First Kiss Last by Sara Miller (latest books to read .txt) 📕

having met briefly once before, Liam got on quite well with her nieces. Cade and Robert commandeered the TV for football. Sky, a sports nut like her dad, chose to hang out with the guys while Leah and Lily headed to the kitchen to put the final touches on lunch.

They ate mid-afternoon. The food was delicious and the company was great. Everyone got along and the chatter around the table was happy and loud. Before desert, they all went outside to walk off the meal and to enjoy the crisp fall air.

“Ugh, I think I ate too much,” Lily complained happily.

“Me too,” Leah agreed.

“Me three,” Allison giggled.

“Me four,” Emmie chimed in.

“Me five!” Liam whooped.

The younger kids’ antics had the whole group laughing, even Sky. It was turning out to be the best Thanksgiving ever. Too bad it was not real life, Leah sighed.

“Don’t think about it,” Cade whispered in her ear. “I’m just enjoying being with you.”

She smiled and squeezed his hand. “I’m enjoying it too,” she whispered back. Cade kissed her as they walked and she heard giggles behind her.

“You got something to say back there?” Leah’s tone was teasing. Liam, Allison, and Emmie rushed past them laughing.

“I’m ready for dessert!” Cade called as he chased after them. He quickly caught Liam up into his arms and pretended to eat him up. The girls squealed playfully.

By the time they made it back to the house, everyone was ready for pie and the other sweet treats. After a large slice of pumpkin pie and a piece of pumpkin roll, Leah was stuffed and sleepy.

They collectively ignored the piles of dishes and went back to the living room. Robert had Home Alone queued up and ready. He pulled Lily down beside him and they shared the couch with their daughters. Sky sat in the armchair with an exhausted Liam on her lap, which left Leah to snuggle in with Cade on the love seat.

No one was complaining. Especially Leah. She had her family. She had Cade. It was perfect. She sighed contentedly and Cade squeezed her close and kissed her.

Leah caught her sister eyeing them and smiled. Lily smiled back and gave her a thumbs up. Robert caught the exchange and winked again. Leah’s heart swelled with their approval. She tried to focus on the movie but her vision got blurry and she let sleep claim her.

♦

“Wake up, wake up, wake up!” Leah was being shaken and the bed was bouncing. Her nieces giggled loudly as they tormented her.

“You’re going to miss the parade!”

“Hey, what’s all the racket in here?” Lily stood in the doorway, Robert right behind her.

“Who knew two little girls could be so noisy?” he winked and kissed his wife.

Leah flopped back on to the bed and stared at the ceiling. It was like that old Groundhog Day movie. Yet she knew today would not be the same. This time Cade would not show up. She groaned.

“Okay, everybody out!” this time it was Lily who shooed them out. Although she did still hear Robert tease about watching sports all day and the girls shriek about the parade.

“You okay?” Lily asked with concern.

“Yeah,” she answered blandly, not bothering to move. “Just give me a minute. I’ll be down in a few.”

“I’ve got coffee ready.”

“I’m up, I’m up!” Leah threw back the covers. Lily laughed and closed the door behind her.

Fifteen minutes later, Leah was tucked in the corner of the couch with her nieces at her side. She had her family and a steaming mug of coffee. Lily always had the best coffee creamers and Leah was enjoying herself. Mostly. She kept reminding herself not to compare days, determined to enjoy this one as well.

About halfway through the parade and her coffee long gone, the day was not progressing quite so peacefully. Having the girls sit next to each other was not working.

“Emmie, what are you doing?” Allison was annoyed that her sister was not sitting still. “Mom!” she tattled, “Emmie keeps bumping me!”

Emmie had climbed up and was looking out the window. As she bounced back down to her seat, Leah had Allison switch spots with her. Now if Emmie bumped someone, it would be her, not Allison. Both girls pouted.

Leah exchanged looks with Lily and they both shrugged. Emmie stayed firmly in her seat for the rest of the parade.

When it was over, Allison scampered off to play. Emmie was not so quick. She sat for a while while her dad flipped through the cable channels locating the game he wanted to watch.

“I guess this means we’ve got work to do,” Lily sighed, getting up reluctantly.

“We?” Leah pretended to not understand. “Oh! You mean you and Emmie! Okay you two have fun!” she poked Emmie’s side and the little girl laughed.

“Not me, Aunt Leah, you! I’m just a kid!”

Leah sighed over-dramatically, then spoke slowly, as if her words took a lot of effort. “Oooookay. I guess I can go help out.”

She slowly raised herself off the couch. Emmie helped push her to her feet. They were having a good laugh when Robert shushed them, which caused more laughter.

A little while later, Robert popped into the kitchen for something to drink.

“Mmm. Smells good in here,” he nuzzled his wife’s neck, sniffing playfully at her hair. Leah loved seeing them still sweet on each other after all these years. They had dated in high school and again after college before getting married.

“Is Emmie still in there with you?” Lily inquired, her brow slightly furrowed.

“Nah, she ran off somewhere not too long after your noisy exit,” he gave Leah a teasing look. “But . . .” Robert instantly had both of their attention.

“But what?” Lily asked.

“She looked out the window again. That makes three times that I noticed,” he shrugged and stole a deviled egg off the platter Leah had just arranged.

“Are you expecting anyone else?” Leah asked.

Lily and Robert exchanged glances and both shook their heads.

“No one from your side, Robert? Lily, you didn’t invite Mom—”

“No and no, Leah,”