Page 119 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

My mind was set. He was the one.

As it was the Hollands’ home, John stood at the head of the table, though he looked a little nervous about it. I thought maybe he wondered if he had the right to, after all he had done. But today was a day of healing and of new beginnings. I thought everyone who was trying deserved a chance.

We all looked at John.

John looked to Sheridan and reached for her hand. She took it and grasped it firmly.

“Welcome to our home,” he said with an air of humble courage.

His emotion made several of us tear up, even Dani, who was on the fence about the man.

“I hope you don’t mind me saying a few words,” he continued. “I want you to know how honored I am that you’re all here. This past year has been humbling, to say the least, but I’m grateful for that. I needed to be knocked down several notches. Mostly, though, I’m grateful to be in the presence of such good people. Especially the love of my life.” He gave Sheridan such a look of adoration. I believed she was blushing. “Thank you for coming,” he added. “I have it on good authority that a song and pie come next.”

The room broke out in a collective chuckle.

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Ariana’s traditions. I was anxious to hear what song she had written for us this year.

I looked across the table at Ariana as she handed Sammy, who was dressed as a turkey, to Jonah. Only Ariana would dress her baby as a turkey for the day. He was the cutest little butterball. Ariana was wearing her Gobble ’Til I Wobble sweatshirt. I seriously loved her. She picked up her ukulele and strummed it a few times before clearing her throat, then looked down at her plate, where her handwritten lyrics rested.

Before she began, she said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I want to dedicate this song to my sisters. Dani and Kinsley, this one’s for you.”

Dani and I smiled at each other and then at Ariana.

Ariana winked at us before she began to sing, “I think I say this every year, yes, it’s been quite the year. New people, new places, all the familiar faces. There’s been laughter and a lot of love. Throw in some tears and some sorrow too, because that’s the way it goes for our crew. Speaking of this crew of mine, I must say you two are both divine. If I could have just one wish, it would be to continue to live like this. The three of us equals bliss. There will always be hits and misses, but with you by my side, I will always enjoy the ride. Together we are unstoppable. To us nothing is impossible. That is all I have to say because, well . . . pie.”

Everyone laughed and cheered as Dani and I shed a few tears. Ariana was right; together we were unstoppable.

Dani put her arm around me and whispered in my ear. “I love you, Kins.”

I rested my head on her shoulder. “I love you more.”

“Impossible,” she laughed.

Ariana came around the table and put her arms around us both. “I love you the mostest.”

I wasn’t sure who loved who the most, but it didn’t matter, because where there was great love, miracles happened. And honestly, our lives had been nothing short of a miracle. We all looked to Grandma and Grandpa, who were beaming at us. We owed our lives to them. They were the first miracle that had brought us all together and pulled us out of our difficult circumstances. We owed them a debt we could never repay. One they would never, ever call due.

There were a lot of miracles sitting around that table. Ariana had been united with her father, stepmother, and brothers. Those two, Max and Sebastian, were such troublemakers, teasing Whitney and Gemma all afternoon. Dean and Sabine, as always, just reveled in being in Ariana’s life. And they especially loved the grandchildren. Sabine often held Sammy and cooed at him. Dean had come prepared, and he and Whitney talked dinosaurs all through dinner. Dani and Brock were a miracle too. Brock had been raised from the dead, and they had overcome unbeatable odds to come together. Then they’d saved Gemma and brought her into our family. I looked at John and Sheridan, trying to be at ease with each other. I thought the way they had been brought together many years ago was pretty incredible. What were the odds of him getting stranded on the very road she drove on almost every day? Some might call it a chance meeting, but to me, it was heaven sent.

I couldn’t forget my own miracle, Brant, my not-so-silent partner. I was glad he’d finally spoken up. More importantly, I was thankful I was willing to listen.

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