Chapter Fifteen
Denver
I rounded the corner, stopping just outside the dining room to watch my wife double-check every single place setting while our daughter munched on corn, green bean casserole, and mashed potatoes in her high chair beside my chair at the head of the table.
The Christmas tree in the corner was bright and oozing with Christmas cheer, adding a cozier feeling to the room.
The table, I had to admit, was a work of art.
From the dark green tablecloth to the red candles placed along the center, their flames burning steady and bright.
The red and gold trimmed china had been Nancy’s, which she brought to Colorado when she moved in with us.
Unfortunately, she never got to see them used at this table.
That was something else I had to carry with me.
I’d been too stubborn in the past to let Valerie do anything over-the-top during Christmas.
Now, seeing it and experiencing it, nothing about this was over-the-top. It was perfect in every way.
All because of my enchantress.
“Mama! Mama!” NJ sang, flapping her hot pink spoon in the air.
“Yes, sweet girl, I hear you. I hear you,” Val cooed, straightening the last fork.
“Baby, I don’t know why you keep fussing with everything,” I said, startling her. She jumped, her spine snapping straight, hand on her chest. “It looks gorgeous.”
“I didn’t even see you,” she breathed. “How long have you been standing there?”
My lips twitched. “I’d stand here forever if you’d let me.”
“Where is everyone?” she asked, looking behind me.
“In the living room, waiting on marching orders.”
“I have to bring everything in.”
“I got it, baby. Just relax.” I was gone before she could argue. Once in the kitchen, I let out a low whistle to get Caleb’s attention. His head turned to me, and he was on his feet in an instant.
“What’s up, Dad?”
I handed him a pair of oven mitts and tipped my head to the hot bowl of mashed potatoes. “Take that to the table for Val and then come back and grab that basket of rolls.”
“Yup.”
I turned around, grabbing the next two dishes.
“Need some help?”
I looked over my shoulder to find Mags coming into the kitchen, eyes on the food.
The man was about to die of starvation; it was a miracle he’d lasted this long.
He was running on just a cinnamon roll and the promises Diana gave him at this point.
I just prayed my brother was outside pulling the most beautiful, well-cooked ham out of the smoker right now.
If not, we’d be burying a body on Christmas night.
“Yeah, if you could grab those for me.” I tipped my head to the last of the dishes.
Mags moved in silence, taking the items from the counter and following me down the hall.
“We put the potatoes over there, the casserole over there, and ooh—Mags, could you put the yams over on that end for me?” Val’s green eyes connected with mine as she mouthed, “Thank you.”
“That it?” Caleb asked.
She scanned the table one more time, putting her bottom lip between her teeth, the sight making my body tighten.
I cleared my throat. “Baby?” I prompted with a raised brow. “We good?”
Her pink and plump bottom lip was released as she nodded. “Yes, I think we’re ready.”
“I’ll bring in the family,” Mags muttered, disappearing.
Once everyone was seated, the only empty seat being my brother’s, I moved to the head of the table and popped open the bottle of wine. “Anyone?”
Diana pouted and looked at her stomach. “Only six more months.”
“Unless you’re breastfeeding,” Abbie added, holding out her wineglass to me. I chuckled, taking it and pouring her a healthy amount before moving to pour Valerie some.
“I never thought I would miss wine.”
“You can drink it,” Harmony offered. “Just one glass, though.”
“Best not, Red,” Mags said, leaning back in his seat. “She might throw it all up.”
Lawson held up his glass. “I’ll take some.”
Lance’s face twisted. “Since when do you drink wine?”
“Since I crashed a Wine Wednesday a few months ago. Ow—Abbie, did you just kick me?”
“You crashing was supposed to be a secret,” she hissed.
Beau turned to her, ticking his head to the side as his father busted out laughing on the other side of him. “I thought you said no boys were allowed during Wine Wednesdays?”
Abbie looked at her girls for help as I walked around the table to pour Lance a glass. “Thanks, boss,” he muttered.
I clapped him on the shoulder. “Not a problem.”
