Written in the Stars

By Tvdfanpam

Chapter 38

First Holiday at the New House

Ana had been up since 5:00 am getting the turkey and ham ready to go in the ovens. She had two ovens and was glad since she was cooking so much food. Christian told her not to cook so much but she wanted to. Cooking was her favorite thing to do beside read books and she was thrilled to be cooking a holiday meal for her family in her first home! Ray and his new girlfriend Stella were coming and Kate and Ethan Kavanagh plus Elliott and Mia. She was cooking for 13 people including the staff. She had to beg Christian to include them she said they felt like family as much as they were around each other. He said they could eat in the family room in the basement but not with the family.

Christian had Taylor do a discreet background check on Stella Martin and was pleasantly surprised. No secret husband or prior arrests; just a hard working single lady. Her dad declined coming with them, his lodge was having a Thanksgiving dinner and he preferred to stay close to home. Ray was glad, he had met Stella's dad and didn't particularly care for him. He was not very friendly.

Stella had baked a chocolate pecan pie and a pumpkin pie. It wasn't Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie Ray informed her. She promised him he could take the leftover pie home with him. He was going to hold her to that! Ray picked her up and helped her load the pies in the back of the car. He was driving the SUV since his pickup truck sat up so high and Stella had trouble climbing into it. "Ready to meet my daughter? She is very excited to meet you. That is all she has talked about the last two weeks." Ray pulled out of Stella's drive way and began the drive to Ana and Christian's house. He took a deep breath. "My daughter is married to Christian Grey. I don't know if I told you that already." He knew he hadn't but was trying to make it seem like he forgot. Stella sucked in a breath in shock and looked down at her jeans and casual shirt.

"Maybe I should change clothes…" Stella started to say. Ray squeezed her hand.

"No! You look perfect. Ana's not like that. She won't care what you wear. She will hug you when you walk in, be prepared. She's a hugger." Ray rambled on now, thinking he should have told Stella about Ana and Christian Grey before today. "Their head of security will ask you to sign an NDA when you get there. People are curious about Ana and Christian; paparazzi stalk them when they are out in public. Ana wears coats to hide her pregnant belly. They haven't announced their due date yet because they don't want it known. There are very private people." Ray hoped he explained things without offending Stella. He really liked her and wanted to see where their relationship would go.

"It's probably better that you told me now on the way there. I would have fretted and worried about it." Stella confessed. "No pressure at all!" She tried to make a joke.

They pulled up and Ray punched in the code on the gate and it swung inward. They drove up the drive way and Stella tried not to gawk! It was beautiful and looked stunning with the fall foliage. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the house for the first time. It was beautiful and Stella had never seen such a big single family home up close before. Her hands started to shake. "Hey! They are really nice. Christian is down to earth and Ana is a sweetheart. They will like you and I hope you will like them. I hope you do because I want you and Ana to like each other. Her mother lives in Georgia and she needs a mother figure here." Ray put the car in park and turned to Stella and took her hands and pulled her close to him and kissed her. "Just be yourself; they will love you, er, like you as much as I do." Shit, he almost told her he loved her. Stella smiled a secret smile like she knew what he was thinking.

Someone knocked on the window startling them. Ana stood there in her cute little maternity dress with her hands on her hips. "Are you going to make out in the car or come inside?" She said laughing. Ray got out and hugged his daughter, careful of her tummy. He kissed her on the cheek then went around and helped Stella out of the car.

"Ana honey, this is Stella Martin. Stella, this is my daughter Ana Grey and her husband Christian." Christian walked around and put his arm around Ana while Ray was helping Stella out of the car. They all shook hands. Ray went to the back and opened the hatch to get the pies out of the back. "Stella made dessert."

"Hi Stella." Ana reached over and hugged her as Ray said she would. "I'm so glad to meet you and happy you could come and have Thanksgiving Dinner with us today. Dad said you are a nurse. That is great! I wanted to be a nurse when I was a little girl. Dad bought me a nurse's uniform with a cape and a little hat and a little bag with a stethoscope in it. I practically lived in it when I was seven!" Ana put her arm through Stella's and guided her into the house. "Come in and make yourself at home. Let's go in the kitchen. I have a few things I am watching. Do you like to cook? I love to cook." Ana chattered excitedly as she led Stella into the kitchen.

Stella was amazed! Ana was so happy to meet her. That put her right at ease. She tried not to stare at their beautiful multimillion dollar home that was decorated with muted earth tones making it feel very homey. The chandelier in the foyer she had read about in Seattle Today magazine and was one of a kind, commissioned by the previous owner by a local artist. It was rumored to be worth over $250,000.00. The kitchen was amazing! The view of the Sound was breathtaking and she loved the fireplace in the hearth room. She tried not to stare but it was spectacular.

"Ana, thank you for inviting me. Your home is beautiful. I wouldn't ever get tired of the view of the Sound." Stella sat down at the breakfast bar when Ana gestured to it. Ana was looking in pots on the stove and opening oven doors.

