Sleigh Bells in the Snow(114)

Alice and Elizabeth stood there, their hands full of plates and kitchen implements.

“Kayla! Thank goodness you’re here. Can you help lay the table, sweetheart?”

Before she could utter a word, napkins were thrust in her hand along with a box of matches and instructions to light candles.

And that was it. There were no awkward moments, just the usual O’Neil kitchen chaos. And the warmth, of course. Always the warmth.

“Spare candles in the drawer, Kayla.” Elizabeth bustled around the kitchen, removing pans from the heat and draining vegetables. “Alice used branches from the white pine by the door to make the table centerpiece. Doesn’t it look pretty?”

Kayla lit candles, duly admired the artful twist of pine and the addition of scarlet berries, placed napkins by all the plates and then went to sit at the farthest end of the table, telling herself it would be fine.

She was an expert in the social etiquette of being the awkward extra at holiday celebrations. She’d learned all the rules at an early age. Sit at the end of the table, not in the middle. At least then you didn’t get in the way of other people’s conversation. Make yourself as inconspicuous as possible.

“You’re sitting here, Kayla—” Elizabeth caught her arm and pulled her gently back to the middle of the long table “—in between Jackson and Tyler. Sean across from you—” She organized everyone. “We’re three extra. I invited Brenna, of course, and Josh, although he can’t stay long because he’s on duty. Pete’s going to pop in and take a few slices of turkey for Lynn. She can’t be cooking with a two-day-old baby.” Elizabeth thrust a cloth in Kayla’s hands. “Could you rescue the roast potatoes from the oven? Try not to drop them on the floor, dear. Maple doesn’t mind flour on her head, but roast potatoes would feel like bullets to a puppy of her size.”

“When did Maple have flour on her head?” Tyler was intrigued, and soon Kayla was being teased along with everyone and she was surprised by how good it felt. She’d spent so many holidays hovering awkwardly on the edge of everyone else’s celebration. This was the first time she’d felt part of it.

Finally, when everyone was sitting down, Elizabeth placed the turkey in the center of the table.

Everyone oohed and aahed, except Jess, who recoiled.

“I can’t eat meat, Grandma. I told you on Monday I’m vegetarian.”

Walter shuddered. “Vegetarian? Since when?”

“If she wants to be vegetarian, that’s fine by me.” Tyler winked at Jess. “Most parents have to nag their kids to eat vegetables. Good to know that’s one job off my list.”

“Will you carve please, Walter?” Elizabeth gave Jess a quick hug. “I made you a delicious nutty parsnip bake. Élise gave me the recipe. I’m just so glad you’re here. It wouldn’t feel like Christmas without you.”

Walter sharpened the knife. “All I’m saying is a growing girl needs to—”

“Make her own decisions,” Alice said firmly, and Walter subsided.

“That’s what I was going to say, honey.”

“Of course you were, but you were taking your time getting the words out so I thought I’d help.” Alice helped herself to potatoes, and Kayla noticed there was a new energy about her. She wondered whether it was because all the O’Neil men were home or because the people around her were happier. Jess was spending all her time skiing with Tyler, and Elizabeth was absorbed in her new role in the restaurant.

“Sean should be doing this.” Walter handed him the knife. “He’s the surgeon.”

Sean raised an eyebrow. “If you want my professional opinion, I’d say this turkey is never going to walk again.”

Kayla watched as he carved, sensing tension between him and his grandfather. Or maybe it was just that she didn’t know Sean. He was harder to read than Jackson. Physically they were alike—same dark good looks, same killer blue eyes—but Sean seemed more emotionally detached. She wondered if that was a necessary quality for a surgeon.

“Did you operate on Tyler’s knee?”

Tyler shuddered. “Are you kidding? I wouldn’t let him near me with a scalpel after what he did to me when we were kids.”

“I’m the reason you’re still walking.” Sean served perfectly carved slices of turkey onto plates. “If it had been left to that team in Switzerland, you wouldn’t be.”

“We were all in Switzerland when Tyler had his accident,” Jackson explained, “so Sean was able to take charge. He’s an expert on skiing injuries.”