Once we got down to the kitchen, I was stunned by all the activity. Nellie and Lilith were both wearing aprons and moving around each other as they prepared what I was guessing was breakfast.
“It smells heavenly,” I said as I dropped Ladd’s hand and made my way toward them. “Anything I can do?”
Nellie motioned toward the oven. “Can you get the biscuits out? Once they cool, put them in that basket with the red and white towel.”
I did as Ladd’s mother directed. Then I caught a glimpse of Lilith stirring what looked like gravy as Nellie handed me a plate piled with bacon.
“Put this on the table, please, Vivianne. Then you can come back for the biscuits and the jam.” She pointed to four different jars of jam.
I grabbed the biscuits and the bacon. Since I’d been waitressing for years, I had no issue grabbing both, along with two jars of jam. This was nothing. I often carried six plates of food with no problems.
“You’re showing off,” Ladd said, grabbing the other two jars.
Before I knew it, we were all sitting down at the table. Everyone was passing plates of eggs, bacon, biscuits,potatoes, and fruit as conversations started in small groups. I glanced around at Ladd, his three brothers, his parents, and Lilith. It was a small family, but the amount of love was almost enough to make me cry.
Laughter rang out when Jason made a joke and Lilith threw a biscuit at him. David and Ladd argued about which hay to use to feed the cattle in the lower pasture, while Gus enjoyed a pile of eggs, looking like the happiest man in the world with his family all gathered around him.
Then Jason and Mike both asked Lilith about a proper gift to give a girl they both liked.
“You both like the same girl?” she asked.
“I liked her first,” Jason stated.
“Isawher first and pointed her out,” Mike muttered.
Lilith gave them a look. “Listen, boys, no girl is worth two brothers fighting over.”
“But she’s the most beautiful girl in the world,” Jason sighed.
“Oh brother,” Gus mumbled as Nellie tried not to laugh.
David pointed to his brother. “You say that now, but you haven’t been to college yet. Once you leave River Falls, a whole new world is going to open up.”
All eyes landed on me.
“Just look at the beautiful woman Ladd’s brought home,” Lilith said, winking at me.
“That’s true,” Mike agreed. “Maybe we shouldn’t be fighting over one girl when there are a lot more fish in the sea.”
“Michael Owen Wilde!” Nellie scolded as everyone else laughed.
I covered my mouth to keep from doing the same.
“I know I raised you better than that,” Gus said, glaring at his son.
Mike attempted not to smile and lost.
“Why don’t you draw straws?” David asked.
Gus pointed at him. “Don’t make me stand up and slap you upside the head, son.”
David laughed. “Dad, I’m kidding.”
“You better be.”
I couldn’t help but giggle before I looked across the table to Ladd. He winked, and I felt the butterflies in my stomach once again.
The rest of breakfast was filled with conversation about what was going on the rest of the day. That night, the family would celebrate Christmas and open gifts, so I was hoping we could head to River Falls since I had a few things left to buy. I’d wanted to meet Ladd’s family and get to know them before buying them gifts.
