The Story of Us: Sweetbriar Cove: Book 11 by Melody Grace

Author:Melody Grace [Grace, Melody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

They all carried dishes through and got settled around the big dining table, which was covered in so many flowers and pine cones and decorations there was barely any room for the food.

“You went a little overboard on the holiday spirit,” Alice teased Jackson, as they tried to find a spare inch of tablecloth to set down the potatoes.

“Hey, this is all Luke’s handiwork,” he protested.

Natalie turned to Luke. “You decorated?”

He gave a bashful shrug. “I figured if we were doing this, we might as well go all out.”

Cassie was clearly just as surprised. “Since when are you the crafty type?”

“It’s in my job description!” he protested. “Craftsman, remember?”

“Well, I think it’s lovely,” Natalie spoke up, taking a seat beside him. “My grandmother used to have me make those hand-print paper turkeys, even when I was way too old. I must have a whole box of them stored away somewhere.”

“For me, it’s cookie recipes,” Alice said with a nostalgic smile. “I have a big file with them all.”

“We should have a party!” Lila exclaimed. “A Christmas cookie-baking party.”

“Say that any louder and Franny will have you host for the whole town,” Griffin warned her. “I can see it now, they’ll make it a contest and raise funds for a new Santa outfit.”

“OK, a secret cookie-baking party,” Lila corrected, laughing.

“It’s a shame Wes couldn’t make it,” Luke said, adding a dish of yams to the already overflowing table.

Cassie looked up sharply. “Wes?”

“He’s back in town,” Luke replied. He noticed the scowl on Cassie’s face, and grinned. “That’s right, you two had that falling out. They used to get along great when we were kids,” he explained to Natalie.

“Until he grew up to be a self-important jackass,” Cassie said, rolling her eyes. “Let me guess, he’s working on Wall Street now, obsessed about the size of his spots car?”

Luke chuckled. “Close enough.” He looked around. “Should someone find Earl before we get started?”

“I’m right here. Now, doesn’t this all look delicious?” Earl strolled into the room and took a seat at the head of the table. He looked around happily, wearing a festive orange sweater. “I must have dozed off there for a minute,” he said.

“Funny how that happens when there’s work to be done,” Cassie teased.

Earl gave a twinkle. “Now, now, I figured you youngsters had it under control. Besides, you know what they say about too many cooks.”

“They get things done much faster?” Jackson suggested.

“Hush you. The food’s getting cold.”

“Not so cold that we can’t all take a moment to be thankful,” Alice spoke up. She smiled around the table. “No need to be all public and mushy, everyone can just think of something while Earl carves.”

“Then I’m thankful I’m not the turkey!” Cassie quipped.

They all laughed, but Natalie still noticed everyone take a moment with their thoughts. She was grateful, too. She had so much to be thankful for this year, and not just all the things that weren’t in her life anymore: fear, anxiety, insecurity. Those days were gone, and in their place was something so much brighter.

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