Page 44 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

DAYNA

T he weeks have gone by in a blissful blur.

Thanksgiving break is finally here, and I made plans for my family to visit.

I haven’t seen my parents since they left for Europe this summer.

I haven’t seen my sister and her family in a while as well.

My grandma is coming up with my parents and I have missed them all so much.

Things with Luke and Sadie have been amazing.

I sleep over at their place a few times a week.

We have yet to spend the night at my house.

Every time we plan to hang out we end up at Luke’s.

I don’t mind one bit, as long as I’m with them, I’m happy.

Cara is full speed ahead with the Christmas program planning.

Each grade level is going to sing a Christmas song in their Sunday’s best along with their teachers.

I love seeing them dressed up as mini business people about to attend their first corporate meeting.

It’s Thanksgiving morning and I reach for my phone to text Luke. I invited him and Sadie over for dinner tonight. My parents are so excited to see him again. They are especially thrilled to meet his daughter.

Hi Handsome. What are you doing?

Luke: Hey Beautiful, Sadie is picking out her outfit for tonight. She’s been tossing out every outfit I suggest. Nothing piqued her interest.

Oh, she’s hanging out with Cara too much.

Luke: Is that where she picked this up from?

Luke: She used to love the outfits I picked for her.

Tell her whatever she choses is going to be perfect. I can’t wait to see you two.

Luke: Do you need help with anything for tonight? Sadie made you a centerpiece for the dining table. She wanted to bring you something for having us over. We looked everywhere for the perfect cornucopia.

She is the sweetest. I swear Luke, you two did amazing with her.

Luke: Jules instilled never to go over someone’s house empty-handed.

I can’t wait to see what she has made. I’ll see you both at 5. Xo

Luke: See you soon, Baby.

It’s close to five o’clock, and I just finished getting ready. Cara is on her way back, she forgot the pumpkin pie at her house. My dad is with my sister and her family in the living room. My grandma has been keeping me company as I finish the final touches on our dinner.

“Hey Grandma, do you want to try the potatoes for me? ”

“Dayna, they are good, stop fussing. Now— where is that boy of yours at?”

“He should be here soon. He is really excited to see you again.”

The doorbell rings and I feel an army of butterflies take flight in my belly as I walk to the front door.

I look through the peephole. I quickly see Luke and Sadie.

I take a deep breath as I open the door.

Luke is standing there gorgeously tall with his black-rimmed eye glasses on.

He is dressed in a maroon long sleeve Henley shirt with dark pants and his Doc Marten boots.

His hair and beard has been trimmed since I last saw him the other day.

Beside him is Sadie holding her beautiful centerpiece.

She’s wearing a maroon dress with a brown cardigan and matching Doc Marten boots like Luke’s.

Her brown curly hair is down with a maroon bow headband.

I run my eyes back at Luke and think how gorgeously tight his shirt is.

Meeting our eyes, he hitches an eyebrow as if I’ve been staring too hard at him.

My face heats up and I give my attention to Sadie, “You two look amazing! Did you pick out Daddy’s outfit too?

” I say to her as I step aside to welcome them in.

“Daddy surprised me with matching boots this morning, aren’t they cute? They have glitter on the black laces! We didn’t know we matched because we walked out of our rooms and we were twins!” Sadie says with full excitement.

“Oh they are so cute! I love glittery things! You two look perfect. I love it.” I say to her as I spin her around to see her dress twirl.

When she does a perfect 360 of her dress, Luke grabs my waist and pulls me in for a quick kiss.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Baby.” He said as he walked through the foyer with Sadie.

“Sienna, you remember Luke Beckett?”

“How could I forget the boy who tried to sneak into your room but ended up breaking my window instead?” The room erupts into laughter. Luke’s ears turn red and it’s such a sight to see for once. I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Hi Sienna. Hey Shawn.” They give each other a quick hug and handshake .

“This is my little girl, Sadie.” He says while Sadie looks at them shyly.

“Happy to finally meet you, Sadie. This is my daughter, Tessa.” Sienna introduces her baby girl and my heart soars as Luke crouches down to take her little hand into his.

“Hi.” She says shyly in her baby voice as my brother-in-law picks her up and places her on his hip.

She sticks her hands in her mouth and smiles at Sadie.

