Evangeline took the bacon-wrapped scallops out of the oven, put a tray of lasagna in, and began topping the chocolate cookies she’d made with peppermint frosting.
And Grayson carried Leo upstairs to change him one last time before their guests began to arrive.
“It’s going to be a big day,” he told the little one as he fastened a fresh diaper on him. “What do you think? Is it good luck to take our chances on Christmas?”
Leo’s little hands had been grabbing for the sunlight streaming through the window, but he looked at his daddy and his chubby little face broke into a dimpled smile, almost like he knew what was going to happen.
“She might say no,” Grayson warned him. “And we’ll have to respect that if she does.”
Leo smacked his lips and chuckled.
“I know, I know,” Grayson said, smiling down at him. “She can’t resist you. It’s me I’m worried about.”
By the time they got downstairs, a couple of the guys from the center were already there. Most of the men and women from Trinity Falls had friends and family to celebrate with. But Captain Anderson’s reputation and the good work his center was doing had drawn veterans from all over the region. And with the roads still iffy without four-wheel-drive, and so many flights canceled, Grayson was pretty sure they would have a full house today.
Evangeline was walking around with a tray of soft pretzels, gently teasing anyone who didn’t take one, while the radio played “Santa Bring My Baby Back,” and Rory’s booming laughter echoed from the kitchen, mixing with the delighted laughter of other guests.
“Looks like the party’s already started,” Graysonmurmured to Leo, who was clinging to him like he wasn’t sure about all this noise and all these new people. “And it’s nice to have so many guests here, because they all want to spend time with us.”
“Grayson,” Evangeline said, her face lighting up when she spotted him. “Your parents’ flight was delayed, but they’re still going to get here tonight.”
“That’s great,” he told her.
He hadn’t been sure they would still want to travel after that storm, but it seemed that he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t resist Evangeline when she had her mind set on something.
“Are those soft pretzels?” one of the guys asked as he came out of the kitchen, looking excited about it.
“They sure are,” Evangeline said. “A Philly classic. And if you don’t have one, I’m going to take it personally.”
“Well, inthatcase,” the young man said, grabbing a pretzel from her tray and winking at her.
Grayson felt a hint of jealousy, but no real anger followed.
Evangeline looked to him, her cheeks turning pink, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to wait much longer.
“Hey,” Rory thundered happily, striding out of the kitchen. “Is that my little best friend?”
Leo immediately began wiggling to get to him.
He still loved his daddy best, and Evangeline was just about tied with Grayson in Leo’s eyes. But Rory carried him around the house, racing from window to window, swooping him up in his arms and making funny faces until Leo was breathless with laughter.
And Leo never slept harder than when he was cradled in Rory’s massive arms.
“Go on,” Rory said, giving Grayson a meaningful look as he took the baby. “This is as quiet as it’s going to get tonight.”
He wasn’t wrong about that.
“Evangeline,” Grayson heard himself say. “Want to step out back with me for a minute?”
“Of course,” she replied, handing off her tray to the man who had just taken a pretzel. “Take these around for me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.
But Evangeline was already slipping past him to get to Grayson, her hand out and ready for him to take it.
A tiny bit of the reserve he felt slipped away as he wrapped her small hand in his and led her to the back door.
“It’s cold out there,” he warned her.