"We are glad you could come. It's too bad your dad had other plans. I wanted to meet him too." She said sincerely. Stella was touched by that.

"Can I help you with anything?" Stella asked. Ray and Christian came in each carrying a pie. They placed the pies on the breakfast bar in front of Stella and Christian stole a cracker with cheese and summer sausage off a platter. He put the whole thing in his mouth. Ray saw him and did the same.

"I saw that!" Ana laughed, turning around. Her five month pregnant belly was prominent; she hadn't gained weight anywhere but her belly and her breasts. She put a hand on her belly. Christian immediately was at her side in concern grabbing onto her. She tried to bat his hands away. "I'm fine. Just a kick." Christian put his hands on her belly hoping to feel. He wasn't disappointed. "The baby has started kicking this week." She announced to Ray and Stella. Ray walked over and put his hand on her belly too. "I went to the doctor Monday and he said we are going to have a big baby, at least 8 pounds probably bigger."

They waited a minute then the baby kicked again. Ray kissed his daughter on the cheek then sat down beside Stella at the bar. "That was awesome!" He couldn't stop smiling. "You're going to have a soccer player or a football player Ana!" Ray said proudly. "I can't wait for him to be born." He had tears in his eyes.

Ana wiped her eyes and Christian kissed her on the lips. Stella was in awe of the couple. She could tell they were so in love and happy to be having their first child. She wanted to cry too! Hopefully, she could have that with Ray! She wasn't too old to have a child, maybe there was hope yet!

"Hey peeps! The party can start, we're here." Elliott called from the living room. They could hear the door shut and the sound of people coming through the house. Elliott, Mia, Kate and Ethan came walking in the kitchen. They were carrying drinks and Mia had a casserole. "Ana Banana! Give me a hug!" Elliott gently hugged Ana and patted her stomach. "How's my little nephew? Does he move a lot? Can you feel him kick yet? I want to feel it when he does!" Elliott looked around and spied Stella. "Who do we have here?" He walked over to her and took her hand and kissed it. Ray snatched it away, making Elliott laugh.

"Elliott, this is Stella Martin. My girlfriend. Hands off." Ray said, half kidding, but not really! "Mia Grey is standing next to Ethan Kavanagh and Kate is standing next to Ana." He said to introduce everyone. They all nodded or waved to Stella.

Ana was directing Christian and Elliott to remove the ham and turkey from the ovens and had the electric knives ready for carving. Kate was dishing up food and Mia was getting ice in the crystal glasses. They were going to fix their plates buffet style then eat at the elegant dining table in the dining room. It was easier than taking all the food into the dining room. Ethan sat down beside Ray and helped himself to a cracker.

Ray said grace and Ana was first one in the line. Elliott had to pull Ethan back. She had cooked it after all and was pregnant! The staff came up and more introductions were made and Stella didn't know what to think about that! She didn't even know anybody who had a cleaning lady let alone a staff of security and a house manager! The staff got their food and went back downstairs. Gail told Ana she would clean up since she cooked even though Ana said it was her day off.

"After dinner, we thought we would take a boat ride around the Sound." Christian announced. "It is a beautiful day and we won't have the opportunity to go much longer."

They ate and talked and made Stella feel welcome. Ray was so happy they included her in their conversation. He had a hard time making conversation himself and was glad it wasn't left up to him. Ana went out of her way to make sure she felt welcome. She wanted to see more of Stella. She liked her a lot and thought she was perfect for her dad. Kate kept eyeing them, she had never seen Ray smile that much!

Mia was unusually quiet. She wasn't feeling very well and was going home after dinner. "I think I will pass on the boat ride Christian." She said quietly. "I have had a headache all day and need to take my migraine medicine and go back to bed."

"I will take you home Mia." Ethan Kavanagh said. "I have a lot of studying to do and I have two tests on Monday."

"Mia, I have some Excedrin Migraine in the bathroom cabinet. Do you want it? I can have Christian go get it for you." Ana said. Mia was pale and not eating much. "I really don't want you to go home alone. Your room is ready, just stay here." Ana insisted. "Your mom and dad are gone, you don't need to be alone."

"Okay. I'll stay here. Thanks Ana." Christian walked back in the room and handed Mia the medicine and watched her take it. He helped her get up and Kate led her out of the room with her arm around her.

Stella was so moved by their compassion. She could see that they were a close knit family. That made her heart warm and hope bloomed in her heart. She wanted to be a part of it too. She hadn't been part of a family since she was a little girl and craved it.

"We will take the boat out another time then." Christian said sitting down at the head of the table again. "Ana bought some movies, we can watch those instead."

A/N: Stella was pleasantly surprised by the Greys! Thanks for reading and reviewing this story! Check out pinterest for this story: pcwbooks/written-in-the-stars.