Page 20 of Joy Ride
Jolene: Hold that thought. I have company.
I tip my head up. “Hey Emma.”
“I’ve missed you. Come join us in the kitchen, we’re having drinks.”
“You don’t have to ask more than once,” I giggle, climbing off the bed. “I’ve missed you too.”
When I sneak a glance at my phone one last time, Emma catches me and asks suspiciously,“New boyfriend?”
“Nope.” I shake my head while the phone pings, but I’m not about to clarify that it’s my one-night stand texting me back.
Travis: Trust me, I’ll be holding more than just a thought if you keep texting me questions like that…
Chapter Nine
“Did you check in with your family yet? I think Chase is talking to your brother right now,” Lexi asks, basting the turkey.
“I called and wished everyone a Merry Christmas five minutes ago, the second Chase found my phone.” I prop my hands on my hips and playfully sneer at Lara, who’s sheepishly listening to us at the table. She pops a cookie in her mouth and grins at me before running off to join her siblings in the other room. But damn, I still can’t believe she stole my phone last night and forgot where she hid it. I’m just not used to having to be careful around so many kids.
Apparently, in all the Christmas Eve excitement, I left my cell on the coffee table in the family room after dinner last night. We turned the house upside down looking for it, but couldn’t find it anywhere. Jenny and William were so upset with their daughter, that I tried not to act too bothered. Lara was only playing after all. She didn’t mean to lose my phone, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to text Travis last night.
Thank God, I have a fingerprint lock on my device, so when Chase finally discovered it under Leo’s Santa hat this morning, he wasn’t able to see any of my messages.
Now, I’m just waiting for a second to be alone so I can text Travis and wish him a Merry Christmas. He’s probably wondering what happened to me last night.
“I never thought I could be so happy,” Lexi says out of the blue. “Would you check to see if the cranberry sauce is in the fridge? Chase likes it cold. I think this bird will be ready to come out in a half hour. And then it needs to rest.”
“Cranberry sauce is on the top shelf.” I say, double checking before I close the fridge.
“Thanks.” Lexi pops the turkey back into her massive double oven. The kitchen is like a chef’s dream with solid marble lining the walls and open shelving displaying every kind of gadget you could imagine. With the turkey roasting, it smells like heaven in here.
Chase is whisking the salad dressing. Emma and Ryder are helping their kids dab biscuits with butter, while Shane and Brooke assist their little ones while they frost the red velvet cake for dessert. What’s amazing is there’s so much space, that none of us are bumping into each other, the way we would at our place.
“I want a family of my own too, someday.” I feel so at ease with everyone here, I guess I’m not surprised that little factoid just slipped out of my mouth.
Lexi glances over at me. “Do you have any doubt? Because I don’t.”
“I’m just not sure I’ll end up with the right person.”
She straightens and studies me with a serious expression. “You will, Jolene. Just don’t give up and don’t settle for less. You’ll know it in your soul when you find the right man.” She sweetly grasps my wrist. “And when you do, hold onto him. Don’t listen to anyone or anything other than your heart.”
“Is that what you did with Chase?”
“You better believe it. I was positive I’d be alone forever and thenbam, out of nowhere, your cousin pulls a gun on me.” She laughs. “I guess you could say it was love at first draw.”
“You talking about me, honey pot?” Chase comes up behind her, and with a contented sigh, she leans back against his chest, and their hands intertwine over her belly.
And that’s pretty much everything I’ve been seeing all morning. I sigh. Even though I’m the only single person here, the love I feel in this house gives me hope.
Christmas music floats in from the living room as we set the dining room table. The babies are either in their swings or playpens, and the older kids are nearby giggling, busy with their new Christmas toys.
Lexi with Brooke, who’s an artist in her own right, put the finishing touches on the place settings and arrange ornaments, miniature trees, and votive candles down the middle of the long, antique pine table.
While they complete their masterpiece, I try to sneak off to text Travis but wind up washing some of the dishes piling up in the sink when the doorbell rings. Lexi and Brooke are too busy laughing their heads off over something to hear the bell.
“Are you expecting someone?” I shout over my shoulder. The entire family is already here.
“We adopted a single friend for the day.” Lexi totters up next to me, parks her hand on her lower back, and winces. “Do you mind letting him in?”
