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His mother, Jill, was an absolute sweetheart and she was surrounded by Everly, Mallory, Nana, and Megan after a little while, snacking on crackers and a cheeseball while the guys went outside to throw a Nerf ball around with Caleb joining them. She was pretty sure they just wanted to get away from the women, so they could talk for a little bit while the rest of the dishes finished baking in the oven.
The house smelled incredible, and the turkey was waiting in the covered roaster. The rolls were wrapped in foil, ready to put in last, and there were several cold pies in the fridge hidden away from one mischievous child.
“Last year, we caught Caleb sitting on top of the kitchen table, scooping out pumpkin pie with his fingertips, and nearly half of it was gone.”
“Weren’t you watching him, girl?” Nana said bluntly.
“Of course,” Mallory retorted. “And I had no idea he could move so quickly or had any inkling of how to get on top of the table when he was still sleeping in a crib. Children are very determined when they set their mind to something.”
“Good to know,” Everly said.
“It doesn’t change as they get older,” Jill volunteered, hugging Everly and looking at Destiny pointedly. “Mark my words, when my two get their mind set – they are unstoppable and will do anything they can to make it happen.”
“Killian doesn’t takenofor an answer,” Destiny admitted, already remembering how he refused to let her dodge a meal at Waffle House or how he insisted on her taking the check, or the furniture, or the cell phone… and suddenly, she found herself looking towards the sliding glass door, wanting a glimpse of him.
Since the first moment that he’d laid eyes on her, taking the phone from her, he had been relentless in his determination to take care of her… building a life for them together. If she so much as crooked her finger, he was there waiting to make it happen.
He was such a gentle soul, so caring, yet so protective… and she was so incredibly lucky to have met him. It would be so easy to let him in, to trust him with her heart. She was halfway there already…
Killian meant everything to her – and she wanted to show how much she cared by providing a welcoming home to him, being a friend and partner to him. As she spotted him in the yard, she nearly sighed aloud.
He was so beautiful, smiling with those dark aviator sunglasses on his face… and remembered his offer to take her flying. Maybe she would mention it again. She loved to see the look of pride on his face – and this was something he could do to show off his skills.
Twenty minutes later, they were all putting the dishes onto the table almost in a family-style so they could reach what they wanted easily. The back door to the house opened and in came Caleb, carried by Maestro on his shoulders, while the men filed in.
“Oh wow, Everly…” Killian said easily. “That smells delicious.”
… And then shockingly, he came up behind Destiny, wrapping his arms around her waist, hugging her from behind and dropping a kiss just under her ear.
“But this is even better,” he whispered. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good,” she smiled, feeling her hands tremble as she lifted one to touch his cheek. He was so sweet, and making her melt like it was nothing.
“Y’all are too cute,” Megan said easily, walking past them and winking at Destiny. “Someday my prince will come… he’s just lost like a golf ball in high weeds right now.”
The table was laden with plates and had been extended as much as the leaf would allow, covered with a golden, multi-hued, tablecloth that was a myriad of leaves for fall.
Everly sat next to her husband, Alex, who sat beside Caleb, his son. Mallory, the mother of Caleb sat beside Paradox, who was parked next to Nana with the strangest look on his face.
Jill and Kevin, Killian’s parents’ were sitting beside Destiny, and Killian sat at the head – where Everly had put him. That surprised her that Killian’s seat was there, but when he’d told her about his parents liquidating everything right before Everly graduated?
Destiny understood.
There would be healing with time, but that bitterness would still be there no matter how ‘okay’ you seemed on the outside.
Plus, putting Killian at the head allowed her to be sandwiched between her brother and her husband – while Destiny was beside him as well. If she put her husband there, then there was a good chance she would have been questioned by her father or it might have started a fight.
Killian was probably the best choice for the moment – and was more likely to speak up if his parents didn’t agree.
As they said grace, she chanced a glance at Killian to see him watching her with those incredibly dark eyes… and melted as he gave her a soft, tender smile. She looked away, feeling shy, only to have him bring her knuckles to his lips, brushing a kiss against them.
Everyone began to fill their plates and immediately, Destiny spoke to Killian.
“Can I get you some potatoes, or green bean casserole?”
“Please,” he said politely, and she began to serve him before herself – which immediately prompted his mother to speak up.
“Destiny, dear, you’ll spoil him. I believe everyone is making their own plates and…”
