Inheritance (The Lost Bride Trilogy, #1)(80)

Friendly.

She started to go in and light the candles in the dining room, but somebody had beaten her to it.

He, she, they were just trying to be helpful, she told herself. And the assist was worlds better than banging and pounding.

At seven, she set out the charcuterie and turned down the volume on her tablet.

“Music’s fine,” she said to whoever listened, “but we’re going to keep it nice and low. Background.”

She took off her apron, hung it up, then look a long look around.

“It’s going to be fine.”

Still, Yoda’s barks and race to the door just before the sound of the doorbell made her jump.

“Showtime.”

When she reached the door, she pointed at Yoda. “Friends.” Then opened it to Anna and a man a full head taller holding a cake carrier.

Anna moved straight in for a hug. “I just missed you in town yesterday. In the market. And this is Yoda. Hello, handsome. And this handsome’s all mine. Sonya, Seth, Seth, Sonya.”

With his oak brown hair, sculpted features, and hazel eyes, he earned the handsome.

“Nice to finally meet you. Even though you’re partially responsible for Anna working longer hours.”

“Sales are up!” Anna said.

“I think that’s the art and artist’s fault. Let me take your coats.”

“At least one of us was close behind. Saw the headlights. Oh, it’s a convoy of Doyles. We’re never late for dinner.”

Doors slammed upstairs.

“I’m sorry about that.”

Seth glanced up as Anna laid a hand on her belly.

“I visited Collin with Anna a few times, but never heard…”

“I hope you can ignore it. I’m so glad all of you could come.”

Ace and Paula came next, bearing flowers. They made a striking couple, he with his flirtatious smile, she with her easy elegance and short, sleek swing of white hair. Then Deuce and Corrine, who offered a bottle of wine.

Corrine, with eyes of blue steel and silver-streaked black hair, nearly matched her husband’s height.

Then Trey—more flowers—came in behind them, and it occurred to her she should have invited him to bring a plus-one.

But found she couldn’t regret not doing so.

Besides, he’d brought Mookie, who made Yoda delirious with joy.

Within minutes, the kitchen filled with people, voices, flowers, wine.

Something slammed hard overhead.

“Someone’s at it again,” Corrine said easily. “Does it worry you?”

“I’m learning to live with it.”

Corrine nodded, popped an olive. “Can I say—well, I’m going to—the house feels different with you in it. Not like a widower too often alone, but younger and fresher. And sexist or not, just a bit female. So here’s to you. The lady of the manor.”

“Thank you,” Sonya said as glasses lifted. “I love it. I’ll love it even more, I think, when my friend moves in.”

“The illustrator.” Paula nodded and smiled. “We hear all there is to hear.”

“Know all there is to know.” Ace wiggled his eyebrows. “And I know something in here smells good enough to eat.”

“Let’s hope so. I’m not much of a cook.” She gestured toward the dining room. “Ace, please take the head of the table. Trey, could you give me a hand? It’s a big platter.”

When she opened the oven, he took one look, then gave her a long one. “You made that?”

“Through my terror, yes. I’m going to open more wine, and get the gravy. And the rolls. Almost forgot the rolls. And I thought I could lure the dogs into the living room with a couple of chew bones.”

“I already did that. They’re settled.”

She glanced around, realized no dogs roamed underfoot.

When Trey carried the platter in, she heard Ace’s “Now, that’s what I call a roast!”

She brought in the rest.

“It looks magnificent,” Paula told her.

“Let’s hope for good enough. It’s a really big platter, so I’d like to plate everyone at the table.”

She moved to Paula. “A little bit of everything, thank you.”

“No need to be stingy with me. You can load me up,” Ace told her.

“Now that you’ve had some time,” Deuce began as she worked her way around the table, “how are you liking Poole’s Bay? Not just the manor, but the village, the area.”

“I like it very much. I never really expected to move out of the city, or far from it in any case. It’s a big change, but it feels right for me. I like everything.”

She sat, then looked up at another slam. “Or almost everything.”

Seth looked up with her. “I’m not sure I could get used to that.”

“I’ll let you know if I do. Right now I’m trying to figure out how my mother’s going to react when she’s here next weekend.” And since no one made gagging noises as they ate, Sonya concluded she’d done well enough on the meal.

“I’m sure she’ll be delighted to see you.” Corrine sipped from her water glass. “And where you’re making your home. Does she know the history of the house?”