She kissed him back. “Thank you.”
“Now that you’re family, I’ll make certain to keep an eye on you,” he whispered close to her ear.
She pulled back, staring into the silver-gray eyes. “Keep out of it,” she mouthed.
“Can’t,” he mouthed back.
Pulling away from Merrick, Summer sat down next to Alexandra. The two women shared a hug. Summer thought there was something about Alexandra that looked different. Her hair was professional coiffed, but there was something about her face. It was fuller.
Alexandra reached for Summer’s left hand. “Whoa! Jolene, take a look at this.”
“I saw it. It’s breathtaking.”
Jolene sat on Summer’s left. No one would’ve taken her for the mother of two young children. Her hips were still slim, stomach incredibly flat in a pair of fitted jeans. Like Alexandra, her curly hair was cut short, and at first glance she could be taken for a fashion model.
“Who picked this out?” Alexandra asked, smiling at Summer, who stared at the circle of diamonds in an eternity band on the hand of her soon-to-be sister-in-law.
“Gabriel.”
“All by himself?” Alexandra asked.
“Yes.”
Jolene and Alexandra stared at each other. “No!” they chorused in unison.
“My brother never buys jewelry,” Alexandra argued softly.
“But he wears earrings,” Summer said in defense of her fiancé.
“He wears my earrings,” Alexandra said, laughingly. “I buy them and he takes them from me. He only wears a watch because it was a gift from Dad after he’d won the Oscar.”
Gabriel walked in with Michael, and Summer noticed similarities in the first cousins. Both were tall, broad shouldered, dark-haired with hard slim bodies.
“Who helped you pick out Summer’s ring?” Alexandra asked her brother.
He managed to look insulted. “No one.”
“You are the most bling-bling challenged one in the family,” she countered. Alexandra squinted at Gabriel. “Hey, you’re wearing my earrings. I was wondering where my studs were.”
Gabriel touched the diamonds earrings in his lobes. He had put them in the day he’d proposed to Summer, and hadn’t gotten around to taking them out. “These aren’t yours, brat. I bought these the day I bought Summer’s ring. And if I can remember correctly, yours were larger.”
Alexandra stared at Merrick. “If Gabe doesn’t have my earrings, then where are they? I need them for our daughter.”
“Daughter?”
“You know you’re having a girl?”
Michael and Gabriel spoke at the same time.
Summer stared at Alexandra. That’s what was different about her. She was pregnant.
“I had a sonogram yesterday, and the baby looks like a girl.”
“How are you going to handle having a daughter, Merrick?” Gabriel teased.
“Easily. I’ll sit at the end of the driveway and pop the little knuckleheads before they can get to the front door.”
“Now you sound like Michael with Teresa,” Jolene said.
“Can we go back to the ring, Brother Love. Who helped you pick it out?”
Gabriel gave his sister a lingering look. “Why can’t you believe I picked it out? I may not be into shopping, but when I do buy something I think I have pretty good taste. What do you think, Summer?”
“I agree. You selected me, didn’t you?”
Everyone laughed, while Jolene and Alexandra exchanged high-fives.
The three couples talked and joked until the doorbell rang. The driver had arrived to take them to the airport. Summer went upstairs with Jolene to get the Kirkland children. Two-year-old Teresa and one-year-old Joshua Michael were in their cribs, sleeping. Both were dressed in pajamas. They wrapped the children in blankets and carried them downstairs.
Merrick took Teresa, while Gabriel carried Joshua Michael out to the awaiting van. Michael and Jolene lingered to extinguish lights and activate their security system. The children did not wake up even when belted into child safety seats. Summer sat next to Alexandra, Merrick with Gabriel, and Jolene with Michael, flanking their children.
The driver backed out the driveway, and within minutes cruised through the quiet Georgetown neighborhood to the airport. Despite the lateness of the hour, pre-holiday traffic was heavy.
They arrived at the airport and were processed quickly. It was one-forty when the ColeDiz jet lifted-off and after two when two flight attendants served the passengers entrées of marinated grilled chicken, salmon, sesame ahi tuna, and shell steak with sides of garlic sautéed spinach, butternut squash risotto, and a mixed green salad. The men opted for wine, while Summer, Jolene and Alexandra drank mineral water; the Kirkland children slept undisturbed.
