Chapter 3
Aaron looked at Zach. "Dinner?"
"Sal's delivery."
"Sounds like a plan," he smiled as Jack finished hugging the Dobson's. "Jack, take your bookbag to your room." Jack grabbed it and ran up the steps.
The five of them moved into the kitchen. Sela rubbed Zach's arm. "I take it Sal's is pizza delivery?" Zach nodded his head. "Good; you're doing enough tomorrow. Please let me help."
Zach kissed her cheek. "Promise," he smiled. "Plus I've got the chef that New York magazine recently wrote up in my corner," he proudly smiled at Sean.
He blushed. Merrill laughed and Sean looked at him. "You just blushed like only a Hotchner could," he smiled. "Congratulations Sean," he smiled.
Sean shook his head. "I'm doing what I love to do up there. Down here, I'm just backing the other mighty fine Hotchner chef," he winked.
Merrill looked at Aaron and Zach. "And Sela and I are going to church with you tonight," he smiled. "We've heard too much about your wonderful church family that backs you up."
"And I'm cooking breakfast in the morning," Sela smiled.
"I'm your back-up," Sean said with his big grin.
Aaron and Zach exchanged smiles.
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Sela peeled the potatoes, as Zach made his mother's stuffing with Sean looking over his shoulder. Sela smiled as Sean helped Zach get the right spices added. "That already smells amazing guys. I can't wait to have it." The turkey was beginning to roast in the bottom oven. Zach's homemade apple pie was already in the top oven, making the kitchen smell wonderful.
Sean looked at her. "You don't have family to get together with?"
Sela shook her head. "My first husband died in a car accident when our daughter was eight. He wasn't close to his parents and my parents both died early; cancer took them." Sean shook his head. "Merrill's family mostly ran on the wrong side of the law; when he made the decision to not do that and join law enforcement, they disowned him. After Cortland Ryan murdered my daughter and Merrill and I came together, it was just us. That's why we appreciate Zach's invitation so much," she smiled.
"I'm sorry; I didn't know the details. Just that you and Merrill provide a great place for Aaron and the boys to have fun. I really appreciate that," he smiled. "And, the big kid has game," Sean smiled back.
"Yes he does," Sela smiled, rubbing Zach's arm. She looked at Sean. "And maybe you should join your brother and nephews at our cabin."
Zach beamed. "You really should Uncle Sean. And bottom line: I don't stress about this anymore. I use my back-ups and relax." He paused. "Thanks you two," he smiled.
Sela rubbed his bicep again. "Glad to do it," she smiled. Zach and Sean shared a high-five that made Sela smile.
They heard a garage door open. Zach smiled. "That would be one Uncle Dave." Sela and Sean shared smiles. Aaron, Jack and Merrill were enjoying the early football game on TV.
Less than a minute later, Mudg burst onto the scene. Being a hunting dog, he naturally headed to the strongest smell and flew into the kitchen. He barked a greeting to Sean, who gave Mudg a healthy petting. Mudg's tail pounded against the cupboard every other swing. Sela smiled. "Hey Mudg," Zach said. "You remember Sela?" Mudg let out a mighty bark and happily went to her.
"You're giving away your big hunting dog persona again Mudg," Sela smiled, petting him. "You're just a love bug." Mudg cuddled up to her more as Sela rubbed him behind one of his ears. Sean and Zach just shook their heads with a smile.
Dave walked into the living room. "Happy Thanksgiving Uncle Dave," Jack said, flying off the couch. Dave pulled him into a loving hug. "I missed you."
"I missed you too Champino," Dave smiled. Dave held out his hand at Merrill getting up from the recliner. "Good to see you again Merrill," he smiled. "And under much happier conditions," he said shaking his hand. "Thanks for having the guys and my crappie dinners."
"It's Sela and my pleasure to have them," Merrill smiled. "Good to see you again."
The three in the kitchen wandered into the living room. Sean and Dave shared a handshake, Aaron introduced Dave to Sela. Zach pulled Dave into a hug. "Happy Thanksgiving Uncle Dave," he smiled. "I remembered you in church last night for one of our many blessings."
"Thank you Zach," Dave smiled.
"And I didn't get struck by lightning," Zach zinged. Aaron shook his head as Merrill and Sela laughed. Zach and Jack shared a high five.
Dave looked at Sean. "Wanna help me take the big kid outside and kick his ass?"
Sean shook his head with a smile. "You don't have enough Ben Franklins in your wallet to get me to do that. Besides, I never rough up a good cook. I prefer to eat."
"Good point Sean," Dave smiled. Zach rubbed Dave's shoulder with his big ass happy grin.
They settled into the living room, chatting while the guys kept an eye on the football game. Twenty minutes later, they heard a car horn in the driveway. Jack looked at Zach. "They're here!"
"Go grab our jackets and shoes Jack; we'll help carry things in." Jack sped off.
John, Hannah and Jessica Brooks came into the house. Aaron warmly greeted them, with Sean right behind him. While Sean hung up their coats in the front entry closet, Aaron got them in the living room, introducing them to Merrill and Sela. Dave added his warm greetings as Zach and Jack carried the boxes from Jess' truck into the kitchen.
Sela wandered in to help the Brook's ladies. She shook her head as Jack set his box down on the floor. Jess pulled out the two bakery bags of rolls on the top. Jack pulled out a huge glass bowl filled with a pink Jell-O concoction. He noticed Sela looking. "This is my favorite," he smiled, putting the bowl into the fridge. Jess winked at her, putting the pumpernickel and wheat roll bags on the kitchen counter.
Zach pulled out the green bean casserole and sweet potatoes from the big box, along with Dave's favorite blueberry pie that Hannah made. "Jack, give me your box, jacket and shoes. Jack smiled putting his shoes and jacket into the box he emptied and handed it to Zach. "Nice job bro." Zach took the two boxes the garage entry way.
Sela shook her head. "Wow, you do put out a spread for Thanksgiving," she smiled. Jack headed back to the football game.
"We like helping Aaron and the boys," Hannah smiled. "This means a lot to them, especially this time of year."
Sela softly smiled and rubbed Hannah's arm. "It has to mean a lot to your family as well. Merrill and I were so devastated when we heard about Haley. We're so glad all of you are still close; the boys need that."
Hannah smiled. "Zach and Jack said you and Merrill were special. We never doubted that and we're just thrilled you two are here to join us."
Zach walked into the kitchen and shook his head at Jess. "Why do I feel you three ladies are going to do a lot of chatting soon?"
"'Cause we are," Jess smiled. "Is the table set?"
"Nope," Zach said. "Dad and I have the leafs in and mom's table cloth on. But I couldn't set that table to mom's standard to save my soul and dad just refuses to try," he smiled. Sela smiled at a family healed from their awful tragedy.
Jess smiled at him. "No worries Zach; Sela and I can do that. Under the watchful eye of the grand master," she winked.
"Yupppp; that's you grandma." Zach kissed Hannah's cheek. "Sorry ladies, I'm hangin' with the guys for a bit." Hannah softly shooed him out of the kitchen.
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