“Everything looks wonderful,” Jigs said, eyeing each dish. “Thank you to everyone who cooked—but can I ask who made the rolls?”
I jerked my chin. “Harm did, Jigs.”
“Well, damn,” he drawled, reaching for one. “They look just like mine.”
Abbie brought her hand to her mouth to conceal her laugh, her eyes shooting toward my sister-in-law, who, strangely enough, looked like she’d seen a ghost. When I looked back at Jigs, he was already taking a bite of the soft bread, steam coming from the inside as he chewed it methodically.
Slowly, the man’s weathered features were painted with confusion, then shock, and more confusion. “These…these are my rolls.”
“What?” Beau blurted. “That can’t be.” He reached for a roll and ripped off a huge bite.
My lips twitched as I looked back to my wife, who was gawking at Harmony’s profile, jaw slack.
“Holy shit,” Beau whispered. Then his head whipped over to Harm, eyes narrowing. “How in the hell did you make these?”
“Umm…” She bit the inside of her cheek. “Well…you see…”
“Ham is done!” my brother announced from the back door.
“Thank fuck,” Mags muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“See? I told you.” Diana beamed at him.
I shot a wink to Valerie before bending down and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “A perfect Christmas,” I whispered.
As I rose to my full height, Mase came around the corner, the big silver ham pan in his hands. The ham itself was still covered in foil, but that didn’t stop him from plastering the biggest smile on his face like the cocky son of a bitch he was.
“Dinner is served,” he drawled, leaning between Harmony and his empty seat to place the ham in the center of the table. He clapped his hands and spread his arms wide. “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!”
Mags clicked his tongue, leaned forward, and yanked the foil off. I braced my hands on the back of my chair, praying for one last Christmas miracle.
It didn’t come.
Smoke lifted into the air, all of us watching it spread around the chandelier, before all eyes landed on the ham.
The dark brown, almost black ham.
“God dammit,” Jigs muttered, shaking his head.
“It’s burnt,” Beau deadpanned, glaring at Mase.
“It is not burnt, you fuckers! It’s a little crispy,” my brother argued as I looked at my wife, expecting devastation on her face. What I found instead was the opposite.
She was about to burst out laughing, but Diana and Abbie beat her to the punch.
“How does one burn two hams?” I asked, looking at Mase, shaking my head.
He gestured to it. “It is not burnt! It just got a little crispy on the top because it nearly caught fire—”
“Again?” everyone asked, groaning.
“I’ve never known anyone to actually catch something on fire with the smoker,” my son noted. For some reason, NJ found that hilarious and started laughing. A rough chuckle left me.
“Look, is it edible or not?” Lance asked. “I’m starved.”
“Yes! It’s fuckin’ edible!” Mason growled.
Mags grabbed the carving knife. “Then let’s fuckin’ eat.”
An hour later, the ham—though slightly burnt—was mostly gone, the serving dishes were empty, the dinner plates were dirty, and everyone around me was happy.
My chest warmed at the sight. Everyone I loved, aside from my new nephew, was here, safe, sound, and happy.
I reached over, grabbing Valerie’s hand as she talked with Beau and Abbie.
She turned her head, looking at me with a gorgeous, unforgettable smile spread widely across her enchanting face. “Yes?”
My hand squeezed hers. “This was the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” I murmured, leaning close.
Her eyes instantly filled with tears. “You promise?”
I brought her hand up to my lips. “I promise, baby. Thank you for everything.”
She chewed the inside of her cheek for a moment, eyes shining with pure, unfiltered happiness. “Can we do this again next year?”
“I’m cooking the ham,” I told her.
“Thank fuck,” Mags sighed on the other side of her, grinning at me.
“Hey!” Mason protested.
“Then what will Mason do?” Val asked in a teasing tone.
“He just needs to ride bulls and look pretty.” This came from Harmony, and everyone at the table fell into a fit of laughter, including Mase.
I tugged Valerie’s hand, silently commanding her attention. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Smoke.”
The End