Chapter Six #2
Everyone was in good spirits. Except for maybe Zach, who was busy muttering to himself in the kitchen and threatening to gut anyone who dared invade his space. But he’d be fine once the food was on the table and he could concentrate on Marit once more.
Hearing more laughter from the deck, Linc looked through the window and saw Harper laughing at something that was said. She looked more relaxed than he’d seen her in quite a while. And he couldn’t take his gaze off her lips. Lips he’d touched with his own.
Their light kiss hadn’t been nearly enough.
It was a taste of what could be. And Linc was almost shocked to realize how much he wanted to not only taste Harper Bates, but devour her.
He didn’t understand why. She wasn’t his type.
But then again, the women in his past who he’d thought were his type had all ended up being disasters.
Never in a million years would Linc have thought he’d actually be attracted to his childhood tormentor. That he’d look forward to the moment when Kash was dropped off by the bus. That he wouldn’t enjoy being by himself anymore.
That last thought was still one of the most difficult to wrap his mind around.
Linc had always been content to keep his own company.
He spent a lot of time in his own head when he was in the cockpit of a jet.
Never had a lot of close friends in the Air Force.
He did his job, did it well, then usually went back to his room on whatever ship he was on to read when he was done.
But now? Barely a few days in and he felt restless when Harper was at work and Kash was at school. Found it harder and harder to concentrate on projects around the house.
Hearing Kash open the door and yell out “I’m home!” immediately made his restlessness settle.
It was fun to think of new ways to stimulate Kash’s young mind. To introduce him to new things, but also to simply sit and read a book while Kash was on the opposite side of the couch.
While the boy reminded Linc of himself in many ways, Kash also reminded him of Zach, the baby of the family. He was a mama’s boy, and Kash was just as devoted to Harper as Zach was to their own mother.
It was a beautiful thing, and also kind of sad. Sad because the protectiveness Kash had inside him for his mom, and others, was most likely a direct result of the hardships they’d lived through in New York. He was an old soul, having seen too much bad in the world at a young age.
But those experiences also made him very sensitive to others. Aware of his surroundings. More perceptive.
A knock on the door tore Linc’s thoughts from Harper and Kash. Putting his beer down on a coaster on a small table in the living room, he and Chad both headed for the door at the same time.
Chad reached it first, opening it to a scowling Victor Rogers.
“Wasn’t sure if you’d have anything decent to drink, so I brought over a couple six-packs of Rock Harbor Brewing Company’s craft beers. I personally like the Storm Surge IPA the best, but will also drink the Spruce Head Stout.”
It was a nice gesture delivered in an assholey way. Typical Victor. But Linc was starting to understand the man. He wasn’t good at saying thank you, or even being very friendly, but deep down—very, very deep down—it was obvious he wanted to be included.
“Thanks. Love our locally brewed beer,” Chad said, clearly amused, gesturing for him to enter.
Victor glared at Linc on his way by but didn’t say a word.
He was aware he wasn’t on the top of Rogers’s list of favorite people at the moment. He’d taken his daughter and grandson away from him . . . sort of. Even though their relationship was hopefully getting better as a result, he still saw Linc’s offer to let them live with him as interference.
“The women are on the deck, if you want to say hello,” Chad said.
“Why are they out there? It’s too cold for any rational person to sit outside in November in Maine” was Victor’s response.
Linc internally sighed. It was going to be a long afternoon if their neighbor didn’t lighten up.
“Where’s Kash?” Victor asked, sounding eager to see the boy.
“He and Knox are out on the beach, looking for treasures.”
“Think I’ll go join them.” Victor took a beer out of one of the six-packs, setting the others on the kitchen counter before heading for the door that led out to the deck.
“He’s a prickly little asshole, isn’t he?” Zach asked no one in particular.
“Absolutely. And I hate to admit this, even a little bit, but he kind of grows on you. Once you get past the bullshit—past the fact that he tried to get Dad’s businesses shut down so many times, past all the times he called the cops and said we were trespassing on his property when we were growing up, and past the scowls and pointed barbs he mutters under his breath,” Chad said with a smirk.
Linc had to agree. Having Victor here for Thanksgiving would definitely make things interesting, that was for sure.
But the fact that the first thing he wanted to do was see his grandson went a long way toward making Linc forgive some of the man’s rough edges.
