Time After Time (Sweetbriar Cove #14) - Melody Grace Page 0,94
right on time,” Cassie said, greeting them with a spatula in one hand, and a turkey apron around her waist. “Aidan, go tell Luke not to burn the green beans. You know how he likes to chargrill everything into submission.”
“Who put you in charge?” he asked good-naturedly.
Cassie whacked him lightly with the spatula, and he laughed. “Duty calls,” Aidan said, giving Stella a kiss on the lips before heading out back.
“Where’s Matty?” she asked Cassie, looking around. “I hope he hasn’t been any trouble.”
“Trouble? Ha!” Cassie laughed. “He figured out how to truss the turkey, and he’s been researching the proper temperature for stuffing. Did you know you’re supposed to cook it outside the bird? He’s the only reason we’re all not doomed for a bout of food poisoning. I think I want to keep him.”
Stella smiled. “Sorry, but I will loan him out for special occasions.”
She went through to the back yard, and found Matty helping Aidan’s mom set the tables with silverware and branches of leaves. “This looks great,” she said, greeting him with a hug.
“Matty’s been telling me all about your holiday traditions,” Frances said, with a friendly smile.
Stella winced. “You mean the part where we order a two-person turkey dinner from the diner and watch movies for two days straight?”
Frances laughed. “I think it sounds wonderful. After twenty-odd years playing hostess, I’m happy to pass the torch now that they’re all grown,” she added, with a conspiratorial smile. Stella smiled back. She’d been nervous about meeting Aidan’s parents, but all it had taken was a coffee at the bakery to discover their shared love of tea cake and classic musicals. When Frances heard that Aidan was learning to waltz, she’d given Stella a delighted smile.
“I hoped he’d find someone to yank him out of his comfort zone.”
Now, Frances doted over Matty, listening to his chatter about boarding school. “I’ve been waiting for them to get started on giving me grandkids,” she told Stella, “You won’t mind me borrowing this one, will you?”
“Not at all,” Stella said, feeling a glow. She left them to their decorating and drifted back to the house, where Earl was relaxing on the porch with a newspaper, watching everyone else bustle around.
“The guest-list gets bigger every year,” he said, looking satisfied. “But I think we’re just about set now.”
“No thanks to you.” Cassie appeared, and whipped the newspaper out of his hands. “You’re not getting away with sitting on your ass this year.”
“But—”
“Cranberry sauce. Go!”
Earl made a show of sighing before getting to his feet, but he followed Stella inside to the kitchen, and found them a spare corner of counter space. The room already wafted with incredible smells, and everywhere she looked, there was something delicious.
“So, sauce…” Stella pulled out her phone to consult a recipe, but before she could find one, Earl plucked it out of her hands.
“You don’t need that,” he said. “Leave it to me.”
She watched as he collected ingredients from the pantry, then filled a pan with fresh cranberries, brown sugar, orange juice and zest. “Plus, my secret ingredient,” he said, giving her a wink as he poured a very healthy glug of whiskey into the pot.
“I didn’t know you could cook,” she said, surprised.
He gave her a smile. “And I’d like to keep it that way, if you don’t mind. I’d hate to deny my grandchildren the pleasure of keeping me fed.”
Stella laughed. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
Earl instructed her to keep stirring. “So, I take it my grandson is behaving himself?”
She smiled happily. “Yes, he is.”
“Good. Because between you and me, I might have to take your side in the breakup,” Earl confided, joking. “And that would cause a few problems for the holidays.”
Stella laughed. “No need to worry about that.” She paused, and bit her lip before admitting. “I think this one is going to last.”
“I’m glad. And not just because you’re a good influence on him,” Earl added. “It’s good to see you so happy. And I know Eloise would be glad, too,” he added gruffly.
Stella felt a lump in her throat. She hugged him.
“You know, she always hoped you might wind up with one of the boys,” he added, patting her arm. “Of course, she had her money on Luke.”
“Really?” she asked. “Why?”
“He’s the practical sort,” Earl replied, stirring. “But she was forgetting the most important thing: Opposites attract. I remember, she wouldn’t give me the time of day when we first met. She thought I was an irresponsible gadabout.”