Page 81 of Sweet Home

Thank you for this family… my family.

Then the table erupted into noisy happiness again.

“Wow, Dulcie,” Tripp moaned around a big bite of French toast.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full, Uncle Tripp,” Elizabeth told him crisply.

“That’s very good advice,” Maggie said as the others chuckled.

“This is excellent, Dulcie,” Daniel said, lifting his fork as if in toast. “I hope this is a new family tradition in the making.”

“We need a wedding first,” West said, winking at Dulcie. “The family tradition has to be official.”

“You can’t get married on Christmas,” she reminded him. “The courthouse is closed. Be patient.”

But they weren’t going to be very patient. She was pretty sure they would be married as soon as things reopened and they could get a license. Living together put them too much in the way of temptation. And Dulcie was a little worried that Delphine was going to ask for her own room—which would make Dulcie feel wrong about living in the house if she and West weren’t married yet.

Besides, they were all eager to move on to the next stage of their lives as a family.

“You’re not just doing it at thecourthouse,” Allie piped up from the end of the table. “You’ll let me help you with planning right?”

“Don’t even think about trying to stop her,” Charlotte said with a smile. “She’s going to do it anyway, so you might as well enjoy it.”

“Agreed,” Becca said with a fond smile at Allie. “Plus, she really knows what she’s doing.”

“That sounds good to me,” Dulcie said, glancing to West.

“As long as it’s quick,” West said, giving his sister a significant look.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Allie told him. “I’ve already got something in mind. I’ll pull it together in no time.”

West shook his head, but he was smiling fondly at his sister, and Dulcie knew he was happy. All of the Lawrence men doted on their baby sister.

After breakfast was finished and the whole family was clearing up the dishes, talking and teasing each other, West tugged at Dulcie’s hand.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Let’s get some air,” he murmured.

“But everyone’s cleaning up,” she said.

“You cooked,” he said with a smile. “And we just got engaged, so I think we have a pass.”

She looked around. There were honestly so many people in the kitchen that she couldn’t have done much to help if she tried.

“Okay,” she said, trying not to giggle at the idea of sneaking out.

He led her down the hall, past the living room where the big Christmas tree twinkled and wrappingpaper covered the floor, and all the way to the big entry. They slipped on their boots and coats, and West opened the front door, letting in a blast of cold, sweet air.

Dulcie stole one last glance back toward the kitchen, but nothing but happy noises traveled down the hallway.

“Come on,” he told her. “You’ll have plenty more chances to help.”

They stood on the small covered front porch, hand-in-hand, and looked out over the farm.

Late morning sunlight sparkled on the snow, and there was nothing to see for miles but the peaceful countryside.

“It’s so beautiful,” she breathed.

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