Chapter Nineteen
The cozy warmth of the Walker household wrapped around Chantel like a favorite blanket as she stood in the living room, carefully hanging a silver snowflake ornament on the massive Christmas tree. Laughter and chatter filled the space as everyone participated in the annual post-Thanksgiving tradition of decorating the tree.
Zach stood next to her, handing her ornaments from the box on the coffee table. She couldn’t help but sneak glances at him, her heart skipping a beat every time he smiled her way.
“Hey, Chantel!” Clover called from across the room, where she was untangling a string of lights with Jocelyn. “So, what are your plans now?”
Chantel paused, a glass ball ornament in her hand, before turning to them. “Actually…” she began, her cheeks heating up under Zach’s curious gaze. “I’m thinking about visiting North Carolina.”
Zach’s head snapped toward her, his gray eyes lighting up. “Seriously?” he asked, his voice full of excitement.
She nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah. I figured it might be nice to explore a bit. And, well…” She glanced down at the ornament in her hand, suddenly shy. “Someone told me it’s got a lot to offer.”
“Someone, huh?” Zach teased, his grin wide and boyish.
Clover and Jocelyn exchanged looks, their faces lighting up with matching smirks. “Did you know Camp Lejeune is only about four hours from Virginia Beach?” Jocelyn said casually, though the glint in her eyes betrayed her mischief.
“Really?” Chantel asked.
Clover nodded enthusiastically. “Yep! And Virginia Beach is gorgeous. You’d love it there. Plus, you’d have plenty of tour guides,” she added with a wink.
Chantel laughed, but Zach was already leaning closer to her. “If you’re serious about North Carolina, I could show you around,” he offered his voice softer now, meant just for her.
The promise in his words sent a warm flutter through her chest. “I’d like that,” she admitted, meeting his gaze.
Bear’s booming voice interrupted them from across the room. “Hey, Zach, stop flirting and lift your niece up so she can put the star already!”
Zach chuckled, stepping away and lifting Amira in his arms.”
After placing the star at the top of the tree, she clapped her little hands. “It’s perfect!”
Chantel stood back, taking in the scene. The glowing tree, the laughter of Zach’s family, and Zach himself—it all felt so right.
Clover sidled up next to her, nudging her gently. “So, North Carolina, huh?”
Chantel smiled, her gaze fixed on Zach as he spoke with his brothers. “Yeah. I think it’s time for a new adventure.”
Clover’s grin widened. “Something tells me you’ve already found it.”
As the family admired the finished tree, Zach returned to Chantel’s side, his hand brushing against hers. She glanced at him, feeling a sense of certainty she hadn’t felt in a long time.
It wasn’t just North Carolina she was curious about. It was the chance to see where this unexpected connection with Zach might take her. And as she stood among the Walkers, she realized she wasn’t just visiting their home—she was finding a place she wanted to belong.
“Hey, where are mom and dad?” Justin asked.
“They said they had something they needed to do,” Ethan replied.
“Can we have cookies and cupcakes now?” Max and Amira asked.
“Of course, you can,” Clover said.
Chantel smiled. “Come on, I’ll help you guys carry them.”
The kids jumped up and down and bounded off toward the kitchen.
Chantel followed Max and Amira into the kitchen, laughing softly at their eagerness.
“All right, team,” Chantel said with a playful tone. “Two trays of cookies and one tray of cupcakes. Think we can handle it?”
Max puffed up his chest. “We’ve got this!”
Amira nodded enthusiastically, her braids bouncing. “Totally!”
But before anyone could approach the counter, a strange noise interrupted them—a muffled grunt coming from the pantry area.
Chantel paused, her brow furrowing.
“What was that? Max whispered, eyes wide. “It sounded like an animal growling.”
Amira gasped, clutching Chantel’s arm. “Do you think a raccoon got in?”
Chantel tilted her head, listening again. “I don’t think raccoons grunt like that.”
Max started toward the pantry door. “Let’s check it out,” he said, but then something registered with Chantel.
“Wait, Max!” Chantel hissed, following close behind.
Amira clung to Chantel’s side as they followed Max, and before she could stop Max, he pulled open the door.
The sight that greeted them left her frozen in place. There, amidst the shelf of canned goods and spices, were Zach’s mom and dad locked in a compromising and very intimate position.
“Oh my gosh!” Chantel blurted, immediately covering Max and Amira’s eyes with her hands.
“What’s happening?!” Amira squealed, trying to peek around Chantel’s fingers.
“I think they’re wrestling!” Max shouted, his voice high-pitched with confusion.
“Wrestling?!” Amira’s face scrunched up. “Why are they doing it in the pantry?”
Zach’s mom let out a panicked scream and scrambled to pull on an apron while Zach’s dad muttered something unintelligible as he fumbled with his pants.
“Out! Out!” Zach’s mom shrieked, her voice muffled by her frantic attempts to straighten her clothes.
Chantel quickly ushered the kids back into the kitchen, her cheeks burning with secondhand embarrassment.
“What were they doing in there?” Max asked, still baffled.
Chantel swallowed hard, her voice slightly strained. “Uh… um… you know what? Let’s—let’s just focus on the cookies!”
Before they could press her further, the commotion had already drawn the rest of the family into the kitchen. Zach burst through the doorway first, followed closely by Clover, Bear, Ethan, and Justin.
“What’s going on?” Zach asked, looking between Chantel and the pantry.
Chantel raised a hand, trying to wave him off. “No, no! Don’t go in there—”
But it was too late. Zach pulled the pantry door open, and the room collectively gasped.
“Are you serious right now?!” Zach exclaimed, his face contorted in a mix of shock and disgust.
Clover smacked a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. “Oh my God. In the pantry ?”
Bear groaned, shaking his head. “Why? Why?! ”
Justin looked horrified. “I’m going to need therapy after seeing that.”
Ethan, ever the instigator, started laughing so hard he doubled over. “I’m sorry, but this is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen!”
Zach’s mom emerged, her hair a mess, but her chin held high.
Chantel was biting her lip to keep from laughing but failed when Ethan snorted. “Well, at least we know their marriage is still spicy.”
“Shut up, Ethan!” Zach snapped, though his disgust was quickly turning into laughter.
Meanwhile, Amira and Max stood to the side, looking between the adults as if they were watching a tennis match.
“I still don’t get it,” Max muttered.
Amira elbowed him. “They’re old. Why would they be wrestling?”
Chantel pressed her hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh. The absurdity of the situation was too much, and the kids standing beside her, still utterly clueless, only made it funnier.
Amira tugged on her sleeve. “But why would they wrestle in there? It’s so small.”
Chantel stifled a giggle, crouching down to their level. “You know what? Let’s just call it a special grown-up thing.”
Max frowned. “Special grown-up wrestling?”
“Sure,” Chantel said quickly, standing back up and turning to the adults. “Okay, can we all just agree to never talk about this again?”
Zach ran a hand over his face, groaning. “Agreed. I’m deleting this from my memory forever.”
Chantel shook her head, grabbing the cookie trays and ushering the kids toward the door. “Okay, cookies and cocoa, everyone.
As they left the kitchen, she couldn’t help but glance back at Zach, who met her gaze with an exasperated smile. Somehow, the absurdity of the moment had made her feel even more connected to his chaotic, lovable family.
One thing was certain: this was a Thanksgiving she’d never forget.