Page 28 of The Pilot

“Where’s Kash?” Victor asked, sounding eager to see the boy.

“He and Knox are out on the beach, looking for treasures.”

“Think I’ll go join them.” Victor took a beer out of one of the six-packs, setting the others on the kitchen counter before heading for the door that led out to the deck.

“He’s a prickly little asshole, isn’t he?” Zach asked no one in particular.

“Absolutely. And I hate to admit this, even a little bit, but he kind of grows on you. Once you get past the bullshit—past the fact that he tried to get Dad’s businesses shut down so many times, past all the times he called the cops and said we were trespassing on his property when we were growing up, and past the scowls and pointed barbs he mutters under his breath,” Chad said with a smirk.

Linc had to agree. Having Victor here for Thanksgiving would definitely make things interesting, that was for sure. But the fact that the first thing he wanted to do was see his grandson went a long way toward making Linc forgive some of the man’s rough edges. That, and the idea that he seemed concerned about the women sitting outside in the cold. He wasn’t unfeeling, he was simply . . . crusty.

He watched Victor stop to say hello to the ladies before walking down the deck stairs toward Kash and Knox.

Reaching out, he snagged one of the craft beers Victor had brought—smiling at the fact they were ice cold—and headed for the deck himself.

All four women looked over at the door when he came out. The air was chilly, but the propane heater was doing its job at making the space around it almost comfortable.

“He came!” Harper said with a smile on her face.

“Yup.”

“Took him long enough,” Evelyn grumped, but she also had a small smile on her face, regardless. “Next year’s Thanksgiving is going to be so different from this year’s,” she continued, changing the subject as smoothly as a backcountry gravel road. “We’ll have two babies to entertain. I can’t wait for five years from now, when we go from ten people around the table to who knows how many!

“Oh! I have an idea,” she added excitedly. “We need to find a big tablecloth. I mean big, and some fabric paint. We’ll have the kids put their handprints on the cloth each Thanksgiving. Write their name and year under each print. Eventually it’ll be full of handprints, and it’ll be such a wonderful reminder of all our amazing holidays together.”

“That’s a great idea,” Marit agreed.

“I can order the paints and tablecloth,” Britt offered.

“I’m just sad we can’t start this year. I mean, it’s only fair that Kash has the first year to himself,” Evelyn mused.

Harper looked surprised. She glanced at Linc, as if asking him to help her navigate these tricky waters. But he wasn’t going to touch this one with a ten-foot pole.

First and foremost, because the thought of Kash spending more holidays with the family was too appealing.

“But we’re just your neighbors. I mean, we were, but kind of still are . . . and not family,” Harper stuttered.

“Nonsense. Kash is one of us. He’s used the lobster swing. He has Fort Bad Assery out in the woods, and he’s been over here helping with the rental houses that are no longer rentals, several times. I’ve fed him cookies, and we all cheered him on when he won the crate race. He’s most certainly earned the right to be the first handprint on my grandkid tablecloth. I’m sure I’ve got something I can use this year. Maybe a napkin. We can sew it onto the tablecloth when we get it. We’ll outline his hand with a Sharpie. It might look a little wonky and weird, but I don’t care. I want his handprint!”

His mom was sounding a little fanatical, and Linc wondered how much wine she’d actually had already. He gestured for Chad to join him outside before turning back to the women. “We’ll figure something out, Mom. How about some more appetizers? Zach says it’ll be another hour, hour and a half before everything’s ready.”

“I think I need more wine,” Evelyn countered.

“I’d love some deviled eggs. They’re so delicious. Evelyn, will you share the recipe with me?” Harper asked.

“Of course, child. It’s all about the spices, you know.”

Chad had stuck his head out and heard Linc’s suggestion about the appetizers. He went back in and returned with a tray full of a mixture of finger foods. He put it on the table in front of the ladies, and Linc was relieved when his mom reached for a brussels sprout as she continued to school Harper on the best way to make deviled eggs.

“Thank you,” he mouthed to Harper, as he nodded to the food, then to his mom.

She winked in return, then turned her attention back to his mother.

Chad leaned over Britt, covering her hand over her belly with his own as he whispered something into her ear. Linc was thrilled to see his brother so happy. It was obvious he doted on his fiancée. He would make an amazing father, and Linc was anxious to see them both blossom as parents.

Chad stood up and said out of the blue, “Britt and I are going to get married before Christmas. We thought we’d have a small ceremony here at Lobster Cove. On the deck. Weather permitting, of course.”

That announcement was enough to get their mom to let out a little screech as she stood up, knocking her chair over in the process. And that was all it took for Knox and Kash to look up at the deck, then come running. Zach also appeared at the doorway, looking worried.