Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 12536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 63(@200wpm)___ 50(@250wpm)___ 42(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 12536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 63(@200wpm)___ 50(@250wpm)___ 42(@300wpm)
Liam is first to rise from the sofa and he holds out a hand to me, which I gratefully accept. “Molly. Rachel.” I wave my daughters over and they scramble up from the floor and crowd our legs.
Harrison finds Abbey, and Matty rounds up the rest of the children.
Ryan finds his tripod selfie stick and sets up his phone to capture the moment. It’s not a easy group to photograph. The children are too amped up from sugar and fun to stand still. The ten men in our group are all so broad and tall that fitting them into one frame seems like an impossibility. Jenna, Carrie and Katelin are so focused on getting the kids to stand still they aren’t looking at the camera. Ryan is patient for so long before he loses it.
“Listen, you guys. All we need to do is stand still for ten seconds. Kids, think of it as musical statues. And when we’re done, you get to eat some of that delicious cake behind you. Three, two one, the music has stopped.” He sets the timer and makes the quick dash to my side, wrapping his arm around my middle.
“Make sure you’re all still and smiling,” he says through his grinning teeth.
When the shutter clicks, everyone relaxes in a collective sigh.
“Hang on a minute,” Ryan says. “Before you move, let me check the picture.”
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Matty, his twin, reassures.
Ryan squints at the screen and rolls his eyes. “The kids all look like they're constipated, and Rachel has her eyes closed.”
“I think it’s the best we’re going to get,” I conceded. “And I’m sure there’s an app to fix her eyes.”
“There is,” Katelin says. “I can do it for you if you send it to me.”
Jenna produces a knife and plates from a side unit. “You can do the honors,” she says, eyeing the cake. “Just looking at it makes me panic.”
“There’s an art to cutting these tall cakes,” I say.
“She provides a leaflet for her customers,” Liam says.
“Well, it helps them get the portion sizes right and that way, no one complains that the cake is too small.”
“People do that?” Harrison asks, happily accepting the first slice of white chocolate cake.
“You’d be amazed what people try.” Ryan tries to sneak the next plate, but I hand it to Jenna.
“The hosts get the first plates,” I say. “Where’s Abbey?”
“I’m here, Auntie Beth.”
“Here’s yours, sweetie. I gave you a penguin.”
“I don’t want to eat him,” she says seriously. “He’s too cute. Maybe I’ll feed him some cake.”
She totters off with her plate carefully balanced in her chubby hands.
I carefully cut twenty-five pieces of cake, marveling at how big our families have become. Not so long ago, we were all stumbling around on our own, looking for love, and now here we are, united by it.
“This is the most delicious thing I have ever eaten,” Nathan groans, his eyes rolling.
Carrie swats him on the shoulder. “Seriously, dude. I’m right here.”
“TMI,” Jenna screws her face up in disgust. “It was bad enough listening to you guys last night, let alone having to think about it while I’m eating cake.”
Carrie doubles over laughing. “You know, I was talking about my cooking, but I see where your mind lives.”
For the first time ever, I witness Jenna blush.
This is what Christmas is all about. Fun and laughter with friends and family.
I’m so blessed to have found so much love.
8
CALLUM
Beer pong is a game I last played in college, and I don’t remember if I was any good at it because I’d always end up so drunk.
“So, I don’t get it. Are we filling the cups with beer?” I ask Jenna.
“No,” she says, her eyebrows shooting up. “What kind of party do you think this is?”
“I know what kind of party he wishes it was,” Harrison says, throwing his arm around my shoulder and slapping me on the back hard.
“My days of waking up next to the toilet are truly over,” I admit, relieved.
Jenna shakes a bag of candy. “This is a kid friendly version, with prizes for the winners.”
“You can have a beer for your prize, if you like,” Harrison offers.
“Another beer and Callum will be snoring on your couch.” Bethany steps forward to place the red plastic cups on the table in a triangle formation. Katelin appears with a bottle of water and begins to decant into each cup.
“I’m glad to hear you have so much faith in me,” I say. “I’m the designated driver.”
“Oh yeah,” Bethany laughs, her cheeks pink and feet a little unsteady from the three glasses of wine she’s drunk.
“Maybe you need to have a rest on the couch,” I say, arching my brow. She waves me away like I’m an idiot for even suggesting it.
“I’m a master of beer pong,” Matty says, holding the small white plastic ball, squinting one eye and practicing his aim.