Chapter 26 Eli
Eli
I’m elbow-deep in homework assignments I’m grading when my phone lights up.
At first, I ignore it, prioritizing the work I’ve fallen behind on.
Granted, it’s not as bad as some of my colleagues, who are weeks behind on their grades.
Still, I don’t like being behind on things.
It makes my skin crawl when I fall behind on my own schedule.
But then my phone buzzes again, and I wonder if it’s Lia.
I snatch it up like it might disappear if I don’t and I see a text message.
From Lia.
Gone are the thoughts of grading homework as I open it, only for a text from Walker to buzz through. I scroll back to the beginning to catch up.
Lia: Tansy’s reordering the cherry-rhubarb cinnamon rolls. The Gilded Lady is officially a regular client.
For a second, I just stare at the message, even though other ones are rolling through.
Regular client.
The Gilded Lady.
That’s not small, nor is that polite small-town support. That’s Tansy, who is as stingy as it gets with baking, putting her reputation behind what Lia can do.
A smile pulls at my mouth so hard it almost hurts.
Knox: Hell yes. Told you those rolls were dangerous.
Walker: I’m proud of you, Lia. Truly.
My fingers fly across the keyboard.
Eli: That’s my girl. Knew Tansy had taste. When’s the order due by?
The two minutes that go by before she responds is agonizing.
Lia: As soon as possible, though we did a lot of baking this morning, so I won’t get them up and running until tomorrow. I’m headed home now to get a nap. I’m pooped.
Knox: It’s almost lunch time, Sunshine. Make sure you eat something before you crash out.
Walker: I can have the restaurant whip something up for you to take with you, if you’re headed this way.
I go to respond before I hear Amber’s tiny footsteps padding down the hallway. “Daddy?”
“Hmmm?”
She rounds the corner and furrows her brow. “You’re smiling weird.”
I huff out a laugh. “Sorry. Lia’s just got some good news today.”
Amber’s whole face lights up. “Is she coming over to celebrate!?”
The question hits me right in the chest.
Why not?
I drop my attention to my phone again as my fingers quickly type out the message.
Eli: This calls for some celebrating. Everyone at my place for dinner tonight. Amber wants to see you, and Pickles can come and get out of that apartment for a while. What do you guys say?
At first, no one responds, and I wonder if I’ve overstepped my boundaries or read the situation wrong. I scroll up to the start of the conversation, rereading it back just to make sure I didn’t miss anything that was said.
But then, three little dots start jumping around.
Knox: I’ll bring wine. And something non-alcoholic so I don’t get side-eyed by a tiny human.
Walker: I’ll stop by the market after work. Fresh ingredients. No one worry about cooking, I’ve got just the thing we need.
Lia: Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.
My jaw tightens.
Eli: None of you will be intruding. Front door will be unlocked. Just come in. Walker, what time’s dinner?
His response is immediate.
Walker: I can be there to start cooking at seven.
I attach my address to my next text.
Eli: Perfect. I’ll have my grading done by then. You guys good with arriving around seven or so?
Knox: I’ll be there. Want me to bring anything else?
Lia: Just your smile, Knox. Walker, can I request some macaroni and cheese as a side dish for dinner?
Walker: You can request anything you wish, beautiful. I’ll pick up the ingredients.
Eli: Amber’s going to love some homemade mac and cheese. Come comfortable, and we’ll celebrate Lia’s success.
Lia: I’m about to drive home. Tell Amber her and I will make it a PJ dinner.
Knox: Hey, if pajamas are allowed, I’m totally coming in my Christmas pajamas from last year.
Walker: I won’t be in pajamas.
I chuckle at Walker’s text before I shoot a message back.
Eli: Come as comfortable as you wish. This is your night, Lia. We’re celebrating you. Drive safe, and let us know if you’d like someone to pick you up tonight.
Knox: Any one of us can pull away and come get you, all right?
Lia: I’ll let you know after I’ve had some sleep. My preheat’s kicking my butt after this morning. Just need a shower and a nice, long nap.
Walker: Sleep well, beautiful. I’ll check on you later.
Knox: Let me know when you get home, Sunshine.
Eli: See you tonight, Alley Cat.
I don’t even realize Amber’s peering over my shoulder and reading everything until she pipes up. “Tell her I said I can’t wait to see her!”
I chuckle as I text one last message to the group chat.
Eli: And Amber says she can’t wait to see you.
Lia’s response is instant.
Lia: Tell her me and Pickles can’t wait to see her, either. I’ll have a big hug waiting for her, and I’m sure Pickles needs a re-up on his cuddles.
“Yayyy!” Amber exclaims as she pushes away from me and rushes back down the hallway. “I have to pick out my pajamas for the night!”
