Chapter 15

INDIE

It was the first time in a long time that Indie had felt so relaxed. The Marshall family was a dream to be with, and she didn’t regret bringing Grace and Faith with her.

Sarah had taken Faith into the kitchen, and they had taken turns teaching each other simple dishes from each other’s cultures.

Grace helped Indie put the finishing touches on a birthday cake for Sarah and Seth, which was proving to be challenging as Amelia and Seth kept stealing the candied decorations.

“That’s it! Go watch ~Frozen~ or buildLegos or something, just as long as you’re out of the kitchen!”

Sarah scolded Seth as he swiped a teaspoon of frosting from the jug and handed it to Elli.

With guilty giggles, the two of them left the kitchen and disappeared into the little girl’s bedroom.

The interaction made Indie smile as she listened to the happy chatter around her.

As she piped tiny stars along the edge of the cake, she thought about the previous morning, when Sarah had stormed into Silver Reflections in an absolute panic.

~***~

~“Indie! Please say you’ll help me!” ~

~Indie turned at the panic in Sarah’s voice, the polishing machine immediately coming to a standstill when Indie took her foot off the pedal. ~

~The bracelet she was polishing slipped to the velvet cloth on her lap. She placed everything on the bench and quickly removed her finger guards as she pulled out a chair for Sarah. ~

~“Okay. What do you need me to do?” ~

~Sarah gripped Indie’s hands tightly as she took a couple of deep breaths. ~

~“I’m sorry for barging in here like this. Grace said it would be okay,” she whispered. ~

~“Yes, it’s fine,” Indie soothed. “I just don’t like seeing you so flustered. What’s wrong?” ~

~“Amelia and Sethford have apparently been shopping for my birthday gift…” She gave a shaky smile. “The thing is that I forgot to get Seth something.” ~

~“Okay…?” ~

~“Indie!” Sarah moaned. “Seth and I are ~twins~…” ~

~Indie bit her lip to contain her smile. “You forgot Seth’s birthday?” ~

~“No—Well, not quite—I—” She let out a sigh. “Fine. I forgot my twin brother’s birthday gift.” ~

~“Did you see anything he might like in the store?” Indie asked. “Come on, let’s go have a look.” ~

~“Thank you, Indie,” Sarah said as she pulled Indie into a tight hug. ~

~Indie enjoyed the warmth that filled her at the embrace. ~

~Sarah had found a chain at Silver Reflections with a star-shaped pendant but Indie couldn’t find anything, so she and Sarah went hunting for a gift for Seth. ~

~They ended up having lunch at a little restaurant not far from her store. It was the best lunch she had had in a long time.~

***

“That looks stunning!” Grace enthused from where she was standing on the opposite side of the counter. Indie smiled her thanks at Grace.

“I like them, Indigo. And he makes you smile.”

“Yeah, he does,” Indie said with a wide smile that she couldn’t stop. She was still buzzing from their night together, her body still throbbing from the memory.

She put a tiny sheriff’s car in front of a small restaurant and stood back to look at her handiwork.

After their lunch, she and Sarah had found a little shop that sold all kinds of interesting items, including candied cake toppers of all sorts. Indie had also found a watch that screamed ~Seth~.

“We’re ready to serve,” Faith sang as she started placing bowls of food on the dining room table. Grace went to help them, and Indie quickly covered the cake and went to lend a hand as well.

“This looks like a feast!” Seth said as the others joined them at the table.

“Yahbazoo!” Amelia crowed as she sat down next to her uncle. “I’m so ~hungry~!”

The women laughed as they sat down. “Before we start, we normally take a moment to say what we’re thankful for,” Sarah said.

“Lovely,” Faith agreed as she rubbed her hands together.

“Faith? Will you start?” Sarah asked.

Faith looked around the table and her face softened as she turned to her granddaughter. “I’m thankful that Grace is as stubborn as I am, because it protects her huge heart.”

Seth cleared his throat and Indie speared him with a stern look. “I still have to see this heart you guys keep mentioning,” he whispered.

“Keep making comments like that and you might not see your birthday,” Grace whispered from the other side of the table.

Indie smothered her laughter at the shock on Seth’s face as he looked at Grace.

“Enough, you two. Get along. It’s Thanksgiving,” Faith intervened.

“Thank you, Faith.” The relief was visible on Sarah’s face as she glared at Seth. “Grace, it’s your turn.”

“I’m glad we met you, because you make my friend happy.” Grace smiled at Sarah and then glared at Seth.

“That’s my cue,” Sarah intervened before Seth could say something.

“I’m thankful for a brother like mine, and new friendships. I didn’t think I would be able to open myself up to new relationships, but the three of you make it so easy.”

“Ah, Sarah. You’re an easy person to get along with,” Faith said as she hugged her.

“Indie?” She looked up as Sarah said her name.

“I’m grateful for being part of a family.” She looked around the table, hoping she wouldn’t actually cry.

“In one of my more serious conversations with my dad, he told me that family wasn’t always people with the same blood. They were people who made you feel accepted.

“This is the family you can choose. So you need to listen to your heart when you choose them.”

Seth linked his fingers through hers and squeezed her hand, his eyes warm with affection.

“Your turn, Elli,” Sarah said, tugging Amelia’s pigtail.

“I’m grateful that Pops could eat with us this year. Normally Momma has to pack him a box for work.”

Seth leaned over and kissed her forehead.

“Well, bambina, I still need to work tonight. But I start at midnight, so I still have a few hours to spend with you guys. And for that, I am very grateful.”

Amelia frowned as her mom dished some vegetables on her plate, and Indie braced for the storm her mutinous expression warned of.

Seth cleared his throat again, and Elli glanced at him through her lashes.

He raised an eyebrow, and she slowly sucked in the pouting bottom lip and started eating the peas rolling around her plate. Sarah looked at Seth in surprise, but he just shook his head.

“How do you three normally celebrate Thanksgiving?” Seth asked.

He started laughing when Faith told him how they threw darts at a map and cooked meals from whichever country it landed on, and the many misadventures this activity had involved over the years.