It was the third time Summer had flown on the private jet, and she had come to appreciate its luxurious interior. The aircraft had a forty foot cabin that was configured for eleven to thirteen passengers with sofas that folded out into beds, a full gallery, and rest rooms. One of the two flat-screens showed a movie featuring the antics of Jim Carrey.
As the plane flew over West Virginia and into Kentucky everyone claimed a bed. Summer lay next to Gabriel, listening to his soft snores. The lights in the cabin dimmed as sleep claimed everyone but the flight attendants, pilot and copilot.
Twenty-one
Tyler and Dana were up waiting for their guests, welcoming everyone with hugs and kisses.
Tyler Cole held Summer’s hands. “I knew you would become family the moment I saw you.” He flashed the trademark Cole dimpled smile.
If Summer could attribute the word beautiful to a man, it would be Dr. Tyler Cole. His close-cropped hair was a shimmering black and liberally feathered with gray. He was right; he wasn’t as gray as Gabriel. His smooth deeply tanned olive coloring and high cheekbones made him look exotic. Sweeping black silky eyebrows curved over a pair of large glossy dark eyes. A thin nose and full sensual mouth completed his startling, arresting face. And there was a marked resemblance between Tyler and Gabriel, indicating they were related by blood.
“I want to thank you for thinking of me as family.”
He leaned down, squinting. “Not think—are.”
“Yes, sir,” she drawled, charming Tyler with what had become an authentic Southern drawl.
Dana Cole took Joshua Michael from Jolene. Petite, golden-eyed, with sun-streaked brown hair, she claimed a delicate beauty that was refreshing.
“We are going to have to work out sleeping arrangements. Chris and Emily and Salem and Sara have claimed two of the three guest suites. That leaves one, which I’ve decided to give to Merrick and Alex, since they are still honeymooning.”
Merrick looped an arm around his wife’s waist. “Come, Alex. You need your sleep.”
Dana looked at her husband. “Tyler, please go with them.”
Tyler winked at her. “Yes, ma’am.”
Dana bit back a smile. “I have given the children two of the four bedrooms. All of the boys in one room, and the girls in the other.”
“You’re real brave,” Jolene said. “You know Teresa and Esperanza get along like oil and water.”
“That’s because Esperanza wants to boss Teresa, and because your daughter is Little Miss Independent, she’s not having it.”
Jolene threw up a hand. “I’m not going to play referee this weekend.”
“I’ll monitor the girls,” Summer volunteered.
“You’ve got to be a glutton for punishment,” Jolene said, shaking her head. “I prefer the boys any day, any time.”
Dana nodded in agreement. “Now, that leaves one bedroom, other than Tyler’s and mine. Michael and Jolene can you bear not sleeping together this weekend.”
“Yes,” replied Jolene.
“No,” Michael said.
Dana, Gabriel and Summer laughed.
“Sorry, Michael, but you’re about to be overruled. You, Tyler and Gabriel will take my bedroom, while Jolene,
Summer, and I will take the other.”
Michael affected a pout. “I was never much for sleepovers, especially with dudes.”
Gabriel pulled Michael close and kissed his cheek. “Come on, primo, you’re a man! You can go without your woman for a few days.”
Michael’s light green eyes burned into Gabriel. “Can you?”
“No,” he said sniffling, “but I’m going to try.”
Dana chuckled at Michael and Gabriel’s antics. “Let’s get Teresa and Joshua Michael bedded down, then we’ll see how much sleep we can get before the kiddie center opens for business.”
Summer followed Dana up the winding staircase to the second floor, admiring the meticulously chosen furnishings in the Southern-style Greek Revival mansion and feeling as if she had stepped back in time.
Dana directed her to a large bedroom with twin beds. A sitting area claimed a third one—a daybed. She went into the adjoining bath to shower and brush her teeth. Neither Jolene or Dana had returned by the time she’d slipped between cool, scented sheets.
