Love in the Light (Hearts in Darkness, #2)(12)

“It’s fine,” she said. “Ancient history, anyway.” And it really was. She hadn’t thought about Cameron in ages.

“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything before you went downstairs. I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable in front of Caden.” He shook his head.

Makenna pressed onto tiptoes to kiss her father on the cheek. “Don’t worry about it, Dad. Really.”

They poured everyone’s drinks and carried the out to the table.

“Need anything?” she asked, leaning closer to Caden.

He shook his head. “I have everything I need.” The look he gave her said his words weren’t about the food.

Conversation flowed around the table. About her Aunt Maggie, who’d been a mother figure to Makenna when she was a kid—she wasn’t there this year because she’d gone on a cruise with a group of girlfriends. About Dad’s painting, something he’d been doing for as long as Makenna could remember. About Cam’s fellowship and where he hoped to land when it was done next year. About Collin and Shima’s masters theses. And so much more. The conversation was lively and easy, and Makenna appreciated how much Caden joined in with this big group of people he didn’t know. She knew that wasn’t easy for him.

“Okay, everybody,” her dad said. “Go unbutton your pants and rest your stomachs for a bit and I’ll get this cleaned up and pull our dessert.” Everyone laughed.

“We’ll help, Dad. You did all the cooking,” Makenna said.

“I won’t protest that,” he said with a grin.

Everyone pitched in on clearing the table. Patrick and Dad focused on boxing up all the leftovers, and Collin and Shima reset the table for dessert. Ian took out the overflowing kitchen trash.

“I’ll rinse, you load?” Caden asked, stepping up to the sink. Makenna nodded with a smile. This was their routine at home, and she kinda adored that he didn’t give a second thought to doing it here. “What?” he asked as he handed off a dirty.

She just smiled. “Nothing at all, Good Sam.”

He rolled his eyes, but the look on his face was all contentment. Not something she saw all that often, and she totally adored it. “Hey look.” He nodded toward the window.

“Oh, it’s snowing,” Makenna said. Just enough had come down to dust the tree branches and grass. It wasn’t sticking to the roads yet, but even if it did, they were staying until Saturday. Snow was especially nice when you didn’t have to drive in it. “How much are we supposed to get, Dad?”

“Just a couple inches. Enough to make it pretty.” He gave her a wink.

“This was the nicest Thanksgiving I’ve had in a long time,” Caden said, drying his hands once they’d finished. “Thank you for letting me be a part of it.”

The sentiment melted Makenna’s heart. She wanted him to enjoy himself so much. He had holiday meals at the fire station or occasionally with friends, but it had been a lot of years since Caden had celebrated a holiday with family. And given how tight her own was, that broke her heart. Everyone needed somewhere to belong, and she really wanted to be that for him. And her family, too.

Her father gave Caden a big smile. “I’m glad to hear it, Caden. But it’s not over yet.”

“Everything’s all set,” Collin said. “Sugar comas to commence in three, two, one.”

“That is if the tryptophan doesn’t set in first,” Cam said.

“Either way, we’ll all be asleep in an hour,” Patrick said, clapping their dad on the back. They settled back around the dining room table, treated this time to a smorgasbord that included Makenna’s pumpkin roll, a pumpkin pie, an apple pie, and a carrot cake that Shima made.

“I’m seriously going to need some of each,” Makenna said.

“Oh, good. I was hoping I wouldn’t be the only one,” Caden said, taking a piece of her pumpkin roll. He passed her the plate.

The food went around and the conversation resumed, and even Ian seemed done with making little digs at her and Caden. So Makenna finally allowed herself to relax about the visit. Caden was doing great, just like she knew he would, and her family had taken him into the fold. Just like she told him. There’d been absolutely nothing to worry about.





CHAPTER FIVE



Standing in her childhood bedroom, Makenna shrugged into her favorite oversized sweatshirt, chilly after hours of watching movies with everyone in the basement. If Cameron hadn’t been there, she would’ve just changed into pajamas given the late hour, but somehow it felt too familiar to do that given their history.

Why was he there? And what was he up to? All day, she’d felt him looking at her, watching her, trying to catch her eye. And all day, she’d pretty much ignored him and stuck by Caden’s side, hoping to avoid giving Cam an in. Over the past few years, he’d texted or emailed her occasionally, and she heard stories about what he was up to from Ian when the family got together, but generally, they didn’t have much contact anymore. Which was fine by her.

She tugged her boots off and ran a brush through her hair, then stepped out into the hall. When she rounded the bannister to go downstairs, her stomach dropped.

“Hey,” Cam said, almost at the top of the steps.

“Hey,” she said, waiting to go around him.