They were rolling out piecrust when the others began to arrive. Will built up the fire in the huge stone fireplace while Colton carried in more wood. Lucy and Cameron joined Ella and Charley in the kitchen while Nolan insisted Hannah take a nap.
“Only if you come with me,” she said to her husband, who followed behind her with a dopey smile on his face.
“I want a nap,” Charley said.
“Keep rolling,” Ella retorted.
By the time their parents got to the house a couple of hours later, they had four pies cooling on the counter, twenty pounds of potatoes had been peeled by Will and Colton, who’d protested the entire time, stuffing had been made and the turkey prepared for baking.
“Oh my goodness, girls,” Molly said. “You did everything!”
“Will and I peeled the potatoes,” Colton said. “Don’t let them tell you otherwise.”
“Thank you, Colton.”
“And Will,” Will called from the living room, where he had found a football game to watch on TV.
“And Will.”
“How’s the baby?” Charley asked.
“He’s beautiful,” Molly said. “I got to give him a bottle before I left.”
“She’s not breastfeeding?” Hannah asked.
“She said the baby wasn’t interested in breastfeeding, so the nurses set him up with a bottle.”
“How hard did she try?” Hannah asked.
“I wasn’t in the room, so I don’t know. She’s been crying a lot. I think she’s in a lot of pain.”
“Poor thing,” Hannah said. “She’s so young.”
“And all alone,” Molly said. “How any mother can stay away when her child is in labor is beyond me.”
“And me,” Hannah said. “I want my mommy right there with me when my time comes.”
Molly patted her daughter’s shoulder. “And she’ll be there.”
They made deli sandwiches for dinner, popped corn in the fireplace and even found the makings for s’mores left over from when Colton and Lucy had been there last summer. It was a great night with most of the family there.
“Who wants to go out drinking?” Landon asked around ten.
“Ohhh, college girls,” Lucas said, scrambling to his feet. “Count me in.”
“I’ll go, too,” Wade said.
“Take a cab, boys,” Molly said.
“Yes, Mother,” they said in unison.
“Feels like old times,” Molly said, leaning her head against Lincoln’s shoulder. They were sharing a sofa with Elmer while the others were scattered about the room, some on the floor. Cameron was using Will’s belly as a pillow.
Ella leaned over to quietly ask if she could borrow Cam’s phone.
“Sure.” She wiggled it out of her back pocket.
“Hey,” Will said. “Watch the merchandise, woman.”
Cameron giggled at him. “Sorry, I’ve got plans for your merchandise later. We can’t have it getting injured.”
“Ewww,” Landon said. “Mom, tell them that’s not allowed.”
“I’ll do no such thing. They’re married and can do whatever they want.”
“So can we,” Colton said to Lucy, “’cuz we’re engaged.”
“No comment,” Molly replied, making the others laugh.
“Too bad Hunter and Megan can’t be here,” Elmer said.
“They’re off running your diner and making Thanksgiving for the masses,” Molly reminded her father.
“And they’re doing a fine job of it.”
With Cameron’s phone in hand, Ella slipped out of the room undetected, or so she hoped. She couldn’t wait another minute to talk to Gavin. It felt like a year rather than hours since she’d last seen him.
He answered on the first ring. “There you are.”
“Hi there,” she said, filled with relief at the sound of his voice.
“Well, what’s the good word? Boy or girl?”
“A boy named Caden Lincoln Abbott. Eight pounds, twelve ounces, twenty-one inches long.”
“Oh wow, that’s great, Ella. How’s Max doing?”
“He’s elated and emotional and thrilled. The baby is so cute.”
“How about his girlfriend?”
“Sore and grumpy from all accounts, but I suppose that’s to be expected.”
“You wouldn’t be. Grumpy, I mean.”