Hers To Love (complete) Cover By @army_ss841

Chapter 64 (picture of Midnight)

Ari was putting the finishing touches on her makeup when she heard a knock at the door.  She went to go see who it was.  It was Paulo.  "Happy Thanksgiving P!" Ari said giving him a hug.  "Happy Thanksgiving to you too!" he said back.  "So what's up" Ari asked.  "Um your mom asked me to come and get you."  "Thanks!  I just need to grab my shoes and I will be right down."  He just continued to stand there looking at Ari.  "Something else?" she asked.  "About what you saw" he started.  Ari walked right up to him and looked up at him.  "Paulo we are all adults here.  I didn't expect that you were celibate.  Luca just forgot to tell me that she was invited and like I said I should have never gone into your room.  It really isn't a big deal."  "I know but it's just embarrassing!  I think of you as my little sister and..." Ari put her finger to his lips.  "Don't say another word.  It's really okay besides I just took it out on Luca" she said winking as she walked by Paulo; he just stood there with his mouth open.  What do you say to that?

Ari looked so beautiful in her pink sweater and black leggings.  The pink looked amazing against her skin tone.  She had kept her makeup light and just had on sheer lip gloss and mascara and she threw her hair up into a high ponytail.  Her mother smiled and gave her a hug when she walked into the kitchen.  "Ari honey you look beautiful!" she breathed.  "Mom you look pretty amazing yourself!" Ari replied.  Victoria was wearing a deep purple V-neck chenille sweater, black jeans and riding boots.  Her mother was gorgeous, Luc was a very lucky man.  "Okay mom so what's first?" I asked.  She put me to task on the cornbread, crumbling it up and then putting in some of the stock from the turkey, which had already been in the oven for about an hour and then onion, celery, poultry seasoning, pecans and dried cranberry; the turkey was very juicy as it had already started rendering stock, it smelled good too.  Mom had cut up some oranges and lemons along with an onion and put it in the cavity of the bird along with two bay leaves and some other dried herbs.  She had coated the outside of the turkey in butter, this would cause a nice brown color to emerge as it cooked, and put a little salt and pepper over the butter.  She had sliced the ham herself and then put together a honey and brown sugar glaze for it.  She was brilliant in the kitchen.  I learned everything I know from her and Gram. 

"Cornbread is ready mom" I said.  Victoria came over and stirred it with the spoon and then took a little taste.  "Mmmm, very good!  You did well with the seasoning" said her mother.  "Now put some foil on it and set it aside.  I have two pans of the broccoli cheese casserole ready for the oven too."  Everything was coming together beautifully.  Her mom had set out several trays for people to graze on throughout the day.  We had always done this at our house and everyone seemed to like doing that.  "Ari I went ahead and made two pitchers of mint and honey tea and I also made one pitcher of unsweetened, just in case" she smiled.  I'm so glad my mom is here.  "Where's dad?" I asked.  I had just thought of him and I hadn't seen him yet.  "He's outside with Luca and Paulo.  A Mr. Hannigan dropped by and they are talking with him."  Ari was excited.  Did that mean that Midnight was here also?  Before I went outside I heard another feminine voice from the direction of Paulo's room.  It was Natalie.  "Happy Thanksgiving" she called out.  I walked over and gave her a hug and returned the greeting.  "Natalie honey if you're hungry I've set a bunch of trays out on the bar there" said Victoria.  "Thank you Mrs. Lucchese, I'm famished!" Natalie replied.  "Sugar call me Victoria.  I'm not ready to be 'Mrs. Lucchese' yet." she said jokingly.  I chatted with Natalie as we filled our plates with some fresh fruit, some cheese cubes, cinnamon rolls and scones.  Oh my God this was so good!  "Where's Paulo?" Natalie asked between bites.  I told her he was outside with my father and Luca and that we would join them when we were done nibbling.

The girls cleaned up and went outside to join their men.  "Dad!" Ari said, giving her dad a big hug.  "Happy Thanksgiving Bug!" he said.  "You too dad" smiling that killer smile.  She walked over to Luca and put her arms around his waist "hey baby" she said giving him peck on the lips.  Just then she heard a neighing sound and turned around to see Mr. Hannigan with Midnight.  She couldn't be happier.  She ran over to Mr. Hannigan and gave him a hug and told him Happy Thanksgiving and then inquired about Mrs. Hannigan.  "Oh she's busy as a bee in the kitchen you know.  Getting everything ready.  I wanted to do something special for you today and bring over this big guy."  He was just too sweet.  I walked over to the huge animal and gently rubbed his head.  "How's my boy?" I said softly.  He nodded his head and neighed.  Mr. Hannigan handed me an apple and I gave it to Midnight.  "Happy Thanksgiving boy" I said as he chomped on the apple.  "Josiah could I take him for a quick turn around the paddock?" I asked hopefully.  He nodded.  "That's what I brought him out here for."  Ari was so excited.  It had been a while since she had taken this boy for a ride.  She reached up to his saddle horn and there was Luca ready to give her a leg up.  She settled nicely into the saddle and gently pulled the reins for him to move towards the paddock.  Everyone followed Mr. Hannigan as they watched me ride Midnight.  "That's quite a girl you got there Mr. Lucchese" said Mr. Hannigan.  Luc shone with pride.  "She is isn't she?"  Ari rode Midnight over to the spectators and stood in front of them.  "Every time I've been able to ride him we've worked on something.  Midnight and I are now ready to show you."  Ari said beaming with anticipation.  "Now make sure after we come back from our ride around the paddock, we will come stand in front of you and you need to clap, got it?"  Everyone acknowledged.  Ari and Midnight went for one more jaunt around the enclosure, came back and stopped in front of everyone.  On cue they all clapped, Ari bent her head to Midnight, whispered something in his ear and he bent his front knee down as if bowing!  "Your a special boy, aren't you?" she said petting the side of his head.  He neighed in approval.  She rode him back to the barn as everyone followed and Ari completed her routine of unsaddling him, etc. and gave him back to Mr. Hannigan with thanks.