When I’m With You by Sandi Lynn

Chapter 29

Paisley

It was almost two o’clock and my stomach started to flutter at the thought that Ben would be here soon. The smell of a cooking turkey filled the house, as did the pumpkin pie my mom baked. Fragrant fall candles burned in every room in the house, adding a cozy and inviting warmth for anyone who walked in. A beautiful tablecloth in burgundy, oranges, and browns lay over the table, where beautiful white china sat on top with matching cloth napkins folded and secured by a mandarin satin ribbon that said “gobble gobble” across it. The focal point of the table was the beautiful fall centerpiece made from fresh orange roses, yellow and red carnations, greens, gold-glittered pine cones that were spread sporadically throughout the arrangement, and the three tall orange candles that were placed in the middle of the arrangement.

I heard the door open and the voices of my two sisters echoed through the house. I walked to the foyer and kissed each of them and their significant others on the cheek, wishing them a happy Thanksgiving.

“You okay?” Charlotte asked as she gently placed her hand on my arm.

“I’m fine. Ben will be here soon with his sister, Leah.”

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

“It’s not like we can talk to her. She’s deaf and won’t be able to hear us. So, actually, we can talk about her and she won’t even know,” Keaton said, chuckling.

I smacked his arm. “You. Are. Mean! Knock it off! And I swear to God, if you embarrass me, I’ll string you up by your balls, Keaton Christopher.”

“Damn, Pais…you a little cray cray.”

My eyebrows furrowed at him as the doorbell rang and my tummy, which had finally calmed down, started to flutter again because I knew it was Ben and Leah. I walked over to the door and opened it. A smile fell upon my face when I saw Ben standing there, looking as sexy as ever in his khaki-colored dress pants and a black cotton button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hair was just as perfect as the smile that splayed across his face when he saw me.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Paisley.” He smiled as he kissed my cheek.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Ben.”

They stepped inside, and Ben introduced me to his sister.

Leah, this is Paisley,he signed.

“Paisley, this is my sister, Leah.”

Holy fuck. Watching him sign turned me on and I couldn’t help the ache that suddenly formed between my legs.

“It’s so nice to meet you.” Ben translated for me as I gave her a welcoming hug and she handed me a decorative tin with a cover on it.

She smiled and signed, It’s great to meet you. Thank you for having me.

She was a beautiful girl who stood about five feet, four inches tall and had the waist of a Barbie doll. Her long hair was brown with gold highlights that reminded me much of Ben’s. Her brown eyes were the color of milk chocolate and she had the cutest dimple in her cheek when she smiled.

“As long as you look directly at Leah, she can read your lips,” Ben said.

I led them to the kitchen where the rest of the clan was hanging out. I introduced Leah to everyone except Keaton. I didn’t know where he went. A few moments later, he walked into the kitchen.

“There you are. I want you to meet Leah.”

I lightly touched her shoulder and when she turned around and looked at him, I saw something. The look on Keaton’s face was one I’d never seen before. When I introduced them and they shook hands, Keaton’s lips parted, and I swore I heard him take in a deep breath. He looked at me and didn’t say a word. My God, I think the boy, for once in his life, was speechless. My mom announced that dinner was ready and for everyone to go sit at the table. I took my usual spot, Ben sat down next to me, and Keaton offered his spot to Leah as he took the seat next to her.

“That’s my seat, little brother,” Piper said.

“Not today it’s not,” he replied through gritted teeth.

“What the—” Piper started to say and then stopped when she looked at Leah. “Alrighty then,” she said as she walked around the table. She and Liam took the seats across from them.

Thanksgiving dinner turned out to be better than I expected it to be. I wasn’t referring to the food. I was referring to the overall day. It was a day that I had been dreading for a while, knowing that it was my first without him. The past Thanksgivings were always filled with extra love, laughter, and fun when he was around. Having Ben sitting down next to me and celebrating with my family made all the difference in the world. As I looked over at him interpreting the conversation between Leah and my family, I felt myself smiling and a happiness filled my soul; a happiness I hadn’t felt for so long and never thought I’d feel again.

Dinner was over and, after we all helped my mom clean up, I heard Keaton call my name from the living room.

“Hey, Paisley, come here.”

I set the dish towel on the counter and walked into the living room, where “Somebody To Love” by Queen started playing. Keaton held out his hand to me from across the room.

“Remember this?” He smiled.

I bit down on my bottom lip as I smiled and took his hand. We began singing loudly and laughing while we danced. Piper and Charlotte walked in the room and joined us. Ben stood there, next to my parents, Liam, and Ryan with a smile on his face.

* * *

Ben

I stood across the room and watched Paisley as she danced and sang with her siblings. As I stared at her, I couldn’t help but think about how much I was falling for her. Every time I saw her, it intensified. She was on my mind every second of every day and I couldn’t stop it. Leah was smiling, and I caught her staring at Keaton. I looked over at her and tapped her on the shoulder.

What do you think of Paisley?

I think she’s beautiful and she puts a smile on your face. I already love her and that brother of hers is super hot.

He’s twenty-one, Leah.

What’s your point, Ben?

I shook my head and she smiled at me. As soon as the singing and dancing were over, Keaton walked up to me and whispered, “Why don’t you and Paisley go talk alone out on the patio? I’ll keep Leah entertained. She reads lips, right?”

“Yeah, she does,” I said as I gave him a warning look.

“Dude, don’t worry. She’s your sister and I would never. I was just going to ask her if she wanted to play a board game. Paisley had an episode this morning. I think she might want to tell you about it.”

“Thanks, Keaton.”

“What are you thanking my little brother for?” Paisley smiled as she walked over to where we were standing.

“I was just thanking him for being so nice to Leah. He wants to play a board game with her, so I thought maybe we could get a glass of wine and sit outside for a bit.”

“That sounds good. I’d like that.” She smiled.

After pouring us a glass of wine, she led me outside to the patio and we took a seat on the canopy swing. I took hold of her hand and interlaced our fingers.

“How are you today?”

She took a sip of her wine and looked at me with her big, beautiful eyes. “I’m better now. I sort of had a freak-out this morning.”

“What do you mean?”

She took another sip before setting her glass on the table. “I woke up and — I don’t know,” she said as she looked down in sadness.

I gently squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. It’s truly okay.”

“I had a panic attack and accidentally knocked over the lamp on my nightstand. Keaton came running in and calmed me down.”

She laid her head on my shoulder as we lightly moved the swing back and forth with our feet. “Thank you for spending Thanksgiving with me and my family.”

“Thank you for having me and Leah. It really meant a lot. I think my sister has a crush on your brother.”

She sighed. “I think Keaton has a crush on your sister.”

“I have to work tomorrow,” I spoke.

“I thought you had the weekend off.”

“I took a two-week leave of absence, but I have to work eight hours tomorrow and my leave officially starts on Saturday. I was hoping you’d spend the day with me and Leah. I wanted to take her to the pier.”

“I’d love to spend the day with you two.”

I smiled as I kissed the top of her head.