Page 66 of Hot Tea & Bird Calls (Kissing At Work #2)

T he Vales were warm people, Skye observed.

Also, very lively.

Or, as Celene muttered under her breath: chaotic .

Stationed at Celene’s brother’s home in Newark, New Jersey, the visit started in the informal, animated semi-disarray that echoed Cosmo’s visits with his family.

Byron and Donovan quibbling over the best gravy for roast chicken.

Briana and Elise making spoiler-adjacent predictions through a movie streaming in the living room.

Theo giggling hard whenever Ajay made a goofy face, and sobbing if the face wasn’t amusing enough.

And, most notably, Celene’s nieces orchestrated a game called “Grocery Store Adventures,” which involved them recruiting Skye to play “Queen Cashier” in their massive faerie-themed bedroom.

Eventually, Isolde skipped out in her sparkle leggings, dragging Celene in by the arm to take on the role as the mayor.

Skye couldn’t follow the logic of needing a mayor in a supermarket monarchy, but it was well worth seeing Celene stumble through a speech about plastic fruit.

Edna showed up midway through dinner, having been stuck at the university. Donovan and Byron immediately crowded her, imploring her to choose between their two dishes of gravy. She primly tasted each without spilling on her chic professor-like shirt and slacks, declaring Donovan the winner.

The table—save Skye and Celene—went wild at that conclusion.

Naturally, the two vegetarians skipped anything chicken or gravy that used its drippings, but Skye could smell and Byron’s seemed by far more flavorsome.

Edna automatically choosing Byron’s son over her ex-husband made sense, though, even in lightheartedness.

Skye’s suspicion was further supported by Edna’s sly smirk as she took a seat.

This blended family aspect worked for them.

Barring the nonstop action, they moved amicably, and their jokes were pretty entertaining.

Celene, however, existed as a mostly silent observer.

She’d smile or offer her opinion on an issue.

Otherwise, Skye would touch Celene’s arm to remind her it was fine to be her quiet self, too. No pressure anymore.

After their meal, they’d switched to coffee Edna brought and a strawberry shortcake Skye and Celene grabbed at a bakery. Skye noticed that Celene’s mother didn’t speak much, either, though she did banter more, and her laugh had a distinct, boisterous quality.

With a fork and knife in hand, Edna slit a perfect corner of her piece of cake. “Skye, how many generations of your family live in Yielding?”

Throughout dinner, Skye would politely address any questions that came her way.

Quite a feat, with that many personalities, yet she’d make the best impression possible.

Especially knowing how the mood could shift once Celene addressed some of her qualms with the house offer.

Skye felt Celene’s gaze on her as she answered, “Just the three. It would be four, but my brother Cosmo moved out of state before he and his wife had kids.”

“Have you been married before?”

“Mom,” Celene cut in, voice flat. “Why?”

Edna’s mouth fell open, her shock quite withdrawn otherwise. “It’s a fair question.”

“You’re vetting her.”

“And that’s my responsibility as your mother. Maybe we could’ve seen the signs before, with?—”

“Hey!” Elise’s arms sprang up in cringey diversion. Needless since her voice projected so well. “You grilled Big J, too, and he’s practically a Boy Scout. You’ve gotta trust us.”

Skye caught a glimpse of Celene and Elise trading smiles—that didn’t happen often. Babysitting Theo changed them more than they realized. And while she could’ve replied the quickest ‘no’ to Edna’s marriage question, she’d respect her girlfriend setting those boundaries outright.

Edna sighed, and the rest of their post-dinner talk revolved around Byron’s health and, of course, Theo, whose little fingers pinched at a cut of strawberry on his plate.

Shanice recited her protocol for Celene’s dad to live a healthier lifestyle with precision that suggested they’d gotten a nutritionist involved, too.

While Shanice’s spiel was compelling, Skye couldn’t help staring at Theo. Everyone went on and on about how he resembled Byron, but she saw some Celene in already arched brows and thick black eyelashes.

Teasing weaved into Celene leaning close to ask her, “Can’t get enough of my littlest brother?”

Meeting Celene’s grin, she whispered, “Caught me. He’s so expressive.”

“Mm,” she agreed. Something in her smile suggested she wanted to say more as her eyes flicked between the baby and Skye. “I think I’m going to pull Dad aside now.”

Skye patted her lips with a napkin, heart hastening. “Do you want me to come along?”

“I’d love for you to be there.” Celene clutched her hand, fingers cold. “But my dad can’t have reasons to deflect or attribute my dissent to you. I think I’ll pull in Elise.”

“You’ll do great. Tap me if you need anything.”

“I will. Looks like you’ll have to be Queen Cashier and the mayor for my nieces.” Eyes twinkling, Celene pressed a quick kiss to the side of Skye’s lips before rising from her chair. Not too long after, she led Byron and Elise down the hall.

Fiona and Isolde had been playing tag in the kitchen—hopped up off dessert. Cringing at them bumping into Donovan soaping dishes in the sink, Skye gulped her iced coffee for fortitude. She’d expend a lot to keep up with these girls. Except Edna’s hand rested on Skye’s arm, across the table.

“Grab your coffee,” Edna said, her smile tinted in faded lipstick. “Let’s chat on the porch.”

Skye glanced helplessly at Briana, Ajay, and Shanice, who’d invited her to the living room to start a new movie. A hangout with the chill in-laws, apart from the Vales.

She knew what she wanted .

But duty called Skye to turn them down and gather her mug. Comparable to Celene, Edna was probably the type who needed to be won over. “Okay, let’s go.”