The house was filled to capacity. Sleeping arrangements would have been even more chaotic if Arianna, Silah and Marguerite Kadir, and Eden and Clayborne Spencer had joined them. The Kadirs had decided to remain in Florida, and Eden and Clay were with their parents at their Mexican retreat.
Summer refused to think of a time when she and Gabriel would offer to host a Thanksgiving celebration. Where would they put everybody?
Gabriel told her that the younger generation of Coles, Delgados, Lassiters, Kirklands, and now Grayslakes had established the tradition of meeting for Thanksgiving. Christmas, however, was always celebrated in West Palm Beach at the Cole family estate. He said the festivities began Christmas Eve and culminated New Year’s Eve, and because Summer would not return to St. Louis this year, she would experience her first Christmas with Gabriel’s family even though she officially was not a Cole.
Summer walked into the kitchen Thanksgiving morning, finding Dana and Tyler sitting in a breakfast area, sharing a cup of coffee. Dana saw her first and flashed a friendly smile, her amber eyes crinkling.
“Pay up, Tyler.”
Shifting on his chair, Tyler saw Summer and stood up. Reaching into the pocket of his jeans, he pulled out a bill and dropped it on the table. “How did you know?”
“It’s easy. Our east coast relatives are an hour ahead of us, and the New Mexican ones are an hour behind. It’s not quantum physics, doctor.”
Summer smiled and greeted her hosts. Both were casually dressed in jeans, T-shirts and running shoes. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” Tyler pulled out a chair at the table. “Please sit down. What would you like? Coffee or tea?”
“Coffee. I’d prefer decaf if you have it.”
“Decaf coffee coming up.”
Summer turned her attention to Dana. “I see you won.” She pointed to the dollar on the table.
“I always win. Tyler and I were wagering who would get up first. He said Emily. Whenever she and Michael used to spend the summers with Sara and Chris in Las Cruces, they would get up and find Emily in the family room watching television. I said it would either be you or Jolene because you’re joggers.”
Tyler returned to the table. The kitchen was filled with the distinctive aroma of brewing coffee. “First you said it would be Jolene or Gabe.”
Dana rolled her eyes at her husband. “I’d never say Gabriel. Remember, he’s a musician, and they’re notorious for sleeping days and partying nights.”
“Gabe has redeemed himself. He’s now a teacher,” Tyler argued.
“I have to agree with Dana,” Summer said, giving her a wink. “I’m always up before Gabriel.”
Tyler gave Summer a long, penetrating stare. “So, now he’s getting some?”
“Tyler!” Dana gasped.
He stared at his wife. “What?”
“You shouldn’t get into the woman’s business like that.”
Tyler waved his hand. “Hell, Summer’s family. And with family nothing’s sacred. And it’s not like Gabe openly denied he was on a sex diet. When he told us in Boca Raton that he and Summer were just friends we simply offered him a little manly advice.”
Dana cut her eyes at Tyler again. “The only advice you need to give, Dr. Tyler Simmons Cole, is to the women who lay up on your examining table and open their legs for you to check out their kitty cats.” She snapped her fingers, rolling her head on her neck. “Me-ow!”
Tyler threw back his head and roared, while Summer doubled over laughing, holding her stomach. They were still laughing when Merrick and Alexandra walked into the kitchen, holding hands.
Summer bonded easily with Gabriel’s family because of the smaller gathering. She had come to recognize and identify all of the children: five boys and five girls, ranging in age from nine months for Dana and Tyler’s Astra to eight-year-old Isaiah Lassiter.
She had kept her promise to entertain the children as she laughed with them when viewing the annual Tournament of Roses parade; she cheered as loud as they did when Santa Claus appeared on the screen, signaling the end of the parade. After lunch she played a heated competitive game of Candy Land with Isaiah Lassiter, his twin sisters, Nona and Eve, Alejandro, and Esperanza Delgado.
Once she settled everyone down for a storytelling session, Martin Cole II and Teresa Kirkland challenged each other for a coveted place on her lap. Before she’d finished the second story all were asleep on a blanket on the solarium’s carpeted floor. Tiny Astra Cole was asleep on her knees, sucking her thumb. Summer decided to take advantage of the inactivity to retreat to the kitchen for a glass of water.
