Page 50 of Deck the Halls with Cowboys
My lips twitched. “I’d stand here forever if you’d let me.”
“Where is everyone?” she asked, looking behind me.
“In the living room, waiting on marching orders.”
“I have to bring everything in.”
“I got it, baby. Just relax.” I was gone before she could argue. Once in the kitchen, I let out a low whistle to get Caleb’s attention. His head turned to me, and he was on his feet in an instant.
“What’s up, Dad?”
I handed him a pair of oven mitts and tipped my head to the hot bowl of mashed potatoes. “Take that to the table for Val and then come back and grab that basket of rolls.”
“Yup.”
I turned around, grabbing the next two dishes.
“Need some help?”
I looked over my shoulder to find Mags coming into the kitchen, eyes on the food. The man was about to die of starvation; it was a miracle he’d lasted this long. He was running on just a cinnamon roll and the promises Diana gave him at this point. I just prayed my brother was outside pulling the most beautiful, well-cooked ham out of the smoker right now. If not, we’d be burying a body on Christmas night.
“Yeah, if you could grab those for me.” I tipped my head to the last of the dishes.
Mags moved in silence, taking the items from the counter and following me down the hall.
“We put the potatoes over there, the casserole over there, and ooh—Mags, could you put the yams over on that end for me?” Val’s green eyes connected with mine as she mouthed, “Thank you.”
“That it?” Caleb asked.
She scanned the table one more time, putting her bottom lip between her teeth, the sight making my body tighten.
I cleared my throat. “Baby?” I prompted with a raised brow. “We good?”
Her pink and plump bottom lip was released as she nodded. “Yes, I think we’re ready.”
“I’ll bring in the family,” Mags muttered, disappearing.
Once everyone was seated, the only empty seat being my brother’s, I moved to the head of the table and popped open the bottle of wine. “Anyone?”
Diana pouted and looked at her stomach. “Only six more months.”
“Unless you’re breastfeeding,” Abbie added, holding out her wineglass to me. I chuckled, taking it and pouring her a healthy amount before moving to pour Valerie some.
“I never thought I would miss wine.”
“You can drink it,” Harmony offered. “Just one glass, though.”
“Best not, Red,” Mags said, leaning back in his seat. “She might throw it all up.”
Lawson held up his glass. “I’ll take some.”
Lance’s face twisted. “Since when do you drink wine?”
“Since I crashed a Wine Wednesday a few months ago. Ow—Abbie, did you just kick me?”
“You crashing was supposed to be a secret,” she hissed.
Beau turned to her, ticking his head to the side as his father busted out laughing on the other side of him. “I thought you said no boys were allowed during Wine Wednesdays?”
