Page 14 of A Baxter Family Christmas
Landon was right behind her, and from the kitchen came the voices of their kids—Cole, Amy, Devin, and Janessa. “Papa!” Amy ran up and wrapped her arms around John’s waist. “It’s going to be the best Thanksgiving ever!”
“I was just thinking that.” John returned her embrace and hugged the others.
“They’re my best pies ever.” Elaine stooped down and hugged four-year-old Janessa. “Is that a new headband?”
“It is.” Janessa twirled. “Mommy’s been teaching me how to walk like a lady.”
John put his arm around Elaine’s shoulders. “That’s really something, sweetie. You’re going to make a wonderful young lady. Just like Amy!”
They made their way into the kitchen, and as he set the cream down, John took a minute to appreciate the moment. Ashley had come so far in her faith and her ability to love well.
After her mother died, Ashley had expected her father would be single forever.
John had thought the same thing. His first wife, his first love, never should’ve lost her battle to cancer. But she had.
None of them had seen Elaine coming into the family, but when it happened, no one had struggled more than Ashley. But over the years that had changed and now there was no sign of tension. Not from any of his adult kids. All of them loved Elaine.
Same with the grandkids. Amy most of all.
And tonight, Amy was the one person John was concerned about—especially in light of the announcement he needed to make after dinner. Kendra Bryant was coming for Christmas Eve. The decision was final. He only hoped everyone would find a way to get on board. Ashley had adjusted to every other difficult situation in life. Amy, too. John believed they would both come to accept this as well.
Over the next half hour, the others arrived. Dayne and Katy, straight from the airport, and with them their three young children. The kids were tired from the flight, but in no time they pepped up.
“Wanna come see my dollhouse?” Janessa held her hand out to her little cousin Sophie and the two girls bounded up the stairs.
Dayne had the baby on his hip. “We’ve been looking forward to this all month.” He shared a look with Katy. “And guess what?”
Everyone looked their way. “Another baby?” Cole was ready with a high five.
“No.” Katy laughed as she linked arms with Dayne. “Not yet, anyway.”
“We’re staying here through the end of January!” Dayne looked beyond relieved. “We need more time at home. Less in Los Angeles.” He high-fived Cole. “Which means we’ll be over a lot more!”
“Great!” Cole nodded to the backyard. “I’ll get things ready for the football game.”
John smiled. He loved how his family enjoyed being together, how they got everything they could out of their holiday gatherings. The doorbell rang and this time it was Luke and Reagan and their family. By the time Elaine had set the little boys up with a bucket of building blocks, Kari and Ryan poured through the front door with their kids.
“The girls are upstairs playing with Janessa’s dollhouse.” Ashley pointed her sister’s younger daughter toward the stairs.
And with that Annie ran after her cousins. The three girls were best friends, all of them blond, blue-eyed little princesses, with vivid imaginations and a love for singing and dancing. John was so thankful Dayne and Katy would be around more often. Sophie loved nothing more than to be here with her cousins.
Brooke and Peter arrived last with their girls. “I burned the first batch of peas.” Brooke was carrying a large dish as she moved from the front door to the kitchen. “Had to start all over again! Sorry we’re late.”
“I told her to set a timer.” Peter chuckled. “You know Brooke. She doesn’t need any help.”
“It’s true.” Brooke shrugged as she set the casserole down. “It’s Thanksgiving! Can you believe it?”
The teenage cousins gathered in the front room near the piano. A few of them had been taking lessons, and now that added to the fullness of the moment as Luke’s Tommy played “Away in a Manger.”
“That’s beautiful, buddy!” Reagan raised her brow at Luke and John and then the others. “He’s getting really good!”
“I remember when he got his head stuck between the spindles on your staircase.” John grinned as the others laughed. “He’s definitely grown up.”
“Thankfully.” Luke made his way around the room, hugging the others. When he reached John he stopped. “Dad... you always said you liked Thanksgiving Day almost as much as Christmas.” He paused, his eyes shining. “I can see why now. There’s nothing better than being together.”
For a while everyone worked on the meal. Then at one o’clock—while the turkey was still cooking—they filed into the backyard for the Baxter family’s annual Thanksgiving Day touch football game. This year Cole was in charge.
“Okay, if I read off your name, you’re on Team A.” He began listing names, including his—which he called last.
