Chapter 23
Ben eased the kitchen door open and peered around the corner. “Is the coast clear?”
Morgan nodded, giving him the all-clear signal.
Shifting to the side, the estate’s chauffeur made room for a beaming Jeff Blakely.
“Welcome back to Easton Estate,” Gerard greeted him. “I trust you had a safe flight.”
“Safe yet somewhat bumpy.” Jeff shrugged his jacket off and handed it to Mrs. Arnsby. “Thank you. I spoke to Tristan while I waited for my connecting flight. He breezed through his first day of school.”
“He did,” Morgan confirmed.
“He also mentioned Wyatt’s patrol car and how excited he was to sit inside.”
“I gave him a personal tour of the police station as well.” Wyatt shook Jeff’s hand. “Tristan is a good kid.”
“Thanks.” Jeff lowered his voice. “Does he know…”
“No, he’s upstairs in his room with Chester working on a project,” Elizabeth said.
“I tell you one thing, the boy has a healthy appetite,” Mrs. Arnsby added.
“Addison always insisted he could eat her out of house and home,” he chuckled. “Thank you for giving me a place to hang my hat while Tristan settles in. From our daily chats, it sounds like he’s having a ball.”
“We have been keeping him busy.” Elizabeth motioned to Jeff’s carry-on bag. “Would you like the staff to take your bags to your room?”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ve got it.”
“Are you hungry?” The cook swung the refrigerator door open. “We have leftover pork tenderloin and baby red potatoes with roasted green beans almondine…or mac ‘n cheese with a fried hamburger patty.”
“I’m guessing the latter was Tristan’s meal.”
“For the most part, he’s an adventurous eater but didn’t care for the pork tenderloin,” Mrs. Arnsby replied.
“If it’s not too much trouble, and knowing what a fabulous cook you are, I’ll take the pork.” Jeff slung his backpack over his shoulder.
“While the food is warming, I’ll go grab Tristan,” Morgan offered.
“Bring him to the library,” Elizabeth said. “We’ll meet you there.”
While Jeff, Wyatt, Elizabeth, and Gerard cut through the butler’s pantry, Morgan took the back stairs to the rear wing of the estate’s sleeping quarters. She found Tristan’s bedroom door ajar and gave it a light knock.
The door flew open. Her nephew and pup stood on the other side. “Hey, Aunt Morgan.”
“Hello, Tristan.” She absentmindedly patted Chester’s head. “Whatcha working on?”
“The model Mrs. Ainsworth…Great-grandmother gave me for Christmas.”
“Oh?” Morgan craned her neck. “How’s it going?”
“You can come and see.” Tristan darted to the desk Brett had purchased to give his son a place to do homework and tinker with his projects. It fit perfectly in the nook with a bay window overlooking the backyard.
Sitting in the center of the desk was a partially constructed space shuttle, the tiny pieces carefully glued in place. She let out a low whistle. “Good job.”
“Thanks. I’ll need a launchpad.”
“You can’t have a space shuttle without a launchpad.”
Tristan showed her the one he’d found online. “Jax has some stuff in his workshop and is gonna help me build one like this.”
“How cool,” Morgan said. “You’re very talented, Tristan.”
He fidgeted and gave her a sheepish grin. “Thanks. I already showed it to Brett. I can’t wait to show it to Uncle Jeff.”
“If you have a minute, Grandmother would like to chat with you down in the library.”
His eyes grew round as saucers. “I didn’t mean to scare Mrs. Arnsby when I went to the kitchen to get a snack.”
“You scared Mrs. Arnsby?” Morgan covered her mouth to hide her smile. “When did this happen?”
“Early this morning. She was making cinnamon rolls and didn’t see me.”
“I can assure you it has nothing to do with you and your early morning munching.” Morgan slung her arm over his shoulder and began leading him toward the door. “Have I mentioned how much you liven this place up?”
“Like make it more exciting?”
