43. Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Maci
A ndi must have the largest turkey in the county prepped for Thanksgiving lunch. For the first time in our relationship, I leave Sutton sleeping in the bed and rise first. It’s easier said than done though, because when I move to climb out of the bed, his warm arm wraps tighter around my waist and he drags me backward into his chest. I’d love to spend the entire day wrapped up in him in this bed, but for once I’m on a Stephanie-like track, concerned with the responsibilities of the day. I twist in his arms, pressing a kiss to his soft mouth, and extricate myself from his comforting embrace.
I shower quickly and slip into The Big House, where Andi and I meet in the kitchen as if it were synchronized.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” Her floral nightgown hangs to her ankles, her hair still wrapped in heatless curlers. She’s so adorable my chest threatens to burst.
“Good morning. Happy Thanksgiving.” Without discussing it, I swing the fridge door open wide and we reach in together to pull out the massive bird.
We made an extensive game plan yesterday to make sure all the sides would be ready in time for the big meal. Considering all of the cooking Andi does, I’m a little surprised she doesn’t have a double oven. I wonder if she’s going to fully embrace the kitchen at The Lodge or keep it small here moving forward.
Along with the Stricklands and the ranch hands, Sammi arrived last night with her family. Randi and Liv will be joining us, and my friends will be dropping in after their own family events. Sutton mentioned that his friends often stop by at some point, as well. I even made a point to invite James, though it sounds like the club has their own event that takes place each year.
I still think Andi is prepping for a small army, but better safe than sorry, as Nana always said.
Working these last few weeks in the kitchen with Andi has been a balm for my heart. In some ways, she’s the person who’s kept me rooted in the familiar, providing me with a link to who I was before I took someone’s life, tethering me to the person I loved the most in the world.
I have so much to be thankful for today, and none of it is lost on me.
Once the turkey is in the oven, Andi sneaks back to her bedroom to finish getting ready and I rush through the crisp fall air back to the bed with Sutton. The covers are at his waist, his torso and arms on full display, and my mouth waters.
This amazing man is all mine.
Izzy:
Did you know the gate is open?
We’re pulling in.
Oh, by the way, we have Banana and Roman.
Me:
Yes. And that’s fine.
“They here?” Sutton readjusts his hat and stands from the couch in his room. We snuck away for a make-out session a few minutes ago, only to be interrupted by my ass vibrating.
“Yes.” I take his outstretched hand. “They brought Leah’s niece and nephew.”
He dips his chin. “Ok. They’re little like Vivi, right?”
I grin at his nickname for his niece. “Banana is a little bit older, not quite two. Roman is four.”
He scans the couch absently, searching for something.
“They’re pulling in now.”
Distractedly, he leans down and kisses me once more. “Ok. But did you say banana?”
“Oh. Yes, I did. Banana is Leah’s nickname for her niece. Savannah.” I lead the way out of the hall.
We make it to the front of the house as Leah pulls her car in. Izzy and Leah wave our direction, each opening a rear door. Roman pops out of the passenger side, almost shoving Izzy out of the way.
“Maci!” He barrels toward me, and I squat to grab him, realizing too late that while I’m healing well, I haven’t taken a forty-pound, full-speed preschooler to the gut in a while. Roman hits me like a rocket, and I attempt to stand to counterbalance.
I’m definitely going over.
Sutton’s arm wraps around my waist and I manage to plant my feet as Roman throws his tiny arms around my neck, trying to squeeze the life out of me.
“Hey bud, how are you?” I give him a gentle squeeze and he lets go.
“Happy Tanksgiving.” He beams at me.
“Happy Thanksgiving. Did you eat a lot of turkey at your Mimi’s?”
He grimaces. “Yuck. No. But I did eat mashed ’totaes. And cramberry sauce.”
I return the disgusted face. “Better you than me. That stuff is nasty.”
He giggles adorably, while Izzy and Leah approach from behind. Savannah is tucked into Leah’s shoulder. Taking the opportunity to set him down, I nod to Sutton beside me. “This is my boyfriend, Sutton. This is his house.”
“Hi.” Roman’s little voice is strong.
Sutton squats and offers Roman a hand. “Hey man, nice to meet you.”
Roman’s face lights up and he shakes Sutton’s hand. “Are doze your horses by the gate?” He looks over his shoulder toward the road.
“Yep. You like horses?”
“Yes!” He bounces a little in his sneakers.
“Happy Thanksgiving, honey,” Izzy says, wrapping her arms around me. I return her hug and give Leah a side hug.
“Banana fall asleep?”
Leah grins. “Yeah. Sorry we didn’t tell you sooner that they were coming. Lily kind of dropped them on me with some B.S. about working tonight.”
“That’s ok. I’ve missed them.”
Sutton stands fully. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Oh, come here,” Izzy says with a laugh, and reaches up to hug Sutton around his neck.
He leans down and wraps an arm around her briefly.
“Can we see ’em?” Roman looks between the adults.
“Who, bud?” Leah ruffles his dark hair.
“Da horses!”
Izzy’s eyebrows jump.
“I don’t mind taking him down there.” Sutton’s offer comes with the silent caveat that Leah okays it, and he waits.