My dad is next to greet Luke and Sadie. “It’s been a while Luke.

I’m sorry about your loss.” He whispers as he hugs him.

Luke just nods his head. It can’t be easy for him.

My dad looks to his left and greets Sadie with the same tickle attack he would if it was Tessa.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Little Luke.” Sadie lets out a small chuckle as she hugs her dad’s thigh with one arm while holding her centerpiece with the other.

“Come into the dining room, my grandma is so anxious to see you and meet Sadie.”

As we enter through the kitchen, I spot my grandma lighting the candlesticks for dinner.

Sadie moves a chair out and kneels on it to reach the table.

When she picks out the spot she wants, she places her cornucopia centerpiece in the middle of the dining table.

It looks perfect with the table setting my mom picked out.

Sadie admiring her work, I search my grandma’s eyes across the dining room.

I see her taking in this tiny human before her.

She has a glimmer in her eyes I’ve only seen when she’s with my niece, Tessa.

My grandma rounds the table to greet Sadie.

“Hi there little one, I’m Dayna’s grandma, Gwendolyn Mae. My goodness, you are absolutely beautiful!” She bends down as much as she can at her age to give Sadie a hug. “Dayna got your middle name?” Sadie asked curiously.

“Why yes, she did. Her older sister, Sienna got my first name as her middle name, so it was only fitting that Dayna got the best name if you ask me. ”

“I don’t have a sister or a brother—” She says somberly. “My Daddy gave me my middle name, I’m named after my mommy.”

“My name is Sadie Grace, I’m six. Nice to meet you, Gwendowyn Mae. This is my Daddy, Luke…” She didn’t say my grandma’s name quiet right but if I’m being honest, that is the cutest thing I’ve heard.

“Oh my, it is so nice to meet the little girl who has stolen my grand-baby’s heart.

Want to know something?” My grandma brings her voice down to a whisper.

“I’ve known your Daddy since he was a little boy himself.

He and Cara are the only two people I let call me Gwennie.

But now, I’d love it if you called me Gwennie too.

” Sadie’s eyes light up and she looks up at Luke.

He nods at her. “Give me a hug sweet boy. How are you doing Luke? It’s so good to see you.

” She says as she rises to give him a wrap around hug at his waist. She’s tiny compared to Luke’s 6’4 height.

“Gwennie, it’s so wonderful to see you again.” He wraps his arms around my grandma’s back and kisses the crown of her silver head of hair.

“I hear you’re treating my grand-baby like the way she deserves to be. Not like that boneheaded ex-husband of hers. I told her that the boy was troubled.”

“Yes, Grandma, you were right.”

“I’m always right.”

“Why don’t you two take your seats, my mom is here somewhere.”

I call for everyone to join us in the dining room and I hear Cara talking to my mom. She must have gone with her.

“Is that Luke Beckett I see?” My mom shouts.

Luke stands up from his spot at the table.

Sadie turns her head and notices how much I must look like my mom.

“Hello Delaney, this is my daughter, Sadie. Sadie, this is Delaney, Dayna’s mom.

” My mom asks her if she can hug her. She nods quietly, and she gives her a gentle hug.

“Oh Luke, she’s gorgeous! Those hazel eyes are just stunning— oh my god.

Does she take after her mom?” Luke clears his throat before he answers my mom.

“Yes, as a matter of fact— she’s a splitting image of her mother. ” He says proudly.

Cara and my grandma make a swooning sound simultaneously. Luke shakes his head a bit with a bashful smile. Sadie spots Cara and waves from her seat at the dining table.

“Little Beckett is my favorite girl. I’m so happy to have met her. She’s way cooler than her dad too.” Cara announces to the room.

The dining table is set with all the side dishes and my dad is working on carving the turkey.

With everyone seated, I take my seat so Sadie is in the middle of Luke and I.

I look around and my heart has never been this full.

For once, I don’t feel like I am missing out on something.

Everyone that I love is here at my dining room table.

My parents have really taken to Sadie like she is one of their granddaughters.

She’s more on the shy side tonight but she’s very observant.

Sadie is taking everything in. I reach for her hand and give it a little squeeze and she squeezes back.

Luke is in a deep conversation with my dad about baseball as my mom passes each of the side dishes around the table.