Thanksgiving

Chapter 3

When we arrive back home, Mrs. Taylor meets us as we pull up and she helps get the groceries from the back of the SUV. Kate and Mia walk into the side door with bags and Ted and I walk in through the front door to find the front room has been turned into a mini movie theater. Ava and Phoebe have pulled the bean bag chairs downstairs from Phoebe's bedroom and are watching the latest princess movie on Blue Ray while eating popcorn and nestling into the chairs.

"What are you watching?" asks Ted as he assesses the room, looking for a place to join the girls.

"Little Wed Widing Hood." Says my sweet Phoebe. "Hi mommy!" She struggles out of the bean bag chair and runs at me full tilt to get some mama hugs. I scoop her up and squeeze her tightly.

"Hi baby girl, have you had fun with daddy and your uncles?" I ask while giving her a kiss on her adorable, pudgy cheeks.

"Yes mama." She says with a smile then scoots out of my arms wanting back to her bean bag. "Teddy, come sit wiff me." She says, patting a space next to her on her chair.

Ted runs over to sit with his little sister and they snuggle in together. I smile sweetly, watching them quietly when I feel familiar hands wrap their way around my waist and warm air on my ear. "Welcome home Mrs. Grey," says Christian from behind me. "I was helping Mrs. Taylor with the bags and I have a question."

I turn in his arms and look at him with a curious glance.

"What part of the grocery list had two boxes of sugary cereal on it?"

"The part where you'll have to talk to your sister." I say as I reach up to adjust his collar.

"My sister doesn't live here and my sister isn't the mother of my children," he says as the thought of what he has just said flashes across his face with a bit of disgust.

"I should hope not, Mr. Grey," I say smiling.

"How did the trip go?"

Taylor walks into the room just as I'm considering what to say. "Taylor will fill you in," I say, deciding it best to hedge this discussion while we still have guests. Just then little Ted notices his father in the room and runs to him.

"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!?" Asks Christian - a hint of anger in his voice as he sees the bruise for the first time. He lifts Ted to his eye level and looks at Ted's forehead. He kisses it and hugs Ted close.

"Mr. Grey, if you'll meet me in the CCTV room, I'll fill you in," says Taylor as he turns and walks away.

"And you and I need to have a talk," I say sternly.

"Wow, which do I want to do first?" he asks nervously as he puts his son down.

"You might be safer with Taylor," I say with a scowl.

Christian lets a whistle of uncertainty escape through his teeth as he looks between me and the hall where Taylor has exited. "I'll go for safety," he kisses me on my lips and hugs me close, deepening his kiss.

"I know what you're doing, and it's not going to help your cause." I push him away.

"This is serious?"

"It might be," I say.

Christian steps back from our embrace and retreats to the room in the back of the house that doubles as Jason's office.

"Mrs. Taylor is organizing everything with the recipes they go with. She's got times, and days to start everything listed on the fridge. Kate and I will be back Monday to get things started. Is there anything you need tomorrow?" Asks Mia as she walks in carrying Little G followed by her husband Ethan - who also happens to be Kate's brother.

"Not that I can think of," I say taking my nephew from Mia. "I haven't gotten to hold you yet today, little man." I squeeze his cheeks and give him a kiss.

"Did you tell Christian about Grayson?" Asks Kate as she walks into the room reaching down for Ava who runs to her mother.

"Not yet. I'm trying to figure out how to broach the topic with him."

"What topic?" Asks Christian as he steps beside me, wrapping an arm around my waist and rubbing Grey's back.

"We'll talk about it later," I say cutting Mia off before she has a chance to say what I'm sure wouldn't have been good.

"Well, everyone? Are we ready to go?" asks Elliot as he steps out of the powder room near the front door.

"Just because we arrived at the same time, doesn't mean we have to leave at the same time," says Ethan over Mia's shoulder.

"Yes, yes it does." Says Mia, eyeing Christian and I. She's a little ditzy sometimes, but she knows how to take a hint. She takes Little G from my arms and heads toward the door.