Chapter Nine
Emily
Eleven different voices boomed in stereo sound throughout Chris’s kitchen and living room.
Our plan of having a quiet little gathering quickly morphed into one full of friends and family.
Chris’s parents and sister arrived two days ago. They were staying with us until Sunday.
Hudson was full of extra kid energy at having his grandparents and aunt visit. It was two full nights of excitement as he filled them in on his new friends, the new tricks Luke had learned, and Gigi becoming a mom.
Now that I could actually laugh about it—thanks in part to Celine’s positive reaction to the news—the rendition of finding out about Gigi and Luke’s surprise entanglement was pretty damn funny.
“Cassie told us what happened, but Chris has quite the way with storytelling,” Ken said, handing Kathy a fresh glass of wine. Ken and Kathy, Cassie’s parents, had been more than happy to accept the invitation to join us for Thanksgiving dinner.
“It’s so good to see you so happy,” Kathy said, hugging me again. She slipped her hand in Ken’s as they returned to where Chris, his parents, and Savannah were seated in the living room.
According to my best friend, her parents weren’t just excited to celebrate my first holiday-hosting event. They were even more thrilled to meet Chris and Hudson. As long as I’d known them, they’d never met anyone I dated—because no one was ever special enough to introduce them to.
Ken and Kathy were the parents I never had. I smiled at the memory of my grandmother, wondering if, somehow, she had something to do with my meeting Cassie and, by proxy, her parents. Ken had the same patience my grandma did; Kathy had the same warmth and compassion.
Mike, the turkey guy and Chris’s co-worker at the bank, howled with laughter at something Savannah said.
Although I’d only met him a few hours ago, Mike was the kind of guy you immediately felt like you’d known your whole life. His son, Elijah, was cute as a button, too, especially with his Harry Potter-esque glasses.
When Chris told me how Mike broke out in a full-blown sweat at work last Friday when Mike started talking about the stress of cooking Thanksgiving dinner by himself for the first time since his divorce, I agreed it would be a nice gesture to invite them over. Also, according to the master storyteller, Chris thought it would be the perfect solution to our forty pounds of turkey.
Also, on the plus side, Hudson now had a friend his age to hang out with. As much as he loved his grandparents and aunt, Chris knew he’d get bored from adult conversation. Our nervousness at them never having met quickly subsided when it became apparent that Elijah was as much of a Star Wars fan as Hudson.
“They’re two peas in a pod, aren’t they,” Mike said, joining us in the kitchen.
“Totally,” I said. “Between the dogs and the toys, I think they’ll stay busy for hours.”
“So cute,” Cassie said.
“Can I do anything?” Mike asked.
“No, I think we’re all good.” I picked up a stack of printed recipes and started fanning myself.
“Here,” Cassie said, filling a glass with crisp white wine.
“Thanks.” I took a large sip, wrinkling my nose as I choked it down.
“What’s wrong?” Cassie asked.
“It doesn’t taste right.”
Taking a tentative sip and expecting the worst, Cassie shrugged. “Tastes fine to me.”
I took it back from her, took another taste, and shoved it back her way. “Nope. My taste buds must be off still from being sick.” Oddly enough though, the savory scents of rosemary, turkey, and the various casseroles made my mouth water.
“Can you make me a cranberry vodka, Cass? Light on the vodka!” I begged. “The last thing I need to happen is to burn or cut myself.”
“Good thinking,” she said with a smile.
“Thanks.”
“I appreciate you inviting us,” Mike said.
“Of course,” I said. “I’m glad you could join us on such short notice.”
“Are you kidding me? You saved me from ruining a perfectly good turkey,” he said, watching Cassie make my drink. “I saved ours for Christmas dinner. And I’ve been watching you and Chris for pointers.”
“You want one too?” Cassie asked with a sweeping flourish of lime juice.
“Sure,” he said.
I didn’t miss the pink in his cheeks. Chuckling but keeping my thoughts to myself, I admitted, “This is my first time making a dinner like this. I’m just as nervous as you were. And a little secret”—I leaned closer to whisper—“I watched four different Thanksgiving cooking shows on TV when I was sick because I had no idea what I was doing.”
“You could have fooled me. You look like a complete pro.”
“Thank you,” Cassie said, sliding him a cranberry cocktail.
“He meant me,” I teased.
“Until he tastes that.” Cassie’s eyes twinkled in the same manner as Mike’s.
He raised his glass to mine and saluted Cassie before taking a sip. “Wow,” he said, smacking his lips. “That’s really good.”
“I know,” Cassie said. “I added a little something special.”
“Extra vodka?” I asked.
“Only to his,” she said.
Mike laughed before taking another sip. When he sputtered, then coughed, we all laughed.
“Yep, now I taste it,” he said.
“But what else?” Cassie asked.
“There’s something, but I can’t quite?—”
“Ginger ale!” I said.
“Ding, ding, ding!” Cassie said.
The three of us fell into conversation as the boys played and the other adults chatted amongst themselves.
Pretty soon, timers and dingers were going off, and everyone hopped into gear. The table was set, candles were lit, and everyone was eager to dig in. Chris and his dad carved the turkeys, Kathy and Ken filled the glasses, and Courtney, Savannah, Cassie, and Mike set out all the side dishes.
It was hectic and crazy, but it was perfect.
All the stress of the past couple of weeks melted away as I watched family and strangers-turned-friends join together to celebrate.
“This is what today is all about,” Chris said, starting his toast after we all took our seats. “I’m especially grateful for my parents and sister. Thank you for making the trek up here to be with me and Hudson.”
“And Emily,” Sam, Courtney, and Savannah said in unison.
“Yes,” Chris said, clearing his throat. “How do you thank the woman who made all of this possible? Emily,”—he turned my way—“you have brought so much joy and love to our life. Thank you for making today truly amazing. I am thankful for so many things you do, but most of all . . . for loving me.”
“Aww,” Cassie and Savannah cooed.
Chris’s cheeks brightened. “Okay, now before I turn into mush, thank you all—family and friends alike—for joining us, for your friendship, and for making today one we will remember for a very long time.”
“Hear, hear,” Mike said.
“Now, please”—Chris’s lips turned up before he chuckled—“help me eat all this turkey.”
Laughter resounded around the table as Chris bent toward me to give me a kiss.
“I love you,” we whispered together.
Chris clinked his wine glass to Hudson’s milk before sitting down. I followed and met Hudson’s glass, too, and then we met everyone else’s glasses before passing the dishes, plates, and platters around the table.
Completely relaxed and surging with a sense of pride and gratitude, I got a glimpse of how the holidays would be with Chris by my side.
As long as we were together, I’d be happy. My heart overflowed with the love I was surrounded with. I was a part of something bigger and greater than I ever could have imagined. Being surrounded by family and friends was one of the greatest gifts. To find love . . . to have found Chris and Hudson . . . my eyes welled with tears, and I couldn’t stop them from overflowing.
“Baby, what’s the matter?” Chris asked, scooting closer to me.
I waved him off with a laugh. “Nothing. Nothing. I’m just so happy,” I said, smiling through another streak of happy tears. “So happy.”
As he settled back into his chair, I thought that life couldn’t get any better than it was right now.
And that scared the crap out of me.
Because, if anyone knew how quickly things could get ruined when you were this sublimely happy, it was me.