Page 13 of Wrapped in Love

“I need to get the turkey in.” She smiled at Callie. “We eat early, so we can snack later.”

“Please let me help.”

Mom held out her hand. “Of course, dear girl. I would love it.”

I smiled, watching them walk out of the room, Tracey and Elly trailing behind. Tracey handled dessert, and Elly always set the table. The men were in charge of the cleanup. It was tradition.

I had a feeling both Callie and I would be grilled while we were on our own.

Dad chuckled. “Relax, Shane. She’s perfectly safe with your mother.”

“I’m aware,” I muttered. “I just don’t want them badgering her.”

He laughed. “You bring home a woman—the first one ever, I might add—out of the blue, and you expect them to hold back?” He shook his head. “Especially given the fact that you met her last night. And the way you look at her.”

I had to admit he was right.

“You care deeply about her,” John stated.

I smiled as I nodded. John was always able to see things clearly. He had a gift for sensing people and their emotions. “I care a great deal. Far more than I realized until I tried to walk away from her this morning.” I sighed. “There’s something special about her. Something…”

“Warm,” he finished for me. “She’s filled with warmth and love.”

“She is,” I agreed. “And the thought of her being alone did something terrible to my chest. The pain was almost physical. I couldn’t leave her.” My gaze drifted down the hall, where I could hear the sounds of feminine laughter. I was surprised how easily I could pick out Callie’s sweet laugh.

“What is going to happen in a few days?” Alan asked with a frown. “You live and work hundreds of miles from here.”

His words were like a bucket of ice water running down my back.

“I know,” I murmured. “I haven’t figured out that part yet.”

My dad spoke up. “Don’t jump ahead. Live for today, Shane. Each day is a gift.”

We all nodded in silent agreement at his words. He had started pulling back when Mom became ill. My workaholic father began cutting hours at the hospital. Saying no to lectures and business dinners. Spending more time with my mother. Telling us all to live for today. Grab each minute and live it.

“Don’t put off happiness,” he would say, shaking his head. “Stop waiting for it. Find it yourself.”

Even after Mom recovered, he hadn’t gone back to his old ways. They were closer than ever with a new zest for life and each other. I had a feeling it was one of the reasons they were so open to Callie being here.

“I think Callie might be the best gift ever, Dad,” I mused.

He winked. “I think you might be right.”

I wandered into the kitchen, inhaling the scent of the turkey roasting.

“God, it smells good in here.”

Callie looked up from the pot of potatoes she was mashing with a smile. “It does.”

I looked to the dining room, where Elly was busy setting the table, making sure everything was perfect. I held in my laughter. It was the same all the time. She spent hours making it look like a magazine spread, and five minutes after we sat down to eat, her perfection was destroyed. Still, she loved it, so I never bothered to ask her why.

Tracey glanced up from the pastry she was rolling. “The kids behaving?”

I chuckled as I went over to Callie and pressed a kiss to her head, quietly asking if she was okay.

She nodded and focused on her task at hand.

“Alan and John are taking them out sledding.”