by Kat Smith
Payton grinned over Mara’s shoulder. “About damn time, Conner. I was beginning to worry about you.”
Devan continued to stare at Mara in stunned silence. The woman could terrify her at times.
Alex swatted Devan’s arm. “Devan, shake it off.” Her gaze landed on Mara. “Stop it, Mom. You’re being bad.”
Payton dipped her head and kissed Mara’s neck. “Oh, she’s bad. She can be very bad indeed.”
Mara grinned and turned to wrap her arms around Payton’s neck, then leaned in for a kiss.
Alex and Devan looked at each other, turned to look at Mara and Payton, then back at each other. They dropped in unison to the sofa with looks of disgust on their faces.
When Payton broke the kiss, she winked at the two young lovers, then back at Mara and shrugged. “Kids.”
As they turned and walked out of the room, arm in arm, Payton called out over her shoulder, “Well, come on now, children. Dinner is served.”
The snow fell gently on the other side of the Palladian windows at the front of the house, adding to the four inches already on the ground. The forest of trees beyond was bare as winter took a firm grasp on the area.
Inside, the four women sat at a sprawling table filled with a holiday feast. Mara poured wine into Waterford crystal wine glasses, then raised her glass for a toast. “I am blessed to have a woman that loves me and whom I adore. Payton and I have a daughter who is the light of our lives. And now we have a new daughter that has, in just a short period of time, brought even more love, joy, and laughter into this home. I am so proud of you, my family.”
As glasses clinked, Devan’s eyes welled up. For the first time since she was fifteen, she had a family. “To family.”
When Mara handed the carving knife to Payton as was their traditions, she stood, stepped aside, and looked to Devan. “Devan, would you like to have the pleasure of carving our first turkey as a family?”
Devan felt a lump rise in her throat, blinked back tears, happy joyful tears, and stood. “I’d be honored, Director.” She stepped to the head of the table and took the knife.
Payton put a hand on Devan’s arm to stop her. “We have a new house rule. When we’re here, in this house, in our home, the formalities stay on the doorstep. It’s Payton…Payton and Mara.” Devan blushed when Payton dropped a kiss on her cheek.
Mara crashed the tender moment with a grin and a shout. “Hear, hear. On with the carving, Devan. We’re starving.”
As Devan carved, Alex and Mara passed around the side dishes. The atmosphere was festive and happy. Above them, hanging from the chandelier was a simple decorative cutout of one word. A word Devan would never doubt again.
HOPE
