“Get me a strand that works, would ya?” Kaleb called out to anyone who was willing to listen. The twins were the first to move, but that didn’t surprise him, those boys had more energy than the crowded toy aisle at Walmart before Christmas.
After fifteen minutes and a round of this is how it should be done’s later, Kaleb was once again climbing down the ladder.
“You did good, boy,” Curtis said approvingly, slapping Kaleb on the back.
“Thanks,” he told his father. “Next year, get one of them to do the hard stuff, would ya?”
Curtis laughed, knowing that ever since Kaleb had been old enough to climb a ladder, he’d been the one to vie for the opportunity to hang the Christmas lights. This year was no different.
That thought had his mind wandering to his own house. How in the world was he going to hang lights on it? Perusing the faces of his brothers and their friends, Kaleb grinned. He’d have to come up with a plan because if he knew his wife, and he certainly did, she was going to want to outdo the rest of the neighborhood when it came to her decorations.
Speaking of his wife…
Zoey came strolling across the front yard, a beaming smile on her face. She didn’t stop until she was pressed up against his side, her arm around his lower back as she stared up at the lights. Since the days were shorter, it was dark enough that the reds and greens and yellows lit up the roofline and twinkled nicely in the darkness.
“Very nice,” she said with the same approval in her tone as his father had.
“Yeah?” Leaning down he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Think you might want to reward me later?” he asked, making sure to keep his voice low enough that the others couldn’t hear.
“Hmmm, that depends,” she answered quickly.
“On?”
“How good you can be later?”
Kaleb chuckled, pulling Zoey closer against his side. The woman sure knew how to keep him in line.
♀♂
Zoey
Standing in the front yard of her in-laws house, the festive holiday decorations the only light to see by, Zoey felt a sense of enlightenment. Things were good in her world. This was her family, and even listening to seven grown men fuss for hours about doing work that they hadn’t even had to be asked to do, this was one of those days she was thankful for. Thanksgiving was certainly a fitting name for the holiday.
Although her father had refused to come to dinner, using the excuse that he wasn’t up to being around people, Zoey knew she would get to spend some time with him soon when she took the leftovers that Lorrie had packaged up over to his little guest house.
And then, after they spent some time together, she’d have Kaleb all to herself for the night.
“Are you cold?” Kaleb asked, chafing her arm with his hand as he cuddled her closer to his side.
The night was brisk, but not unbearable and being seven months pregnant, she actually welcomed the change in weather. Seemed hot flashes – or the pregnancy equivalent – were something to be dealt with so she’d take the relief any way she could get it. “Nope, I’m good,” she reassured him.
“What’s left to do?” Kaleb called out to the men standing around.
“Go home,” Zane answered.
Based on the way V was watching him, Zoey knew her best friend was eager to take him home. Not that she could blame them. She was actually quite interested in getting back to her house as well. Some quiet time with her husband sounded like heaven at the moment.
“Grab the empty boxes and let’s get them back up to the attic,” Travis instructed, ever the drill sergeant.
“Yes, sir,” Brendon said with a salute.
Travis brushed him off and moved to grab one of the boxes as Gage, Beau, Sawyer and Curtis all fell into step alongside him.
“So, when are y’all coming to my house to do the same thing?” Kaleb asked, sliding his hand into Zoey’s.
Looking up at her husband, she smiled. As they fell into step with the other, she said, “I’ll make chili and cornbread if y’all will say yes.”
To her surprise, despite the enormous dinner they’d finished a short while ago, all of the men within earshot agreed. Of course they did. They were men. The best way to get them to do what you wanted was to bribe them with a home cooked meal.
“Deal. When?” Sawyer asked, stopping to allow Zoey and Kaleb to catch up.
“This weekend?” Kaleb asked.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll bring the beer if your woman’s got the chili.”
When they made their way back inside the house, they were greeted by a rumble of conversation as everyone said their goodbyes.