Page 86 of Just a Plot Twist
“Thomas, we’re not talking about this right now,” Celine chides as she reaches for the saltshaker. Celine and Thomas are at either end of the table and all their kids and their spouses are here, plus Sophie and Oliver’s baby, Elizabeth, and Henry and Quinn’s four-year-old, Navie. Milo, Rose, and their son, Callum, are even here from North Carolina, since Rose is on a two-week break from her nursing program.
And, most importantly in my book, Claire, Dax, and Indie are seated near me. Sebastian had to have his staff push together three long tables for us all to fit. It’s chaos in the restaurant.
And I’ve never felt like I’ve actually been a part of something so messy and perfect before.
I do now. This is my messy and perfect deal, too.
The Tates don’t do things halfway, and this family dinner at the Summit restaurant at the resort is no exception. Sebastian had his chef Daria prepare T-bone steaks, salmon, Brazilian cheese buns, and a salad using local greens and a fresh raspberry vinaigrette.
“I’m just asking the boys about the business. I’m interested.” Thomas shakes his head and presses his linen napkin to his lips. He still gets a little snappish at times, but his recovery time has gotten a lot faster.
“But you’re right.” His voice gently drops, and he meets her gaze from across the table. “I’m sorry, Princess,” he says and I can tell he means it. “How about the kids tell us what they’ve been up to this summer so far?”
“That’s a great idea,” Celine says. She places a hand over her heart. “Oh, it feels like Christmas to have us all together.”
“Dax, as the oldest, why don’t you start us off? Tell us about your summer.” There’s a twinkle in Thomas’s eyes, and he leans forward to take up his glass, his gaze on my son, his grandson.
Dax glances at me, and maybe he’s unsure because he’s suddenly got an audience, or maybe it’s because he’s still not completely comfortable with everyone yet, but I give him an encouraging nod.
Dax copies his grandfather. He takes a sip of water before he starts. “Nothing much, except for swim…and piano.”
They can probably sense his lack of excitement about piano by the way he’s saying it.
“Which do you like more?” Celine asks, her eyes as bright as Thomas’s. “I mean, I think I know...”
“He pouts the whole time he practices piano, so what doyouthink?” Indie says, and everyone laughs—except Dax.
“The question is, do you pout when you swim, too?” Alec asks with a smile.
“Alec pouts at a lot of things, so no judgment there,” Oakley adds. The others at the table laugh. Alec raises one brow, but he drops his gaze and smiles, like he likes being teased by his wife.
“Nobody can pout like Sebastian, though!” Elianna says, to which the other sisters-in-law raise their glasses.
“Hear, hear!” Sophie says with a giggle. Even Celine joins in on the toast, but none of the guys do.
“I like the show of solidarity from the men!” I add.
“It’s not solidarity, it’s self-preservation!” Henry says. “If I start bagging on Sebastian and Alec, what will the rest of you do when Quinn teases me?”
There’s another roar of laughter, and as soon as everyone calms down, Rose pipes up while she feeds Callum a bite of mashed potato in his highchair. “So, let’s get back to Dax.” She gives him an encouraging nod.
“There are things I hate more than piano,” Dax insists with a smile. “Like my hernia surgery when I was eight. And tomatoes. I’d rather practice piano than eat a tomato.”
“Just out of curiosity, what about your back-to-school shots?” Claire asks him. “Where do those rank on this list?” He needs to get some before he starts school again in a couple of months.
Dax lifts a shoulder. “They’re more enjoyable than the piano.” Everyone laughs. “I don’t throw a fit over shots like Indie does.”
“Hey!” Indie’s face grows red. She’s been pushed too far. I bristle. Maybe Dax shouldn’t mention Indie’s dislike of needles in front of everyone. But to be fair, she probably shouldn’t have talked about his pouting at the piano.
Indie stands from the table, pushing her chair back hard, and throwing her napkin on her half-eaten plate of food. “At least I don’t cry when I get a sunburn!” Her eyes narrow at Dax and she turns on her heel, stomping out of the room.
Claire and I exchange a look before I get up. “I’ll go talk to her,” I tell her.
Claire gives a quick nod, her brows twinging together in sympathy. “Good luck,” she says.
I catch Dax’s gaze, but he nods, like,I’m fine. I’ll just be eating my steak.
I catch up to Indie right before she crosses through the double doors of the restaurant. “Indie, slow down.”
