And then it clicked.Thiswas what Eli meant when he’d said he had toshowher how he knew his family would love and accept her. Perhaps he knew it wouldn’t be enough for him to say they had a racially integrated family. He knew Noelle would want to experience the dynamic, see firsthand how seamlessly Lakin and Troy fit in the Colton dynamic.
A shrill whistle silenced the clamoring crowd that had made its way into the kitchen. Will waved an arm, and in a booming voice, he said, “Before we eat, I just wanted to say a few words about how blessed our family is to have Sasha. She’s been more than just my best friend and loving wife for all these many years. She’s been a guiding hand, a safe place to fall, a nurturer and encourager, not just to me and our children, but to my brother’s family and anyone else that crossed our threshold for our entiremarriage. Darling Sasha, I wish you the happiest birthday and many more years of love and happiness. To Sasha!”
“To Sasha!” The family applauded and whistled, and Noelle felt a swell of tenderness in her soul, even though she barely knew the honoree. The affection the family had for their matriarch was clear. Noelle longed for that sort of bond, the sort of maternal relationship she’d never had with her own mother.
Once Will had the group quieted again, he said a prayer over the food and the family, and the serving began.
Sasha put a hand at Noelle’s back, gently propelling her toward the front of the line, “Noelle, please don’t hang back. Guests get priority.”
Her cheeks heated, awkward with the attention she drew as she was escorted to the front of the line. Eli followed, and Parker called out, “Hey, Eli, save us some!”
“Maybe,” Eli teased as he moved up to the line of serving dishes.
After filling her plate with an array of delicious-looking food, Noelle followed Eli to a folding table set up in a corner of the living room.
“We outgrew the dining room table for combined family meals years ago. We just keep adding portable tables and folding chairs as my cousins and siblings add plus-ones to the mix. When the weather’s nice, we spill out on the lawn.”
“A crowded table is the best kind of problem,” a beautiful biracial woman said as she set her plate on the table across from Noelle. Extending her hand, the woman said, “Hi, I’m Hetty Amos, otherwise known as Troy’s sister and Spence’s better half.”
Noelle shook her hand, glanced briefly to Eli. “Spence?”
“My cousin,” Eli said, aiming his fork toward the food line. “That’s him piling potato salad on his plate.”
Eli’s equally striking and muscular cousin joined them at the small table, and Noelle goggled. “The Colton family certainly got more than their share of handsome genes.”
Hetty grinned. “Right?”
Conversation turned to Hetty’s work as a pilot for RTA and Spence’s as an adventure guide for the family business.
“Hetty and Spence were the ones who discovered the first victim of the Fiancée Killer,” Eli said.
Noelle raised a startled look to the couple. “Oh, my! How horrible.”
Hetty nodded. “It was definitely a disturbing discovery on what was a disaster of a trip this spring.” She gave a little shudder. “Can we not talk about that while we’re eating?”
Spence guided the topic to Noelle’s career. While Noelle was sure Spence knew who she was and about her past relationship with Eli, he didn’t dwell on it, which Noelle appreciated.
“If you’re Troy’s sister,” Noelle said, mentally making the connections, “then you’ve known the Colton family for a long time, as well. Is that right?”
Hetty nodded and consulted Spence with a glance. “About fifteen years now, huh?”
“Sounds right.” Spence stroked Hetty’s cheek. “But it’s hard to remember a time when our families weren’t close. Troy and Lakin were sweethearts from the start.”
Eli snorted. “Which is more than can be said for you two.” He turned to Noelle. “These two were about as close as two bulldogs with one bone. Their love language was sniping at each other.”
Noelle looked to Hetty for a denial, but the bush pilot shrugged. “It’s true. Spence used to irritate the heck outta me.” Her expression warmed as she leaned toward her fiancé for a quick kiss. “Then I got to know him better and saw how wonderful he actually was.”
Over the next half hour, as the family members finished eating, they moved one by one to either clean up in the kitchen, head outside to the bonfire or move to different tables to chat with someone new.
When Noelle and Eli pushed back from the table, he touched her hand and hitched his head toward the back of the house. “Let’s go see the bonfire. They won’t serve Sasha’s birthday cake until a bit later in the evening. It’s a tradition from back when we were kids, and she was trying to teach us about delayed gratification. We couldn’t open our Christmas presents until everyone was up and we’d all had a big breakfast together, either.” Eli rolled his eyes, silently expressing his opinion of his parents’ rule.
Noelle laughed, while privately envying that Eli had had holiday traditions and big family breakfasts. Christmases for her, once Allison grew to age four or so, revolved around watching her sister tear into a pile of presents.
Allison opened toys, candy and extravagances, while Noelle received a fraction as many items—socks and underwear, toiletry items, the occasional used book or hand-me-down puzzle from Allison. The message had been clear.Your gift is merely being allowed to live with the family and have basic provisions.To Allison’s credit, she had noticed and had shared her less-favorite candy with Noelle. The gesture had meant a lot to Noelle, giving her an indication of some camaraderie with her sister, no matter how small. Those small connections, scattered throughout their childhood and teen years, were why Noelle was in Alaska now. She was compelled to perform one last act of respect and kindness for her sister.
As they passed through the kitchen on the way outside, Noelle spotted Lakin at the sink washing pans and glasses. Noelle changed direction, telling Eli she’d join him after she’d helped with the cleanup.
“You don’t have to clean up. You’re our guest,” he said, motioning again to the backyard where raucous laughter and conversation echoed in the winter night.
