Foundations - Kate Canterbary Page 0,19

see you! We missed you at Andy and Patrick's Christmas Eve dinner but I know there's a ton going on right now. Is it starting to feel like home yet?"

Stella sat and introduced herself to Max before replying, "Remind me to never move in December. It sounded great in theory but then Cal was at the hospital for thirty straight hours at the beginning and then again at the end of our moving week. We're just now settling back into some semblance of order. I barely know where I'm going, which is crazy to say since I've lived in Boston my entire life. I just don't know anything north of the city."

"The good news is, you're around the corner from us and just down the street from Nick and Erin," Lauren added.

"We are," Stella replied. "They came over and pried me away from the boxes. They've turned us on to a bunch of great little restaurants and markets in the area."

Lauren continued sharing her local favorites with Stella while I waited on Max to select his next block. The kitchen was packed with people. Andy and my mother-in-law were busy opening and closing crockpots and consolidating cookie trays while my father-in-law stood by, waiting to collect and wash the empty plates.

Grace Kilmeade and Emme Ahlborg, aptly nicknamed the Dark 'n' Stormy sisters, leaned against the island as they sampled cookies from a shared plate. They were part of Lauren's original teaching staff back when the school opened and I'd known them ever since. Their nickname absolutely matched their vibes but they were also some of the kindest, funniest women I knew.

And they shared everything—including plates.

Patrick and Sam were passed out in armchairs near the fireplace, Patrick with his arms folded over his chest and Sam with his head lolling toward his shoulder. Sam's two-year-old son Dave was slowly, slowly, slowly teething and up all hours but I didn't know what Patrick was claiming for an excuse.

My favorite roof garden designer, Magnolia Santillian and her fiancé were busy studying the wall of hand-crafted built-in bookshelves and cabinets in the family room. She gestured, he shook his head. This went on for several minutes until she pulled her phone from her purse and snapped a few photos. I didn't have to hear their exchange to know all about it. They were in the early stages of remodeling the South End brownstone they'd bought on a whim a few months ago and were deep in the throes of haggling over every little decision.

If my brother Riley ever showed up, he'd intervene in that madness. Riley was nothing if not perennially late. Then again, since he'd spent Christmas in Nevada with his fiancée Alex and her family, I'd assumed they'd be on time today. Or, nearly on time. Based on the texts he'd sent while in Nevada, it sounded as though they'd had a tough time with her family and all their wedding expectations. At this rate, they'd finalize their nuptial plans in eight or nine years.

Max tapped another low brick out of place—another bad choice—while Tiel and my sisters Erin and Shannon walked in from the playroom with their husbands following close behind. Dave walked with an arm locked around Tiel's leg and Shannon's oldest daughter Abby clutched her mother's hand while Will held a squirming one-year-old Annabelle. They headed toward the table, Erin with her arms outstretched toward Madeleine.

"Come to Auntie Erin, you little honey-baked ham," she cooed, scooping my daughter into her arms.

"Why are we constantly referring to my child as food?" I asked.

"Because she's a chunky little cupcake," Shannon said. "It's adorable. I want to gobble her up."

"Yeah, that doesn't sound right," I murmured.

My brother-in-law Will—Lauren's oldest brother—pulled out a chair and said to Shannon, "Sit down."

I was the last person to comment on anyone else's marriage because I knew how they could appear one way from the outside and function differently on the inside but it was a good thing those two had found each other. My sister would've castrated anyone else who dared to tell her what to do.

She rubbed a hand down her round belly. "I've been sitting. We are fine."

"Sit down," he repeated.

She continued rubbing her belly. "Do not order me around, commando."

"Shannon, when are you due again?" Stella asked.

"February and thank you for not asking whether I'm due right now because you wouldn't be the first person to come at me with that noise," she replied. "I have a Thanksgiving baby, a Christmas baby, and