Chapter 24
SAM
“You’re sure your parents won’t mind that I’m only bringing pumpkin pie?” Avery asked, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
“No one’s expecting you to bring anything. Mom cooked enough food to feed everyone.”
“That’s not the point. It’s Thanksgiving. I don’t like showing up empty-handed.”
“You’re not.”
I came home from the hospital ten minutes ago and was shell-shocked that the whole house smelled like pumpkin pie.
“I didn’t know you could bake.”
Avery blushed. “I can’t. I spent half the day with Mom on the phone, following her instructions. I did a test batch before this one, and it was complete shit. I threw it away. But this one actually looks good.”
“Fuck, I love you so damn much.”
She grinned, coming closer. She was already dressed to go, wearing a red sweater dress and black tights. Rising on her toes, she put her arms around my neck. “Sam Maxwell, if it gets this reaction out of you, I’ll bake more often.”
I kissed the right corner of her mouth. She tasted faintly like sugar. I wanted to eat her up.
Taking a step back, I grabbed the pie she’d carefully packed for transport on the kitchen island, then pointed to the door. “Let’s go. We don’t want to be late. Mom insists on waiting for everyone to be present before she cuts the turkey.”
“Okay.”
She grabbed a bag she’d placed by the door before we headed out.
“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to it.
“Oh, I spoke with Kimberly about my jewelry. A few of the girls want some.”
I'm going to owe Kimberly for life! She was a genius. Avery’s business was moving slowly, and she was vehemently against any financial help from me.
However, when we returned from New York, I spoke to Declan, and Avery sent him the bank statements and the documents proving she’d designed the products Sophia was selling in her store.
I was determined to do anything in my power to help her go after that woman.
We arrived at my parents' house in time for dinner. By the looks of it, we were the first ones; there were no cars in the driveway. My parents waited for us at the entrance.
"Oh, honey, it's so good to see you," Mom said, hugging Avery, who instantly wrapped her arms around my mom's back in a hug and leaned into her touch. The two of them had always been close, or at least that was how it had seemed to me.
"It's great to see you again," Dad added.
"Lena, Emmett, you both look great. I brought a pumpkin pie.”
Mom smiled. “Darling, you shouldn’t have, but I’m glad you did. I love pumpkin pie. I’ll take it to the kitchen.”
“I’m coming with you. I want to help,” Avery said.
“Oh, there’s nothing for you to do. The table in the dining room is already set. I’ve brought out all the food except the turkey. I’m waiting for everyone to sit down first. What’s in that bag?”
“Some samples for jewelry.”
Mom winked. “Kimberly told me all about it. I looked at your Etsy store. It’s fabulous. Sign me up for at least a pair of earrings.”
Avery grinned. “Will do.”
“Now, you two go relax. I’ll join you in a minute.”
I chuckled as Mom headed to the kitchen.
“Lena is usually easygoing about our gatherings. She makes us take turns working at the kitchen island, or if we go into the yard, everyone just grabs a plate and cutlery for themselves," Dad said.
"That's smart."
"You've got to get creative with so many people," he continued. “But she wants to do it all by herself on Thanksgiving.”
"I know your family gatherings were always overwhelming."
"Now more than ever, since all my boys have a better half."
“Do you think the others will be late?” I asked.
"No. Look, there are three cars pulling into the driveway," Dad remarked, glancing out the window.
Kimberly and Reese got out of one, along with Declan and Liz. Travis and Bonnie emerged from another, carrying Rose in a car seat. Luke and Megan were sharing a car with Tyler and Kendra. The only one missing was Tate with Lexi and Paisley. Gran was coming with him too.
The next few minutes were very loud as everyone bustled in. Avery was the center of attention, and she handled it well.
She was beside herself when we introduced Rose to her, but since she was sleeping, she stayed in the car seat.
Declan pulled the two of us into a corner right away.
“Declan, thank you so much for looking over my documents,” Avery told him.
“My pleasure. I think we’ve got a case based on the stolen jewelry designs, but I don’t want to get your hopes up yet. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Thanks,” she said just as Kimberly joined us.
“Declan. Don’t monopolize them. Avery, you’ve brought the jewelry?” Kimberly asked.
Avery nodded eagerly as we joined the group. “I left the bag near the hallway table. We can look over everything later.”
“Hell yes.”
"Guys, don't overwhelm her," I said, stepping next to my woman and putting an arm around her shoulders.
Kimberly waved her hand. "You've hogged her all to yourself for so long. Now it's our time with her. Shoo, shoo, move away."
I laughed but didn't budge.