She walked into the kitchen, finding it buzzing with activity as Emily basted an enormous turkey, her sister-in-law, Sara crimped the edges of several pies, and Dana and Alexandra chopped the ingredients for potato salad.
As Dana stared at Summer, her eyebrows rose in amazement. “I see you haven’t pulled your hair out.”
Resting her hands on her hips, she said smugly, “They’re all asleep. Albeit on the solarium floor, but still asleep.”
Raven-haired, green-eyed Emily Delgado crossed her chest. “What have we done to reap such blessings? Summer has to have special powers to keep ten children from holding the first annual WWE Kiddie Smack Down.”
“They’re not that bad, Emily,” Alexandra said.
Emily glared at her cousin. “Wait until you have more than one, and all you’ll hear is ‘he took my toy,’ ‘she’s bothering me,’ or ‘that’s not fair, Mommy.’ What you will come to appreciate is afternoon naps and bedtime. Chris talked about trying for another girl and I can’t repeat what I told him. He was very serious when he said threatening a judge is a felony.”
Summer smiled at Emily as she took a pitcher of water from the refrigerator and filled a glass. “I thought men wanted sons to carry on their name.”
“That’s true. Chris loves Alejandro and Mateo, but Esperanza has him wrapped around her little finger.”
“I agree,” said Dana. “Even though Martin is Tyler’s biological son and his grandfather’s namesake, he’s already begun spoiling Astra shamelessly. I’m not certain whether it has anything to do with her being alone in the world after her fifteen-year-old mother died giving birth to her, or if it’s because she’s a girl. He says every man needs a daughter to soften him a bit.”
The women continued their conversation about children while Summer retreated to the solarium to look in on her charges. She sat on a love seat, picked up the book of fairy tales and began reading. After a while she put it down. Why hadn’t she realized how frightening and violent the stories were: ogres, witches and their spells, giants, and wolves, and wily foxes trying to eat cookies? She shuddered at the same time a loud roar went up from a room at the other end of the hallway. She smiled. The men had gathered in Tyler’s library to watch the countless televised Thanksgiving Day football games.
Tyler sat at one end of the table, his dark gaze lingering on those
who had traveled hundreds of miles to celebrate a very special gathering in his home. It was to become the first time he would preside over a Thanksgiving celebration as heir apparent to the Cole dynasty. As the only son of Martin Diaz-Cole, the current reigning patriarch, Tyler was expected to relocate to West Palm Beach, Florida, to guide and protect the next generation.
He loved his wife, and children, his work as medical director at the Hillsboro Women’s Health Clinic, and he enjoyed the comforts of his home. And like his father, Tyler felt that his life was perfect. Pushing to his feet, he raised a goblet of water. All eyes were on him, even those at the two smaller tables crowded with the children of the Cole legacy’s third generation.
“I’d like to offer a special thanks,” he began in a soft drawling voice, “for all who are gathered together under this roof. We have much to be thankful for this year. Dana and I now have a daughter and Alexandra and Merrick are expecting their first child, whom I hope I will be given the privilege to help bring into this world.” Tyler had delivered most of the ten children sitting at the kiddie tables.
“This year we welcome Merrick Grayslake and Summer Montgomery as our newest family members, and hopefully next year this time we will be able to toast Gabriel and Summer as they await the birth of their son or daughter.” He extended his glass in Gabriel’s direction. “Here’s to not shooting any dummy sperm.”
The entire table erupted in laughter, while Summer’s face burned with humiliation. The children laughed hysterically even though they did not have a clue why.
Gabriel stopped laughing long enough to say, “I’m going to pay you back for that remark once I get your tired behind on the basketball court tomorrow. Then I’ll see what you have to say about another kind of shooting.”
Gabriel held the family record of the most consecutive three-pointers on a regulation basketball court: sixteen. Tyler had constructed his home to include an in-ground pool, tennis, and basketball court.
Tyler’s dimpled smile faded quickly with the challenge, and he sat down while everyone laughed even harder.
Twenty-two
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