That, and the idea that he seemed concerned about the women sitting outside in the cold.
He wasn’t unfeeling, he was simply . . . crusty.
He watched Victor stop to say hello to the ladies before walking down the deck stairs toward Kash and Knox.
Reaching out, he snagged one of the craft beers Victor had brought—smiling at the fact they were ice cold—and headed for the deck himself.
All four women looked over at the door when he came out. The air was chilly, but the propane heater was doing its job at making the space around it almost comfortable.
“He came!” Harper said with a smile on her face.
“Yup.”
“Took him long enough,” Evelyn grumped, but she also had a small smile on her face, regardless.
“Next year’s Thanksgiving is going to be so different from this year’s,” she continued, changing the subject as smoothly as a backcountry gravel road.
“We’ll have two babies to entertain. I can’t wait for five years from now, when we go from ten people around the table to who knows how many!
“Oh! I have an idea,” she added excitedly.
“We need to find a big tablecloth. I mean big, and some fabric paint. We’ll have the kids put their handprints on the cloth each Thanksgiving.
Write their name and year under each print.
Eventually it’ll be full of handprints, and it’ll be such a wonderful reminder of all our amazing holidays together. ”
“That’s a great idea,” Marit agreed.
“I can order the paints and tablecloth,” Britt offered.
“I’m just sad we can’t start this year. I mean, it’s only fair that Kash has the first year to himself,” Evelyn mused.
Harper looked surprised. She glanced at Linc, as if asking him to help her navigate these tricky waters. But he wasn’t going to touch this one with a ten-foot pole.
First and foremost, because the thought of Kash spending more holidays with the family was too appealing.
“But we’re just your neighbors. I mean, we were, but kind of still are . . . and not family,” Harper stuttered.
“Nonsense. Kash is one of us. He’s used the lobster swing.
He has Fort Bad Assery out in the woods, and he’s been over here helping with the rental houses that are no longer rentals, several times.
I’ve fed him cookies, and we all cheered him on when he won the crate race.
He’s most certainly earned the right to be the first handprint on my grandkid tablecloth.
I’m sure I’ve got something I can use this year.
Maybe a napkin. We can sew it onto the tablecloth when we get it.
We’ll outline his hand with a Sharpie. It might look a little wonky and weird, but I don’t care. I want his handprint!”
His mom was sounding a little fanatical, and Linc wondered how much wine she’d actually had already.
He gestured for Chad to join him outside before turning back to the women.
“We’ll figure something out, Mom. How about some more appetizers?
Zach says it’ll be another hour, hour and a half before everything’s ready. ”
“I think I need more wine,” Evelyn countered.
“I’d love some deviled eggs. They’re so delicious. Evelyn, will you share the recipe with me?” Harper asked.
“Of course, child. It’s all about the spices, you know.”
Chad had stuck his head out and heard Linc’s suggestion about the appetizers.
He went back in and returned with a tray full of a mixture of finger foods.
He put it on the table in front of the ladies, and Linc was relieved when his mom reached for a brussels sprout as she continued to school Harper on the best way to make deviled eggs.
“Thank you,” he mouthed to Harper, as he nodded to the food, then to his mom.
She winked in return, then turned her attention back to his mother.
Chad leaned over Britt, covering her hand over her belly with his own as he whispered something into her ear. Linc was thrilled to see his brother so happy. It was obvious he doted on his fiancée. He would make an amazing father, and Linc was anxious to see them both blossom as parents.
Chad stood up and said out of the blue, “Britt and I are going to get married before Christmas. We thought we’d have a small ceremony here at Lobster Cove. On the deck. Weather permitting, of course.”
That announcement was enough to get their mom to let out a little screech as she stood up, knocking her chair over in the process. And that was all it took for Knox and Kash to look up at the deck, then come running. Zach also appeared at the doorway, looking worried.
“Your brother’s getting married! Here!” Evelyn exclaimed, then promptly burst into tears. She threw herself at Chad and hugged him as hard as she could. “I’m so happy!”
Everyone was standing and congratulating Chad and Britt, and Linc took the time to sidle up next to Harper. She was smiling, but she also looked a little uncomfortable.
“You’ll get used to it,” Linc reassured her.
“To what?”