Chapter 17 #2
A shrill whistle silenced the clamoring crowd that had made its way into the kitchen.
Will waved an arm, and in a booming voice, he said, “Before we eat, I just wanted to say a few words about how blessed our family is to have Sasha. She’s been more than just my best friend and loving wife for all these many years.
She’s been a guiding hand, a safe place to fall, a nurturer and encourager, not just to me and our children, but to my brother’s family and anyone else that crossed our threshold for our entire marriage.
Darling Sasha, I wish you the happiest birthday and many more years of love and happiness. To Sasha!”
“To Sasha!” The family applauded and whistled, and Noelle felt a swell of tenderness in her soul, even though she barely knew the honoree.
The affection the family had for their matriarch was clear.
Noelle longed for that sort of bond, the sort of maternal relationship she’d never had with her own mother.
Once Will had the group quieted again, he said a prayer over the food and the family, and the serving began.
Sasha put a hand at Noelle’s back, gently propelling her toward the front of the line, “Noelle, please don’t hang back. Guests get priority.”
Her cheeks heated, awkward with the attention she drew as she was escorted to the front of the line. Eli followed, and Parker called out, “Hey, Eli, save us some!”
“Maybe,” Eli teased as he moved up to the line of serving dishes.
After filling her plate with an array of delicious-looking food, Noelle followed Eli to a folding table set up in a corner of the living room.
“We outgrew the dining room table for combined family meals years ago. We just keep adding portable tables and folding chairs as my cousins and siblings add plus-ones to the mix. When the weather’s nice, we spill out on the lawn.”
“A crowded table is the best kind of problem,” a beautiful biracial woman said as she set her plate on the table across from Noelle. Extending her hand, the woman said, “Hi, I’m Hetty Amos, otherwise known as Troy’s sister and Spence’s better half.”
Noelle shook her hand, glanced briefly to Eli. “Spence?”
“My cousin,” Eli said, aiming his fork toward the food line. “That’s him piling potato salad on his plate.”
Eli’s equally striking and muscular cousin joined them at the small table, and Noelle goggled. “The Colton family certainly got more than their share of handsome genes.”
Hetty grinned. “Right?”
Conversation turned to Hetty’s work as a pilot for RTA and Spence’s as an adventure guide for the family business.
“Hetty and Spence were the ones who discovered the first victim of the Fiancée Killer,” Eli said.
Noelle raised a startled look to the couple. “Oh, my! How horrible.”
Hetty nodded. “It was definitely a disturbing discovery on what was a disaster of a trip this spring.” She gave a little shudder. “Can we not talk about that while we’re eating?”
Spence guided the topic to Noelle’s career. While Noelle was sure Spence knew who she was and about her past relationship with Eli, he didn’t dwell on it, which Noelle appreciated.
“If you’re Troy’s sister,” Noelle said, mentally making the connections, “then you’ve known the Colton family for a long time, as well. Is that right?”
Hetty nodded and consulted Spence with a glance. “About fifteen years now, huh?”
“Sounds right.” Spence stroked Hetty’s cheek. “But it’s hard to remember a time when our families weren’t close. Troy and Lakin were sweethearts from the start.”
Eli snorted. “Which is more than can be said for you two.” He turned to Noelle. “These two were about as close as two bulldogs with one bone. Their love language was sniping at each other.”
Noelle looked to Hetty for a denial, but the bush pilot shrugged. “It’s true. Spence used to irritate the heck outta me.” Her expression warmed as she leaned toward her fiancé for a quick kiss. “Then I got to know him better and saw how wonderful he actually was.”
Over the next half hour, as the family members finished eating, they moved one by one to either clean up in the kitchen, head outside to the bonfire or move to different tables to chat with someone new.
When Noelle and Eli pushed back from the table, he touched her hand and hitched his head toward the back of the house.
“Let’s go see the bonfire. They won’t serve Sasha’s birthday cake until a bit later in the evening.
It’s a tradition from back when we were kids, and she was trying to teach us about delayed gratification.
We couldn’t open our Christmas presents until everyone was up and we’d all had a big breakfast together, either.
” Eli rolled his eyes, silently expressing his opinion of his parents’ rule.
Noelle laughed, while privately envying that Eli had had holiday traditions and big family breakfasts. Christmases for her, once Allison grew to age four or so, revolved around watching her sister tear into a pile of presents.