“Well, hell yeah. Let’s go.” Leah gestures for him to lead the way.
He pauses. “Do you want to take the truck? I can lay the tailgate down. It’s a short drive, but it’s a longer walk with a sleeping toddler.”
Leah smiles. “That’s probably smarter.”
Sutton drives while Izzy, Leah, and I ride on the open tailgate. Savannah is still passed out against Leah, while Roman stays tucked between my legs with my arms wrapped around his tiny body. I barely set him on the ground before he makes a beeline for the paddock fence, jumping onto the middle plank and draping his arms over the top.
“Look at dat one!” Roman points excitedly to Johnny Walker on the far side. Dusty, Michael’s horse, and Veda graze closer to the driveway. Boots is farther out in the pasture.
We make our way toward them and Sutton climbs quickly over the fence instead of opening the perfectly good gate right next to where we stand. He makes a clicking sound in the side of his mouth and Johnny Walker heads our direction.
“He’s coming!” Roman’s shriek only increases my own excitement. Seeing things through the eyes of a child gives them such a magical perspective.
“You want to ride him?” Sutton looks over his shoulder at Roman.
Savannah begins to stir, and Leah talks to her quietly.
“Oh, can I?” Roman hardly gets the question out to Sutton before he jumps off the fence and bounces in front of Leah. “Can I please? Please, please, please?”
“Yes, silly.” She ruffles his hair again. His eyes are wild with glee and he spins in a few circles before he manages to right his body and run back to the fence.
Sutton guides Roman through the lower two planks of the fencing and gives him some rules about behavior around the horses. Roman is transfixed, wholly focused on Sutton and the words rolling off his tongue. I understand the draw.
In the abstract, I promised Sutton children without a second thought. I’ve always seen myself as having children at some point and if he wants them, too, great. But now, watching him talk to Roman like he’s more than a random four-year-old who turned up on his property, the care and respect that he’s giving him? I know without a doubt that he’s the perfect father for my future children. Is there anything he does wrong?
“Have you two talked about kids?” Izzy speaks from between me and Leah, as if reading my thoughts.
“Somewhat. Why?”
“Because she’s worried she got knocked up just by watching him.” Leah snickers at herself.
I laugh, and Izzy’s face turns a deep pink. “That’s not why I asked.”
“Whatever,” Leah says. Savannah sits upright in her arms. “If contact pregnancy was a thing, I’d have it.”
She’s unashamed at ogling my boyfriend and I can’t even be mad because he’s a dream, and I hardly expect her to make a move.
“Horse,” Savannah says, pointing with a tiny finger.
Sutton walks Johnny Walker around the pen with Roman in the saddle. He holds the pommel like a happy prince, waving down at us with a glow like the horse belongs to him.
On the second pass, Sutton winks at me and then his eyes dart to one side. I follow his gaze to Savannah. “Roman!” she yells loudly.
Roman grins and waves at her proudly.
“Me! Me!” Savannah cries, bouncing in Leah’s arms.
Sutton guides them all our way. “You want to ride?”
Leah doesn’t seem bothered, but I’m wondering how small is too small to ride a horse.
Savannah finally notices Sutton and reaches eagerly with both hands.
“Let’s let your sister have a turn,” Sutton tells Roman. Roman agrees, thankfully, and Sutton lifts him off Johnny and helps him back through the fence. Then, he mounts Johnny Walker in one swift motion before lining him up tightly along he fence.
Savannah’s arms are still outstretched, oddly comfortable with going to a stranger, and Leah lifts her up to Sutton. He grips her with two hands as he pulls her up, turning her around so she’s facing forward, and setting her in front of him in the saddle.
A large hand rests around her belly and he tells her to hold onto the pommel. Her grip is loose and her grin is huge, twinkling eyes taking in the horse and us watching her. Sutton walks them slowly in a small circle. Savannah’s high-pitch giggle is infectious, and soon everyone outside the fence is beaming and laughing with her.
“Isn’t it fun, Banana?” Roman yells from next to us. She nods enthusiastically, doing little to hold on, but Sutton’s grip is sure.
When Johnny Walker comes to stand before us again, Sutton leans down to whisper something in Banana’s ear. Her tiny finger finds its way into her mouth, where she nibbles on it nervously while nodding at whatever was asked.
Leah ducks through the fence and takes Savannah as Sutton passes her down. He turns, speaking to Roman and ignoring the rest of us. “Come on.” His head jerks toward the attached stables and he takes Savannah back from Leah.
Roman zips through the fence, careful of Johnny Walker standing close by, and hurries to Sutton, grasping his free hand without prompting.
“Who knew the cowboy was a baby whisperer?” Leah mutters. My heart is doing stupid somersaults again, and I can’t bring myself to respond.
“No shit,” Izzy says. She reaches over to Johnny, rubbing his muzzle.
The trio returns, Savannah still in one of Sutton’s arms, and Roman carries a handful of carrots. Sutton talks Roman through offering a carrot safely to Johnny Walker as Savannah shouts, “Me! Me!”
She bursts into laughter as Sutton tickles her round tummy and talks quietly to her. As if to steady herself, she grips his face between her tiny hands and he smiles widely.
Fuck. I think my ovaries are in hyperdrive.