Page 76 of Captiva Book Club

“For only a three hour flight, it seemed long,” he replied with a laugh, “but the kids were good. Mostly.”

Lauren came up beside him, giving her mother a hug. “It’s so good to be here. We’ve been looking forward to this.”

“I’m so glad you made it safely,” Maggie said, beaming. “Let’s get you all inside. There’s plenty of room for everyone, and we’ve got lots of fun planned.”

Before they could head in, another car pulled in behind them. This time it was Maggie’s son Michael and his wife Brea, with their three children—Quinn, Cora, and Jackson—piling out of the backseat, eager to stretch their legs. The chaos continued as Quinn and Cora immediately spotted their cousins and started a game of tag on the front lawn.

“Mom!” Michael called out as he approached, his grin as wide as ever. “Do you have any idea how wonderful it is to know tomorrow morning I won’t have to wake up and shovel snow?”

Maggie laughed, giving her son a tight hug. “No snow in the forecast. Lots of sun and sand though. How was your trip?”

“Pretty smooth, all things considered,” Michael said, looking over at Brea, who was gently guiding little Jackson up the steps. “The kids spent the whole flight watching a movie, so that was great.”

Brea smiled, her hands full with a bag of toys. “It’s good to see you, Maggie. The kids have been talking about this trip for weeks.”

“And it’s finally here!” Maggie said, her excitement bubbling over. “Let’s get you all settled. I’ll show you to your rooms.”

Sarah, Trevor and their three children—Noah, Sophia, and little Maggie pulled their car up alongside Michael’s rental.

“Look who’s here!” Sarah called out, waving to her siblings and their children. “Welcome to the madness!”

Trevor chuckled as he juggled bags and a wiggling Noah. “Madness is right, but it’s the good kind.”

As the cousins reunited with hugs and laughter, Maggie felt a warm glow spread through her heart. This was what Christmas was all about—family coming together, sharing love, joy, and a bit of chaos.

Inside the inn, the scene was one of happy confusion. Luggage was being carried up the stairs, children were running around, and the adults were trying to keep track of everyone’s belongings. The living room was quickly filling up with voices and laughter, the Christmas tree in the corner glittering with ornaments and twinkling lights.

Amid the joyful chaos, Oliver stood near the kitchen doorway, observing the scene with wide eyes. He had never experienced anything quite like this—a full house with so many people, all talking at once, kids darting in and out of rooms, and the general buzz of excitement that seemed to fill the air.

Iris walked up beside him, a grin on her face as she nudged him playfully. “You look like you’ve been hit by a Christmas whirlwind.”

Oliver laughed, a bit nervously, running a hand through his hair. “How often do they do this?”

“Not often enough if you ask Maggie,” Iris replied with a wink. “Here and there, her kids and grandkids come down, but all of them at the same time? That hasn’t happened in a couple of years. This gathering has been a long time coming, and I know Maggie has to be so happy. You’ll get used to it after a while.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to this,” Oliver said, his eyes following the children who were now playing a game of hide and seek in the hall. “But I think I like it.”

Iris chuckled and gave his arm a reassuring pat. “Good, because it’s going to be like this for the next few days. And just wait until the kids start asking for food every five minutes.”

Oliver’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh no… What have I gotten myself into?”

“Don’t worry,” Iris said, laughing at his expression. “We’ll get through it together. Besides, you’re not alone in the kitchen—I’m here to help, Riley even said she’d come over if we needed her.”

“That’s a relief,” Oliver admitted. “Though I have to say, feeding this crowd without a huge kitchen staff might be the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced as a chef.”

“It’ll be an adventure,” Iris said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “And we’ll make it delicious.”

Meanwhile, Grandma Sarah made her entrance, coming in through the back door with her cane tapping rhythmically on the floor. Despite her age, she moved with purpose, her eyes sharp as she surveyed the room.

“Looks like the gang’s all here,” she remarked, her voice carrying over the din. She caught Maggie’s eye and winked.

“Mom, why the cane? What happened?”

“Oh, my stupid ankle is acting up again. It’s nothing. I can still chase my great-grandchildren around the yard if I need to.”

“You’ll rest your foot while you’re here, if I have anything to say about it. Are you ready for a few days of Christmas chaos?”

“Always,” Grandma Sarah replied with a grin. “But you might be right, I’ll let the young ones do most of the running around.”

---