Thank you." She took a bite and groaned. "Wow. These are the best rolls I've ever had. Don't tell Sicily."
"Never." Jake winked and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he continued to eat the sticky goodness. "Hey, Dad, what's going on with Kade? When is he coming home again? Will he be here for PawPaw's birthday?"
"He should." Jake's father cleared his throat. "I'm hoping we get to talk to him on Skype here in a few hours. He usually calls on the holidays, so maybe we'll get lucky today. He's asked about you several times."
Jake's relationship with his older brother was a little more tense than his younger brothers, but that was Kade's fault. He was a withdrawn, unhappy type of guy no matter what was going on around him. His soured expression and stiff disposition probably fit well in the military. Chances were that no one was messing with him in the slightest. Jake could only hope that he had a few friends, or at least someone to talk to.
The back door opened, and Jake's mom leaned out. "I'm getting ready to start the stuffing prep. We'll open gifts after that."
"You need help?" Kari moved to the edge of the swing, and Jake couldn't help but notice the slight downturn in his father's expression. He didn't want Kari to leave. Too funny.
"Absolutely. You need to know this family recipe. It's Jake's favorite." She smiled and moved back, letting the screen door slam shut.
"All right, boys. I'm needed in the kitchen." She got up and walked toward the house, but paused and turned. "And I like the name Thomas. Thanks."
Jake rolled his eyes and glanced over at his father. "You're naming my kids already, aren't you?"
"You know I love naming things." He smiled. "Come here."
Jake moved over into his open arm and rested against the older man. "I love her. I'm going to ask her to marry me at New Year’s."
"You knew I was going to ask?" His father chuckled deep in his chest.
"Of course I did. You've been waiting for me to get married since I was a boy." He patted his hand on his knee and let out a content sigh. "She's perfect for me."
"I couldn't agree more. We weren't sure you would survive losing Bethany, but she was never good for you. She was convenient and you loved her because she was in your face, loving you. That's not true love, Jake. It's settling."
"I get that now." Jake leaned forward and pressed his forearms to his thighs. "You like her, hm?"
"I do. I always wanted a little girl. Your mom and I prayed hard for a daughter, but it never happened."
Jake glanced back as his father's voice broke a little. "Us boys weren't enough?" He chuckled as his dad gave him a look.
"You were more than enough. We're beyond proud of all of you. There's just something soft about a woman that keeps the wheels turning. I think if we had to live without them we would be far too stiff and unyielding. Your mom makes me the man I'm proud to be today." He squeezed Jake's shoulder. "You know we need to get into the kitchen and pick things out of the stuffing bowl."
