Chapter 412

Caleb was always the serious type, but even he cracked a smile as Karla finished her story. “You know, Bishop once told me he’d fallen for a girl in the country,” he said, sounding almost nostalgic. “She didn’t really have any hobbies, except eating. So, he kept asking me to help him scrounge up food stamps and find good stuff for her to eat p>

Ophelia jumped right in without missing a beat. “That’s right. Caleb and I had already gotten married back then, and when we heard about Bishop and his girl, we were thrilled for him.” She leaned in, her eyes twinkling. “We pinched pennies for ages just so Bishop could save up enough to ask her to marry him p>

Karla looked surprised. She’d never heard any of this before.

Ophelia grinned. “Bishop even wrote me a letter, asking what he should get you for your first gift. Wanted my advice and everything p>

She didn’t feel bad about telling on Bishop-if anything, his awkwardness back then was kind of adorable, not embarrassing at all. Maybe they weren’t young anymore, but that didn’t mean they didn’t have their share of stories from when they were.

Claire and the other younger cousins sat around the table with their plates piled high with roast lamb, listening to the older generation tell stories. Laughter and teasing bounced around the room. The house was full of warmth.

The Churchill family might have looked glamorous from the outside, but honestly, at home they were just another big, boisterous family, trying to enjoy a meal together.

Padgett watched all of this with a wide grin, feeling the joy radiating off the people he loved. While everyone was distracted, he tried to sneak a glass of wine. Just a little sip, that’s all he wanted.

But Ophelia spotted him and let out a sharp, deliberate cough. Padgett froze, looking like he’d just been caught red-handed. He hurried to put his glass down.

“Grandpa, you’re not supposed to drink,” Norris said, reaching over to take the glass away.

Claire, who was sitting close to Padgett, had been caught up in the stories and hadn’t noticed. Now, hearing Norris, she looked over with concern.

“Grandpa, want me to check your pulse?” she offered, reaching for his wrist.

Padgett’s mood instantly improved. He loved it when Claire fussed over him. “Go ahead, check. Maybe you’ say I’m just fine and can have one. sip-just one,” he said, holding but his hand with a hopeful glint in his eye.

He wasn’t asking for much. Was it so wrong to want a little taste on a happy day like this? Roast lamb and wine were meant to go together, after all.

Claire took his pulse and found that, for his age, he was doing pretty well-just not well enough for real alcohol. But she remembered the Carter family’s old recipe for tonic wine.

“If you really want to drink, I can mix you up a health tonic,” Claire said “I’ll have the family doctor checkrtelf he

says it’s okay, you can sneak a little when you’re craving it p>

Padgett groaned. “Health tonic? That’s just medicine in a bottle. I’m not drinking that stuff-it tastes awful p>

“It won’t be regular tonic, I promise. I know how to make it taste good,” Claire replied, her tone confident.

Padgett hesitated, but finally gave in to his curiosity. “Alright, whip up a batch. I’ll give it a try p>

Claire smiled and went back to her food.

Halfway through the meal, Tiffany walked in with Yolande right behind her.

Padgett rolled his eyes to himself but didn’t say anything. He liked Yolande, so he let them come in and join the party.

Tiffany looked around the courtyard with envy in her eyes. The Churchill family always seemed to have the best of everything, and in her mind,

the elders definitely played favorites

Why had her father-in-law Pike gotten so much less than Padgett? If she’d had a fancy courtyard like this, she wouldn’t have to come over and act so friendly all the time.

She put on her sweetest voice as she breezed in. “Oh wow, talk about good timing. Looks like you’re all having a feast p>

Without waiting for anyone to welcome her, she turned to her daughter. “Yolande, go wash your hands. We got here just in time-this lamb smells incredible p>