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“Yeah, and I think it’s nuts. He’s not ready for retirement. It would be a disaster if I had to run things. I’m not ready for any of it,” I said. “And honestly, I don’t know if I want to.”
“You might not want to now, but you will need to get your head into it before you’re thirty,” Amara said, looking over at Ivan, who nodded in agreement. “But for now, we should go enjoy the meal.”
“Yes, let’s table this and bring it up another time,” Ivan said. “I can smell the turkey now, and I want to carve it up before somebody else butchers it like last year.”
He put his arm over my shoulders and walked back into the open room with me. Amara was on the other side, and we laughed and talked about inconsequential things in between, Amara telling me how incredible Nat was getting at hand-to-hand combat.
The scent of turkey hit me as we hit the kitchen area, and I looked around at everybody gathered and smiled to myself.
The cabin was so filled with love at that moment that my heart swelled from the weight of it. Everybody was talking with each other or helping Mom and Neve get the dishes out on the kitchen island where we’d serve ourselves.
I found my Kings hanging out with Ryker’s cousin, who had started college recently, along with Archer’s dad, who was in the area for once.
I didn’t want to interrupt them all, so I watched for a moment and made my way back to the kitchen to help get the last of the meal out so we could eat.
“Hand me the potholder,” Mom said, pointing at the quilted gloves on the counter. I did, and she put them on before opening the oven.
She lifted the massive turkey roasting pan out of the heat and set it on the wooden trivets set up for this purpose. She moved to the next wall oven and opened it, removing stuffing, roast vegetables, and a couple of pies.
“You’re going all out,” I said, my mouth watering as I watched her work her magic. In these moments when she was being a mother and not her usual flaky self, I appreciated it even more.
There was something about the holidays that would mellow her out and bring her back to us for a week or so. After this, she would be off again, and I’d hear from her when she needed money or help with something. I didn’t know what she was up to or who she spent her time with, and I didn’t want to know.
“It’s going to be so good,” Neve said, arranging dinner rolls in a large serving bowl at the end of the kitchen island. It was the perfect buffet space, and once Ivan came in the slice up the turkey and the ham, everything was in serving bowls and ready to go.
When I called out, “Dinner!” it was like a mini stampede to get in line. I hadn’t realized exactly how many people had shown up until they were all gathered for the meal, but with each smiling face, I felt my happiness level rise.
My Kings came near the end, and they refused to eat until I had picked out what I wanted and filled my plate.
They followed me to the head of the table, where I sat on the end and was flanked by Ryker and Archer on one side and Valen and Kingston on the other.
“Are we saying grace?” Mom asked loudly before we began to eat. “We should, really…I know some of us need it more than others, but we should.”
“I’ll do it,” Nat said, surprising me. She lifted her glass of bubbling apple juice and held it up. Amara looked at her like a proud mother, and I was still so grateful for her guidance and care of my sister. “Here’s to family and friends, hard work and love, and to the next year being the best yet.”
“Tell them,” Amara said, nudging her gently. “You can brag.”
I wondered what they were talking about, but Nat seemed reluctant to tell us. Finally, she sighed and smiled and said, “I got into Harvard. A medical program I had my eye on. I want to be a doctor, and this is the best place for me to learn. I didn’t even have to get you guys to donate a big amount to the school or anything. I got in on my own.”
“That’s amazing!” I exclaimed, and the whole table broke out in applause for her success. We tilted our glasses, clinked them together, and sipped the champagne inside.
I started to cut my turkey when Penny’s voice cut through everybody’s low chatter.
“Aren’t you going to tell them?” Penny asked with a grin. “You think we offend all noticed you staring at that ring on your finger? You can’t stop looking at it and smiling.”
I blushed and couldn’t believe I’d been that transparent. But I guess I was on the spot, so I said, “Yes, I guess I should confess. We are getting married. We don’t know how, and we know it’s not usual, but we’re going to make it legal somehow.”
My Kings stood and lifted their glasses to me, and immediately after, the entire table stood and followed suit.
“To your future happiness and joy!” Neve called out, and everybody joined in, agreeing. They cheered and clapped, too, and I was swept away on a wave of pure happiness. I grinned and watched them all, seeing my own love and joy reflected back at me as we all communed with each other.
“Okay, now that I’m going to have four sons added to the Popolov empire, we’d better get eating so we can talk business,” Ivan announced and began to cut up the turkey on his plate with the same way he carved the entire bird.
My Kings looked mortified at the idea of getting roped into business talk with my father, and I whispered, “You still have time to turn me down.” I laughed to let them know I was joking and hoped they’d know I’d have to kick some asses if they did walk away from me now.
“Never,” Kingston said with a fierce whisper. “You’re stuck with us now, princess.”
The others nodded in agreement, and I nodded with appreciation that they always propped up my momentary flashes of insecurity by loving me fully.
