Page 96 of Forever Flirting

Caleb was washing the cherry tomatoes and celery to help out. Mallory had made pumpkin bread, sweet potato casserole, as well as corn pudding - which was very interesting, because she never heard the woman even utter the words – ‘corn’or ‘pudding’in the same sentence.

Oh yes, this was going to be a Thanksgiving to remember!

“Knock, knock…” she heard her mother call out as the front door opened easily, allowing her parents inside. “Heyyy, look at my baby girl!”

“I right ‘ere!” Caleb hollered from the kitchen, causing Everly and Mallory to laugh as they shared a look. “Warshin’ de’matos for Nana!”

Everly was enveloped in her parents’ arms, hugging her tightly, as they called out a more-than-thrilled ‘hello’ to Mallory, hugging her as well.

“You both look so good!” her mother exclaimed, wiping her eyes.

“Everly, where’s your young man…” Her father asked bluntly as the door opened behind them, causing Everly to crane her neck as she met Alex’s eyes.

“Ohhhhmy gosh, Alex!” Everly cried out happily, throwing her arms around her husband, as Caleb screamed ‘Daddy’from the distance, running into the living room.

Alex kissed her tenderly, before smoothing back her hair and pressing his forehead to hers, and bent to pick up Caleb.

“Hey buddy…” Alex said gently – leaning forward to kiss her once more.

“My parents want to meet you,” Everly whispered softly. “They just got here.”

“Killian is coming, and I think in shock from my grandma’s mouth…” Alex muttered, grinning, and then extended his hand. “Mr. Briscoe, Mrs. Briscoe, it’s very nice to meet you.”

“How are you…” Everly’s mother said quietly, looking between all of their faces in confusion as her brother entered the front door – with a woman behind him.

“Killian, you’re here,” Everly said happily, hesitating and looking past him to the woman standing there. “… And hello?”

“Destiny, this is my sister,” Killian said quietly, looking tense. “Everly, this is my wife.”

Her mouth dropped open as Alex chuckled softly from beside her.

“Maybe explaining Caleb won’t be so bad as I thought…”

“Would you two step aside?” Everly heard Alex’s grandmother pop off angrily, and saw that cane come forward, nudging people left and right so she could get into the doorway. “Where’s my boy, Caleb?”

“Nana!” Caleb hollered in delight, squirming to be set down immediately from Alex’s arms. “Nana… I warshed da’matos for ‘ew!”

“Mm… Nana loves fresh tomatoes, too, my sweet boy. Now, where’s the chairs at in this place? Can’t a woman take a seat? Gracious, I had no idea picking up your brother and husband would be offering to shuttle a dang caravan. I never expected to pick up four people, and barely got everyone in the blasted car.”

“Four?”

“Joshua?”

Mallory’s voice practically echoed in the room that was filled with questions being tossed about randomly in a chaotic manner.

“Why is Caleb calling your husband ‘Daddy’?”

“Since when did you get married?”

“Destiny, can you tell us about yourself?”

“When did this happen?”

“I don’t understand…”

Everly turned and saw the man that had entered the room – and smiled at Alex, who winked at her. Killian was standing there stiffly beside his ‘bride’that looked distinctly uncomfortable, as Nana looked on, thriving at the soap opera unfolding before her eyes.

Might as well throw another log in the fire…Everly thought, grinning.

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