That caught my attention. “Really?”
She bobbed her head as she tossed another piece of cheese into her mouth. “Yep.”
“Well, then, let’s not bring it to his attention,” I stated.
“I agree,” Bree said. She turned to see who was walking into the kitchen.
“Look who’s here! Arabella!” my mother called out as she ushered our latest guest into the kitchen. “And she made her honey biscuits!”
Lacy was hot on Arabella’s trail, and she leaned down and took a smell. “Lord help me, but I may eat them all.”
Arabella laughed and said, “Lacy, you look beautiful.”
My sister rolled her eyes. “I’m going to end up begging this child to come out early. Not sure I can make it another three weeks, and I don’t feel at all beautiful. But thank you, Arabella. You’re a princess for saying so.”
“It’s true,” Arabella said as she took the lid off one of her containers and handed Lacy a biscuit. My sister moaned like she was in the middle of an orgasm.
“Well, if the biscuits are that good, let me have one,” Bree said, taking one from Arabella. “It’s good to see you, Arabella. It’s been forever.”
With a smile, Arabella set the biscuits down. “It has been. How’s Boston?”
Bree shrugged. “It’s Boston. I’m working long hours to prove to the big guns I’ve got what it takes to be a junior partner, but truth be told, I’m growing really tired of it all.”
“You should move back to Boggy Creek,” Lacy said. “We need a good lawyer who isn’t in their eighties.”
The three of us laughed while my mother shot Lacy a dirty look. “Don’t be like that, Lacy. Earl Watkins has been a lawyer in this town for as long as I can remember.”
We all exchanged a look of amusement as she went on. “Why, I remember going to his office when I got married, and he helped me with all of that business of changing my name and such.”
Lacy lifted both brows. “Wow, he must be close to a hundred then, if he was practicing when you got married, Mom.”
My mother tossed a towel at my sister, and we all laughed.
“The party must be in here!” Greer said as she walked into the kitchen.
“Hey, Greer, let me help you with that.” I quickly rushed over and took the large slow cooker she carried.
“Hunter and Kyle requested chili, so I have brought chili,” Greer said, leaning against the counter and shaking out her arms. “I think I made enough for the whole police department.”
Thanksgiving at my parents’ house this year was a large event. With Greer’s folks on the same cruise as Arabella’s, it made sense to invite them both over so they didn’t have to spend the holiday alone. And Bree’s parents were good friends with my folks and usually spent every other Thanksgiving celebrating with us. Aiden’s mother, Rose, and his granddad, Carl, were also here, though that was the norm for every year.
“I do believe all our guests are here now. Let me round everyone up so we can get this Thanksgiving going. Did I tell you Willa made the turkey?” my mother called out.
Bree and Arabella both turned and looked at me. Arabella with a look of pride on her face, Bree with one of horror. I ignored Bree and returned Arabella’s smile.
My folks had a huge enclosed back porch area, where two large tables were set up. All of the food was set out in the kitchen in a buffet-type manner, so folks could simply help themselves.
Hunter and Aiden walked into the kitchen. Ben was on Aiden’s shoulders, and I instantly felt my heartbeat speed up some.
“Did you have fun, little man?” I asked as I looked up at Ben and went on my tiptoes to kiss Aiden. Ben laughed, looking down at me.
“I think he’s going to be asleep early tonight,” Aiden said.
I felt my cheeks heat and hoped that no one in the room could see the excited look in my eyes as I imagined Aiden making love to me later.
My hopes were dashed when my brother walked by and whispered, “Please keep the dirty thoughts at bay, little sister.”
Aiden, on the other hand, wiggled his brows at me. “What do you need me to do?” he asked, bouncing Ben in his arms.
“Do you want to get Ben settled in his high chair, or do you want to help organize the food flow?”
Aiden shuddered. “Oh right, the food flow. I forgot how your mom was so weird about the food flow.”
I nodded.
“Come on, Ben, let’s go get you in your high chair while Mommy makes up a plate for you.”
Laughing, I said, “I thought so.”
When I turned around, I saw Arabella watching my brother take the turkey out of the oven. My heart broke at the look of longing on her face before it vanished.