No one's more surprised then Chase Stokes when his estranged step-sister shows up on his doorstep in South Carolina. They haven't talked in almost two years, but something has caused her to quit school, leave Maryland, and take up residence on his...
"So where did you learn how to make cakes?" Rudy's grandmother, Beverly, asked as Evaline measured ingredients into a bowl.
"I took a home ec class in high school and I really liked the baking aspect of it. So a couple friends and I took some classes at a local bakery to learn how to do fondant and different piping and coloring," she replied, "It's like painting on a different type of canvas."
"And what kind of canvas are you making for us to eat?" his mom's mother, Ellen, asked as she added chocolate chips into the cookie dough she was stirring.
"It's a double layer yellow cake with chocolate frosting in the middle and then I'm gonna put a turkey on the top," Evaline told her.
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"Oh, I can't wait till dessert tomorrow," Ellen said dropping spoonfuls of cookie dough onto the baking sheet next to her.
"Maybe we could start with dessert," Penny suggested from where she and Beverly stood at the table rubbing a butter herb over a very large turkey. "I'd be up for that," Rudy declared walking into the kitchen.
"Oh, Rudy get your fingers out of here," Ellen scolded as he plucked a spoonful of cookie dough off the baking sheet and shoved it in his mouth.
"Sorry, Nan," Rudy laughed, kissing her cheek, "And what are you doing over here, Little Elf?" he asked as Evaline put the mixer down in the bowl.
"Making a cake," she responded, "If you're a good boy I'll let you lick the bowl," she teased flipping on the mixer. "I'd rather lick something else," he whispered in her ear before dancing out of the way from the spatula she swung at him.
"Young man, you leave that girl alone and get over here and tell me all about this show you're in," Beverly called over the sound of the mixer.
Evaline had just set the finished cake into the container on the counter when she felt her stomach tighten with a cramping sensation. Grabbing the edge of the counter she groaned, "What the hell is that?" she questioned placing her other hand on her stomach.
"Sweetie, you okay?" Penny asked as she, Beverly, and Ellen came over to her.
Letting a breath out Evaline shook her head, "I don't know. It like cramped and then my stomach got super hard," she told them. Humming Penny felt Evaline's stomach, "It's most likely fake contractions, but let's have you sit down just in case," she said walking with Evaline to the table.
"Are fake contractions those Braxton Hicks things?" Evaline asked as she sat down, "I read about them."
"They're normal in this stage," Ellen told her as Beverly set a bottle of water in front of her, "Go ahead and drink that while we start dinner."
Steadying her breathing Evaline took slow sips from the bottle of water, "I think I'm getting to the point where I'm ready for this to be over," she told them. "I remember getting to that point," Beverly remarked.
