“What’s what?” he asked, wary.
I patted his arm, trying and failing not to be impressed by the muscle under my fingertips.
“You get to carry everything!”
CHAPTER 6
HOPPER
The house smelled delicious.It always did on Thanksgiving. Maggie put together a meal that would have made my mother proud, though it was never quite the same.
My mom, when she was still alive, went all out for the holidays. She didn’t just roast a turkey and make mac and cheese good enough to make my father cry. She also decorated beautifully, adding special touches to each dish, and made sure every holiday was a special memory.
I entered through the back door, stomping my feet to get rid of the snow that had dusted the ground overnight, then stripped off my coat and hung it up. I’d kept busy with tree farm business while Noel planned his Thanksgiving meal, which somehow included goat cheese.Shudder.
Judging by the delicious smells, Maggie had ensured we’d get a damn good turkey and some mashed potatoes, at least. Poor Ed would be missing out on that stellar gravy of hers.
I entered the formal dining room and stopped dead, stunned. The table was set with porcelain dishes I’d never seen before in a delicate eggshell blue. A large cornucopia overflowed with berries and nuts in the center of the table, and at each placesetting, an orange fabric napkin was folded into the shape of a turkey.
It was adorable. Just the sort of thing Mom would have loved.
Glazed carrots rested on a platter with tiny little acorns drawn in dark sauce along the outside edge. Next to them, sweet potatoes were topped with roasted chestnuts. All the Thanksgiving standards were here: mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and dinner rolls. But somehow, they all looked magazine-worthy, their plating perfect, with little touches that made them look extra special. Little sprigs of parsley or wedges of lemon as garnish, artful positioning of the food, and sauce drizzled just so.
There were several additions that were less of a staple, as well.
A tray of bruschetta topped with cream and cranberry tempted me into sneaking a bite before dinner was served.
I tossed it into my mouth and damn near expired on the spot. Creamy sweet cheese, tart cranberry, a hint of smoky spice from the jalapeno I didn’t spot, and just the right amount of crunch. It was incredible.
I ate it, doing a bad job of muffling my moan of pleasure.
Noel stepped into the kitchen doorway, eyes flicking from the tray to the crumbs I was wiping out of my beard.
“Wha?” I mumbled, mouth full, already reaching for a second appetizer.
His lips twitched into a smug smile. “Enjoying the appetizer? I believe you wrinkled your nose at my purchase of goat cheese.”
I looked down at the snack in my hand. “Goat cheese tastes likethis?”
“You’re a farm boy. Shouldn’t you already know this?”
He returned to the kitchen before I could find an answer. True, I was a farm boy. I’d never cared for goat’s milk. I assumedthe same would be true for goat cheese. It wasn’t as if I’d had a lot of occasion to eat the stuff.
I crammed another piece of heaven in my mouth and crunched down happily. I’d eat as much as I could get away with today. Who knew when I’d ever have it again? It didn’t take a genius to figure out that was Noel’s contribution, not Maggie’s.
Ed shuffled in and pulled out a chair to sit down. “How much of this do you reckon they’ll let me eat?”
“I don’t know. Better sneak some while they’re not looking.”
“I heard that!” Maggie called.
She stepped out of the kitchen with a plate already prepared. It looked like he’d gotten small servings of whipped potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing…
“You’ll get some turkey, too, when it’s ready.” She set it in front of him with a flourish. “These are all heart-healthy recipes, some of it made just for you.”
He sighed. “Should have known it looked too good to be true.”
She slapped his shoulder playfully. “You don’t know that until you try it! Noel’s been at work since 5 a.m., so you’ll be thankful for him on Thanksgiving and clean your plate!”
