“Breakfast tomorrow?”
“Naturally.” I chuckled. I’d have to keep him supplied with cookie salad. It’d be an excuse to see him if he didn’t join in on the fun.
He carried the food and hovered next to me as we picked our way across the drive until we reached the path to the house.
Auggie flung open the front door. “Aunt Clover!”
“Happy Thanksgiving,” I called.
“You get to see Dad’s cabinets.” He darted away from the door.
“That kid needs to go into marketing,” I said. “I’ve seen those cabinets countless times, yet he makes me excited to see them again.”
“Jensen installed them?”
“How’d you know?” I asked lightly.
We shared a grin.
“Hey.” Jasper held his arms up like he was cheering for us. “I’m gonna fight you for a place to sit.”
“You get the kiddie table,” I said, shrugging out of my coat.
“When’d you get so pregnant?” Jasper took the tote from Van.
I smoothed a hand over one of the maternity tops I’d bought with Violet and had combined with a pair of insulated leggings that I’d bought a few years ago that were too big and couldn’t return. My maternity pants were waiting in the wings. They weren’t packed yet. “It’s the shirt. It poofs out and makes me look bigger.”
“What if you’re having twins?” Jasper asked.
I rolled my eyes. “I already showed you the image of Bean. There was just one. Besides, twins don’t run in our family.”
He jutted his chin toward Van. “What about him?”
Van thought for a moment. “Not that I know of.”
The oddness of this moment sank in. I was abandoned by my baby’s daddy, but Van was here to answer for him. Story of our relationship.
“Do you watch football?” Jasper asked him.
“At the risk of being stereotypical,” I said to Van, “the guys watch football and us girls hang in the kitchen and start baking Christmas cookies.”
Van’s lips quirked. “Hmm, work or sit around?”
“Don’t let her fool you. We have to clean up,” Jasper explained. “After dinner, after second dinner, and after the baking.”
Van pretended to wince. “Oof, I have a shortbread recipe I’ve been meaning to try, but I’ll let Clover have girl time.”
Laughing, Jasper led us to the kitchen. Alder had cleaned out the garage and set up tables. People were going back and forth through the dining room out to the garage with food and supplies.
“You made it,” Lily said. She gasped when she saw me in the maternity clothes. “Look at you. So cute and pregnant.”
“I’m barely four months.”
She propped a hand on her hip. “When’s the next ultrasound?”
“I made the appointment for right after New Year’s.”
“You did?” Van asked, his brows drawn together.