"Hmm, this one's possessive, isn't he?" Reese said, looking at my hand on Avery's shoulder.
"Oh yeah," Avery confirmed. "Is it just him, or is it a family trait? I remember everyone being pretty intense."
"You remember right,” Travis said. "Mom, what are we doing and where?"
“The table’s set," she replied. "Everyone just go into the dining room.”
“Damn. She’s not making us work for once. That’s something,” Travis added.
Avery grinned. "I like your family. You've always had style."
I squeezed her shoulder. "Thank you for coming here with me today."
"I wouldn't miss a Maxwell Thanksgiving for the world. Is your grandmother coming too?"
"Yeah, she should be here any minute now, along with Tate, Paisley, and Lexi."
"I can't believe Tate has a daughter who's almost a teenager," Avery said as Liz and Declan approached.
“Hey, I’m Liz.”
“You’re the baker, right?” Avery asked.
Liz smiled brilliantly. “Yes, I am. I brought some goodies for later.”
“Thank goodness. I brought pie, too, but I don’t know if it’s any good.”
We all headed to the dining room, and I quirked a brow. They’d changed the table. This one was twice as long as the previous one.
"When did you get this?" I asked Dad.
"Three weeks ago. We realized we wouldn’t have enough space at Thanksgiving otherwise.”
"I insisted," Mom added, and Dad smiled.
"Happy wife, happy life. You'll do best to remember that."
"And we do," Travis said. "I live by that rule, Dad."
Avery grinned, looking around. It was like there wasn't any place in the world she'd rather be.
Tate, Lexi, Paisley, and Gran arrived a few minutes later.
“Beatrice, it’s so good to see you again,” Avery said.
“My girl, you’ve grown up beautifully. I was so happy when I found out you moved in with Sam. This lot was worried you two would do some… unorthodox bonding,” she said with a careful look at Paisley, “but I was hoping that's exactly what would happen.”
Avery blushed instantly. “You haven’t changed at all. Still call everything like you see it.”
“That’s me,” Gran agreed.
Lexi and Paisley started asking Avery about ordering jewelry the second after I introduced her. Lexi was far along her pregnancy, but I’d forgotten when her due date was.
I winked at Kimberly, who winked right back.
“Everyone, settle down," Mom ordered. "We’ll have plenty of time for that later. It’s time for the turkey.”
Mom had gone all out. She’d already put the gravy and mashed potatoes on the table, along with stuffing and the cranberry sauce and a few other dishes. Some years she added corn, on others green beans. This year, it was the latter.
Dad went with her to the kitchen. They returned a few minutes later, carrying the world's largest turkey. We all started clapping.
“I’ve never seen such a big turkey,” Avery commented.
I shook my head. “Neither have I. Then again, I’ve missed the last few Thanksgivings.”
They put it at the head of the table, and Mom immediately started cutting it as we passed our plates around to have them filled with meat and fixings. Dad used to carve the bird, but Mom had wanted to learn how to do it one year and continued doing it from then on.
"I remember Lena's cooking. It was always delicious," Avery said.
"She's only gotten better over the years," Reese said.
Avery giggled. "I'm really feeling like we're on a scout outing or something, waiting to get food."
"We're not too far off," Luke said.
"Yeah, we're going to start behaving like our fifteen-year-old selves any second now, Avery," Travis added.
"I don't mind." She glanced at everyone. "Just so I'm up-to-date, Tate and Travis are the only ones with kids, right?"
"Yeah," Travis confirmed.
"Do you think the little nugget will wake up this evening?" Avery asked. Rose was fast asleep in the car seat.
"Honestly, probably not. She’s usually in deep sleep at this time of the day," Bonnie said.
"Oh, that makes sense," Avery said, the disappointment obvious in her voice. "I hope I get to spend time with her sometime soon."
Travis looked at me. "Sure, we could arrange something."
She wanted to spend time with my niece? Fuck me, this woman was adorable—and holding out on me. She'd never told me that.
Kimberly looked around the group, smilingly smugly.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing. I'm just happy to finally see you again." She winked at Avery. “I can't wait to steal you away. You and I are going to be best friends. I have a good feeling about it."
"What a coincidence," Avery said. "So do I. It's a pity we never kept in touch."
"Well, I was very resentful of the fact that you'd broken Sam's heart. I was determined not to talk to you again."
Avery choked, and my jaw dropped.
"Kimberly," I said.
"Sorry, that was my—what age was I—seventeen-year-old judgment. I'm much more mature now," Kimberly said. "Of course, if anyone hurts any of my cousins, I might turn into a mama bear, but that's another conversation altogether."