I step into the great room and almost run smack into Dagen as she races around the corner.
“Uncle Hayes!”
“Woah. Careful baby bird. You almost took me out.” She props her hand on her hips and gives me an incredulous look.
“I’m not a baby.”
With one hand holding a bag full of last minute groceries Cami needed, I crouch down and pick up Dagen with my other. “Could I lift you up like this if you weren’t a baby?”
She tries to keep her sour look, but loses it when she wobbles in my arms. She laces her fingers together behind my neck and steadies herself.
“I’m glad you’re finally here. Mom and Dad are too busy cookin’ to help me go shoot. Could you come with me?” She bats her eyelashes knowing I can never say no to her.
I walk to the kitchen where Cami, her mom Alma and my mom all scurry around. It would be ridiculous if it was just a few of us, but since our family has grown larger this year, I understand the chaos.
“Of course I can. Let me get this to your mom. She’ll tan my hide if I don’t.” I place her down on her feet and she grabs onto my hand.
I begin making my rounds by saying hello starting with Mom.
“Hello beautiful,” I tell her, kissing her on the cheek and hugging her to me.
She holds three cans of cream of mushroom soup and my mouth begins to salivate knowing it’s for her bean green casserole.
“Hello my dear son. How are you?”
“Good. Where’s Dad and Vaughan?” I ask looking around the kitchen but spotting them nowhere.
Mom spins around and places the cans down on the large kitchen island. “They’re stacking firewood for the bonfire later.”
I place the bag of items next to the cans and Cami walks over, quickly reaching inside and pulling out a bag of walnuts with Alma right behind her. “Hola Alma. Que bonita.”
She blushes and bats her hand at me with a chuckle. She’s been teaching me bits of Spanish here and there so we can talk about people without them knowing. But I forgot that Cami and Cat also speak Spanish, so it didn’t work too well.
“Thank you so much, H. I can’t believe I forgot these.” Cami reaches back in and pulls out marshmallows, taper candles, and cranberries.
“I don’t know why you needed more cranberries. I remember Vaughan saying you bought a ton.”
She raises her brow and purses her lips. “Did he also tell you he ate half of the sauce that I made last night?”
I snort then lean in to kiss her. “I should’ve guessed. You look gorgeous, by the way.” I lay my hand on her belly and rub her growing bump. “How’s my nephew treating you?”
She blows out a big breath and rolls her eyes. “Like I’m a human garbage disposal. All he wants is cereal and mango. So much that I’ve contemplated eating them together. But the thought of milky mango chunks stopped me.”
“C’mon Uncle Hayes,” Dagen calls impatiently.
“Little lady asked me to go shooting with her before everyone else gets here.”
Cami gives her a pointed look and tells her, “Okay but after, you’re changing into that dress I bought you.” Day sticks out her bottom lip with a pout. “None of that, missy. You promised you’d wear it if I let you wear your boots.”
“Okay mom,” she draws out and Cami smiles huge and bright when Dagen calls her that.
Dagen grabs my hand and begins pulling me out the back door but I freeze when I hear the angelic voice of my girl.
“Hello.” She sings as she walks in.
Like a magnet, I’m drawn to her. My body can’t help but gravitate in her direction. Her pull is too powerful.
She wears a cream sweater dress that stops just above her knees with a brown and gold belt wrapped around her tiny waist. Tall boots and gold jewelry have me tracing her curves from toes to nose. Images of what those legs would look like thrown over my shoulders in those boots race through my head.
