I follow the guys into the kitchen. Once we get started preparing the food, I ask Ethan, “How are the wife and kids?”
“Good. Thanks for the boys’ packages, by the way. Looks like things are going well with you and Ellie?”
“She seems like a sweet girl,” Dad adds.
“She is. Things are going really well.” Laughter from the living room makes me glance over my shoulder, although I can’t see them. “Sounds like they’re having fun, eh? Better to hear laughter than silence, right?”
“When it comes to those two girls, you bet,” Dad answers. After a moment, he says with a chuckle, “You know, she’s probably in there talking about a wedding and grandkids. I think your mother misses having you kids around, especially after Whit left. It doesn’t help that you’re all scattered across the States.”
Ethan clears his throat. “That’s one reason I decided to come up for a few days. We’re thinking about moving back, but I haven’t mentioned it to Mom yet.”
It would be cool to have Ethan closer to the rest of us. Mom’s going to be thrilled to hear this. Maybe then she’ll slow down on the baby kick. Just then, Ellie pops into the kitchen, her cheeks slightly flushed, but she’s smiling as she comes next to where I’m chopping some veggies.
“Hey,” I kiss her cheek, “have they reached crazy already?”
“No,” she laughs. “I was thirsty and your mom told me to get you to make me something. Said that just because you were a Stanley Cup Champion and all doesn’t mean you can’t cook dinner and fix your girlfriend a drink.”
I set the knife down, chuckling. “What would you like?”
“Water.”
While I’m fixing her a glass of iced water, Ellie asks Ethan about his little boys, even remembering how old they are. Then she says, “You’re actually an architect, right?” It’s a little funny, and I can’t help but laugh as they talk about that for a bit. I hand her the glass and she gingerly takes a sip, watching me.
“Thank you, Hudson.”
“It was my pleasure.” Before I can ask her if she’s having fun, my mother calls for her and Ellie smiles before disappearing again. “When do you plan on telling Mom?” I ask Ethan, referring to his moving back home.
“Whenever I find a place. I want it to be a sure thing before I tell her.”
We make small talk while we cook, sometimes staying silent for minutes at a time. But finally it’s time to eat and I’m happy to see Ellie still has a smile on her face. Dinner is pleasant as well. Mom is surprisingly behaving, as is Whitney. The girls offer to clean up since we cooked and once they finish, I drag Ellie away for a few minutes alone. Mom has a porch swing out front, so we go sit out there. She’s curled into my arms.
“Have you had fun?”
“Yes. I love your family, Hudson. Thanks for bringing me, so I could meet everyone.”
“Of course. You’re part of our family now.”
She looks at me, smiling. Ellie places a hand on the back of my neck and pulls me in for a sweet kiss. “Thank you,” she whispers. “We should probably get back inside.”
I shake my head. “They’ll be fine for now. I’m keeping you to myself for a little while longer.” After a moment, I say, “Do you have about a week’s worth of vacation time still?”
Ellie leans away from me, turning in the seat to look at me better with suspicion in her eyes. “Yeah…why?”
“Every summer, I go on vacation and I want you to come with me. We need to expand the list of places you’ve been.”
She started shaking her head before I even finished what I had to say. Apologetically, she says, “Hudson, I can’t. You’ve already brought me to Canada and I can’t keep taking off. I need to work.”
“Oh, c’mon, Ellie.” I reach for her hand, kissing the inside of her wrist. “Are you going to make me go alone?” When I fake a frown, she laughs.
“Where are you going anyway?”
I shrug. “Still thinking about it. Will you go with me?”
“You’re a hard person to say no to, you know.” She pauses and tries not to laugh as she adds, “But I’m good at saying no.”
That wasn’t what I was expecting her to say, and I can’t help my laughing. I could try to seduce her, but I don’t want to do that. Instead, I ask, “Well how can I change your mind?”
Ellie tilts her head, thinks about it, and says, “Get creative.”