Love Will Keep Us - Book 5

Thanksgiving Dessert

STEF POV

As we all sit around the giant table which Lena and I had added more leaves making it big enough for everyone who was here, I slide my hand into hers as she laces our fingers together. The dinner had been excellent to say the least, and everyone had been pleasant, including my mother who kept her silence. But I knew my mother was having a hard time even if she had kept her mouth closed about it and I knew she had issues with everyone at this table except for maybe, Mike. It was written all over her face as she made sure to plant herself next to my father and Mike avoiding Julius, Tess, Stefanie, Lena, Jerry, Phil, Frankie, Corey and even me. Part of me was hoping dessert would go just as well as dinner, but I was starting to have my doubts as I sipped on my glass of wine.

I motion to Frankie, who is dressed in an out of date rather drabby dress that was nothing like her, but one which looked somehow familiar, to grab the desserts as Stefanie and even Callie stand to help her. Each day she looked more and more NOT like herself and I somehow needed to address this with her even more, even if she insisted she was fine. I knew she was not.

Of course, Julius had been muttering off and on throughout the dinner something about Mother Hen and Sister Mary in regards to Frankie's outfit, and I was two seconds from snapping at him to shut up. I knew he couldn't help it for it was who he was but snapping at my kids and making fun of them was off limits for me, and he knew that.

"Would anyone like coffee to go with their dessert?" Lena asks the table as Julius leans back and pats his protruding stomach. "Our daughter is a fabulous little baker and she worked very hard on these desserts."

"That she did." I say winking at her as she turns to smile at me and I lean in and kiss her forehead. Pulling away I catch my mother's glare as I clear my throat and look away at Frankie who was now helping Stefanie and Callie get the desserts.

"Definitely! I'll help!" Tess smiles as Jerry nods that he wants one as well.

"Sure," Mike adds as does my father.

"Good golly, Miss Molly! I am stuffed to the gills! I don't know how any of you can eat dessert! Although I'll make some room!" Julius bursts out rather dramatically as Phillip laughs and places his arm around the man causing my mother to sharply stare at the couple. She had stared at them all night, and I knew it was about time for me to grab some gin.

"Would you like some coffee, Ma?" I firmly ask, hoping to break her attention away from the couple, for the last thing we need is for there to be a showdown when dinner had gone so lovely.

"Is it decaf?" She turns her gaze towards me as I don't crack a smile, for her rudeness was truly unbelievable.

"It is actually," Lena smiles politely as I swallow hard. I told myself that I wouldn't smoke at all during this dinner, but it's proving to be rather difficult as I feel the pack in my back pocket and look at my wife who shakes her head at me, for she really knew how badly I wanted one. "Can I get you a cup Sharon? Frank?"

"I'd love one dear." My father says as my mother looks away and clears her throat once again.

"Do you think the girls need help with the desserts, Steffy?" Julius turns to me as he is sitting beside me, and I shake my head as I grab my water to sip on it. But fuck did I need something stronger as even my wine wasn't strong enough.

"I don't think so. You told them where you put your cheesecakes, yes?"

"Oh definitely! My daddy didn't raise no fool!" He jokes as I bust out laughing at him and Phil joins me.

"So, where did you meet my daughter, young man?" Sharon finally blurts out as Julius and Phillip both look in her direction as do I.

"Are you talking to me?" Julius points at himself as my mother nods, for she had truly caught him off guard.