“And get your homework done!” I call to her.
“Awww, man! Come on, Dad.”
“I know, I know, I’m such a party pooper,” I say, dropping my phone back onto the couch cushions. “But if we’re going to have fun tonight, you have to get it done now.”
“Fine,” she grumbles.
“Thank you, princess.”
She mutters something under her breath before disappearing back into her room, but I don’t pay it any mind. Everyone’s coming over for a family dinner, which means I have to follow my own advice and get my work done first.
By the time evening rolls around, homework is graded and inputted into the school’s system and Amber’s running around in her footie pajamas, wondering when everyone is going to show up. I look at the clock and realize it’s a little bit before seven, so I head to the front door and unlock it.
Only for Walker to waltz in with brown bags in his arms a few minutes later.
“Here, let me help,” I say as I move to help him.
“Hi, Walker!” Amber chimes in, waving from the couch.
Walker nods his head in her direction. “Hello there, Miss Amber. And how are you this evening?”
She giggles at his formality. “I’m really good. Got all my homework done.”
“Yeah?” Walker asks as we make our way into my kitchen. “Did you get all the questions right?”
“Always. It’s math, and I’m good at math.”
“Well, maybe one of these days I’ll hire you to do the accounting for the vineyard.”
I chuckle as I set the bags down on the countertop. “So, what’s for dinner?”
Walker starts unpacking his bags. “Surf and turf. With her preheat ramping up, she needs the protein and omega-3 fatty acids, and then I’ve got some vegetables we can stir fry and the ingredients for macaroni and cheese.”
“Mac ’n cheese!” Amber exclaims as her little fist pumps in the air. “Yessss!”
The door whips open before Knox’s voice enters. “I heard something about macaroni and cheese. Who’s ready for some dinner?”
“Knox!” Amber exclaims.
To my surprise, my daughter shoots off the couch and goes running toward the massive handyman. With a bottle of wine in one of his hands and a bottle of what looks like sparkling grape juice in the other, he crouches down and opens his arms wide for her.
Amber crashes into him, hugging him around his neck and doing her little happy wiggle dance.
“Love the pajamas,” Knox says as he gives her a hug. “They’re fit for a princess.”
“That’s me,” Amber says with a massive smile as she untangles herself from him. “Wanna come watch my movie with me? Daddy says when the movie’s done, dinner will be done.”
“Good to know,” Walker says as he starts opening cabinets. “Where do you keep your pots and pans?”
I crouch down and open up one at his knees. “Down here. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll get it for you.”
While Walker rattles off everything required to make up surf and turf for dinner, Knox abandons the two bottles of drinks in the kitchen before flopping onto the couch with Amber.
Sure enough, he’s come in Christmas pajamas, of all things. Amber talks to him, pointing at the television and no doubt rattling off all the behind-the-scenes facts she knows about her favorite movie, Anastasia.
Not too long after that, my front door eases open.
Only for me to hear a resounding bark.
“Pickles!” Amber exclaims.
The German shepherd hauls ass toward my couch and leaps up onto the cushions. He places his head right in my daughter’s lap before flopping his butt right down into Knox’s, and already, the poor man’s been replaced.
“Hello, hello,” Lia says.
“Oh, shit,” Knox says as he yanks himself up from the couch. “Here, let me help.”
Amber giggles. “Knox said a bad word.”
I peer around the corner of the kitchen and shoot Knox a muted look. He mouths an apology while taking something from Lia’s arms, though, and that diverts my attention.
“Need anymore help?” I ask.
Lia offloads covered containers into Knox’s arms before she steps inside and closes the door behind her. “Nope, that’s it. I figured if we were all getting together for dinner, I’d whip up something quick for dessert.”
“I’ll get these to the kitchen,” Knox says.
“Set them away from me,” Walker adds. “Don’t mess with any of the trays I’ve got out.”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Knox says playfully.
I turn my attention to Lia and hold out my arm for her. She comes willingly, leaning against me while I wrap my arms around her.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I murmur into the top of her hair.
“I’m glad I’m here, too,” she says softly.
“Knox! Come here!” Amber says as she points at the television. “It’s my favorite part!”
“Coming!” he exclaims.
And he dive bombs onto my couch.
Something cracks. The couch cushion he landed on drops about an inch and a half. Pickles’ head shoots up, glaring at the man while Amber giggles with delight. Lia laughs against me, her sound muted by my chest.
“Don’t worry, I’ll fix it,” Knox says as he blushes.
I can’t help but smile and shake my head. “Come on, let’s get you a drink, Alley Cat.”
“You can come sit by me, Lia,” Amber says. She pats the couch on her other side.