Page 79 of Calamity Rayne Knocked Up

You had to give my mother credit. The woman didn’t relent until Hugo finally read the words in the most monotone voice ever. “What a bright time, it is the right time.”

Penny and Marta cheered.

“She’s persistent,” Hale whispered and I smirked.

I lifted the pie crust dough and kneaded it between my hands. “Us Meyers like to keep things chipper. We’ve never met a grump we couldn’t break.”

“That’s partially true.” He kissed my temple.

“Why only partially?”

“You’re aDavenport now.”

“Ah, yes.” I grinned. “And you were once a grump. My record is impeccable.”

We sang and danced as we rolled out the dough. Elara giggled and jiggled to the beat. This was what I wanted. I wanted simplicity and chaos. I wanted family time and the stuff of memories.

And damn it, there went the tears again! I blotted my eyes and Hale looked at me with concern. “What is it?”

“I’m just…feeling grateful.” Rising on my toes, I kissed his jaw. “Thank you. This is exactly what Thanksgiving should be.”

Hale smiled, nodding his understanding. “Thank you for teaching me how to Thanksgiving.”

Only then did it occur to me that his mother and sister were nowhere around. Sometimes I forgot how little Hale knew about ordinary things. I gave him a shoulder bump because my hands were full of dough. “Tomorrow, I’ll teach you about sales and holiday retail. That’s part of Christmasing 101.”

He groaned. “Can’t wait.”

Giddy Up Jingle Horse

“Pick up your feet!”I spun Elara, and she squealed as I sang off-key and danced like an escaped lunatic loose from the institution.“Jingle around the clock!”I shook my ass and twirled, doing my best pregnancy twerk. “Mix and a-mingle in the—”I slammed into a broad chest and my smile fell. “You.”

“Am I interrupting?”

I disentangled myself from Xander’s arms and protectively held Elara like a shield, backstepping until I stood next to Hale. The Christmas music continued to play from my mom’s phone on the counter.

Hale draped an arm over my shoulder protectively. “Did you need something, Xander?”

His gaze dropped to Hale’s apron, and he chuckled. He crossed the room and dropped a load of dirty money on the table. “I won the last hand. I think that about covers your portion.”

“I walked away from the tournament. My portion’s forfeited. It’s all yours.”

Xander shook his head. “I don’t play that way. I prefer to see things through. That way everyone’s clear on the score.”

Oh great, more gambling references.

I checked Elara’s diaper. The one time I need there to be a poop, there wasn’t one. “Let’s take a potty break, Peanut.”

I excused myself with a tight-lipped smile. No clue how Hale tolerated that guy.

Potty training was intense. But it was probably way more messy with a boy. If the bean turned out to be a son, Hale would tackle that one.

“All done.”

I helped her pull up her pants and turned the faucet on so she could clean up. “Mommy’s turn.” While she rinsed her hands—something Hale’s child mastered right away—I tinkled. No matter how often I peed, my bladder seemed to always stay full.

“All done.”

“Elara, no, leave the door closed!”

---