Page 84 of Whiskey & Honey
“Hey, Princess.” She startles a little.
“Oh, geez. You scared me. Hey.”
“Sorry. What’re you up to?” I ask as she turns her back to me again, looking in the oven. I begin walking up behind her as she responds.
“I’m just checking the rolls while your mom and Ash put the food out. You?” Her breath catches a little as I stand close to her back. I catch her reflection in the oven window and see she has her eyes closed. It’s as if she’s calming herself.
“Just waiting to eat. I’m starving.”
“Uh, yeah, well good thing there’s food. These are probably ready now.”
“The timer says two minutes left.”
“Oh, so it does.”
“You look beautiful today, Piper. You know I love when you wear your boots,” I whisper close to her ear and watch as she shivers. Good. That’s the response I want.
“Ben,” she sighs.
I place a kiss to her shoulder and walk away. I’m almost out of the room when I hear her groan and rest her head on her forearm against the handle of the oven. I start to whistle as I walk. That was the confirmation I needed to move forward with this plan.
Dinner is delicious as usual and the conversation is casual. Piper doesn’t seem to be upset by our encounter in the kitchen earlier. She’s sitting between Ashton and Jameson, which is enough to drive a person crazy, so each time she looks my way I try to reassure her it isn’t forever. A few eye rolls from her confirm she is ready for us to finish up our meal.
While multiple conversations are occurring around us, Laurel catches my attention and raises her brows in question. I nod that it’s time.
“So, what is the Sullivan after-Thanksgiving dinner tradition?” she inquires.
“We have pie in front of the fire,” Ashton responds while reaching behind Piper to smack Jameson.
“Watch it, brat!”
“Kids, settle down. Ashton, stop being abusive,” my mom says, then shrieks in horror and covers her mouth and looks at Laurel.
“Patty, it’s fine. Jameson is a bit of a pest; I think Ashton should swat him.”
Everyone laughs, but I can see the regret in my mom’s eyes. Dad rises and walks over to her and pulls her into a hug while whispering reassurances. I glance at Piper, who has a confused look on her face. Laurel must recognize her expression, too.
“That’s why I’m here, Piper. The man I was seeing recently had a bit of a violent side. The Sullivans offered me a place to regroup. I guess I didn’t tell you that before, did I?”
“Oh, Laurel. I’m so sorry. That’s awful. It’s none of my business, please don’t feel you have to explain.”
“It’s okay. This week has shown me what it’s like to be around a family and see true love,” she says, glancing at my parents, who are holding each other now.
“Anyway, enough of that. Pie and fire? Is that it?”
“What else did you have in mind, dear?” my mom asks.
“Well, one of the things we’ve done after dinner the last few years with friends was play charades. Dinner is always so heavy and it’s a great way to avoid the nap everyone wanted to take.”
I smile at her and turn to Jameson, Piper, and Ashton across the table. Jameson is smiling like the Cheshire Cat while both Piper and Ashton look confused. Ashton speaks for both of them, “Charades? Really?”
“Yep, it’s fun. We don’t play the traditional version, though.”
“Oh, is it strip Charades?” Jameson asks.
“Uh, no. But nice try. We don’t limit the categories, anything is approved.” She hesitates and looks at Jameson and clarifies, “Within reason, of course.”
“What do you all say?” I ask then. “Feel like playing a little game? Oh, and there’s one other rule, remember, Laurel?”