“Exciting and fun. I’m digging this Aunt Morgan gig.”
“You’re doing a good job,” Tristan replied in a most serious manner. “Dropping me off and picking me up from school and everything.”
Chester trotted ahead, taking the main staircase to the lower level that opened onto the front foyer. They reached the library and found the double doors wide open.
Gerard’s voice echoed, and Jeff replied.
Tristan stopped dead in his tracks. “Uncle Jeff.”
Jeff spun around, his face lighting up when he saw his nephew. “Tristan.”
The boy ran across the room and straight into his uncle’s arms.
Morgan teared up, her lower lip quivering at witnessing the emotional reunion.
“Your uncle and Brett wanted to surprise you,” Elizabeth said softly. “It appears they succeeded.”
Woof. Woof. Chester barked excitedly, prancing in circles.
“Did I tell you Brett let me drive the snowmobile, and Chester got to ride with me? Jax is going to help me build a launchpad for my rocket. I made a friend at school today. I scared Mrs. Arnsby when I went to get a snack, and I thought I was in trouble. How long are you staying?”
“Whoa…whoa.” Laughing, Jeff made a timeout with his hands. “I’m hoping to stay for a few days. I’m happy to hear you’re already making friends. Let me guess…you woke up hungry, came down to the kitchen and Mrs. Arnsby didn’t know you were there.”
“Yeah. I felt bad about it, but she said it was okay,” Tristan said. “Next time, I’ll make sure she knows I’m there.”
“Speaking of Jane, she was on her way home but left some food for us in the kitchen.” Gerard offered his wife his arm.
The joyful reunion continued while Jeff ate the tenderloin Mrs. Arnsby had warmed before leaving.
The others feasted on an array of finger foods—petite sandwiches, veggies and dip and, for Tristan, his equally favorite food, at the top of the list alongside macaroni and cheese, more of Mrs. Arnsby’s chocolate chip cookies.
The child chattered nonstop, filling his uncle in about all the recent outdoor adventures, helping Ben wax one of the estate’s exotic cars, Jax teaching him how to drive the tractor.
Finally, he took a breather to polish off his third cookie and gulp his grape juice.
Jeff affectionately ruffled his hair. “You make me wish I was a kid again. So, you like the snow?”
“It’s awesome. I hope it snows forever.”
“Bite your tongue.” Morgan wagged her finger. “Believe me, come February or March, you’ll be itching for spring break.”
“Brett’s going to take me kayaking.”
“March might be a little early,” Elizabeth warned. “You’ll have to play it by ear. Perhaps your Uncle Jeff would like to go too.”
“Let’s plan on it.”
With snacks eaten and Tristan having finished filling his uncle in, the two excused themselves so Jeff could unpack.
Gerard waited until they were gone. “Did you see the look on Tristan’s face when he saw Jeff?”
“It brought tears to my eyes,” Elizabeth said. “Tristan adores his uncle.”
“I noticed something else,” Morgan said. “Tristan’s face when he mentioned Brett’s name.”
“With the same adoration he feels for his uncle.” Gerard winked. “I noticed it as well. Brett should be proud of himself. Considering how he was thrown into the parenting role, he’s doing an excellent job.”
“I’ll be the first to admit, I had no idea how our plan to invite Tristan and Jeff to move to Easton Estate would pan out,” Elizabeth said. “We’re still in the early stages of getting to know each other. So far, I don’t think it could go any smoother.”
“I agree,” Morgan said. “Being an aunt is a sweet gig.”
Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled with mischief. She pointed her finger at her granddaughter. “Tristan is truly my great-grandson, and I’m thrilled he’s here, but fair warning…neither you nor Brett are off the hook for giving me a great-grandbaby to snuggle and spoil.”
“I’m not even close to walking down the aisle.”
“In due time.” Elizabeth tilted her head and turned to Wyatt. “I have a hunch a proposal is in the not-too-distant future from this dashing young Wyatt Dawson.”