Allison opened toys, candy and extravagances, while Noelle received a fraction as many items—socks and underwear, toiletry items, the occasional used book or hand-me-down puzzle from Allison.
The message had been clear. Your gift is merely being allowed to live with the family and have basic provisions.
To Allison’s credit, she had noticed and had shared her less-favorite candy with Noelle.
The gesture had meant a lot to Noelle, giving her an indication of some camaraderie with her sister, no matter how small.
Those small connections, scattered throughout their childhood and teen years, were why Noelle was in Alaska now.
She was compelled to perform one last act of respect and kindness for her sister.
As they passed through the kitchen on the way outside, Noelle spotted Lakin at the sink washing pans and glasses. Noelle changed direction, telling Eli she’d join him after she’d helped with the cleanup.
“You don’t have to clean up. You’re our guest,” he said, motioning again to the backyard where raucous laughter and conversation echoed in the winter night.
Noelle waved him out, grinning her reassurance. “I’ll be out soon. I want to help, though. Shoo!”
He leaned in to kiss her cheek—an action that didn’t go unnoticed by his mother or sister—then caught his mother’s hand and dragged her to the door. “Mom, you should not be on the cleanup team. It’s your birthday, for Pete’s sake. Come out here and howl at the moon with me.”
Once Eli and Sasha had disappeared outside, Noelle took up a position beside Lakin, armed with a towel, and began drying the pans. She worked in silence for a moment, dredging up the nerve to address the topic that had nagged her since meeting Lakin earlier that evening.
Eli had made his point about the diversity in the Colton family and the loving welcome they’d extended the Amos siblings from the earliest days of their acquaintance.
But Noelle still had specific doubts and a burning curiosity that only Lakin could resolve.
She cast a side glance to Eli’s younger sister. “Lakin, can I ask you a question?”
“You mean two questions?” Lakin shot her a teasing grin. “Because you just asked one.”
Noelle chuckled. “Two then.” She curled her bottom lip in as she dried a pot and mulled how to word her question.
When she didn’t ask anything for a full minute, Lakin smiled and said, “Yes, Eli is every bit as nice as he seems. He was a typical big brother, giving me guff at times, but he was protective and funny and good to me, too. He’s a great guy.”
Noelle blinked at Lakin and frowned. “No. I mean…yes, I agree. And that’s all good to hear, but that’s not…” She cleared her throat and blurted, “What was it like being adopted by the Coltons? Did you always feel accepted and loved and…like you were really part of the family?”
Lakin’s face grew serious, and her brow furrowed.
She turned off the water and rested her hands on the edge of the sink as she angled her body to face Noelle more fully, her entire focus on Noelle.
“Yes. Absolutely. They adopted me when I was three, and I have never felt anything but loved and safe and included. I am every bit a part of the family in every way. I was never treated as anything but a full member of the Coltons. In fact, Mom and Dad went so far as to tell me I was extra special, because I was the youngest, their only girl, and because they chose me.” Now her cheek twitched in amusement.
“A fact they told me to keep as my special secret so that the boys weren’t jealous.
But I heard Mom telling the boys reasons why they were extra special when she’d tell them good night, too.
Eli was the oldest and most responsible.
Mitchell because he knew his own mind and had the courage to follow his own path.
Parker because he had a wild energy and passion for the outdoors that made him an asset to the family business.
” She heaved a contented sigh, her eyes reflecting the same joy as her smile.
“They’re great parents, and I’ve never had one doubt they loved me. ”
Noelle forced a smile to her face for Lakin’s sake, but despite her best efforts, tears burned her sinuses. Before she could rein in her tears, one bloomed and seeped through her lower lashes.
Lakin put a sudsy hand on Noelle’s arm. “Hey, what’s wrong? Oh my gosh. Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”
Noelle dried her eyes quickly and took a breath to regain her composure. “It’s nothing you said. I’m…so happy to know you were well loved.”
Lakin paused. “Wait. Kansas told me tonight that you are the sister of one of the Fiancée Killer’s victims. All the victims have been white.”
Noelle pressed her mouth in a taut line and nodded. She hesitated only a moment before confessing, “I was adopted. My mileage, so to speak, with the Harris family varied from yours. After I left for college, I saw no reason to go back to Anchorage. The Harrises were never a real home for me.”