Chapter 1572

"Lucas, get up, man. Stop hanging around the stove; let's grab some food," John urged. "We can chat more after lunch." Noticing the growing annoyance on Stella's face, Lucas quickly shoved John aside. "Back off, kid. Stella and I need to talk. Alone." John finally caught the drift when he saw Stella's upset expression. Realizing he had stirred trouble, he bolted away. Lucas stood up, moving closer to Stella. It was a festive time, and Stella did not want to spoil the mood with anger. "This won't happen again, got it?" she said. Lucas agreed, "Sure thing." Lunch was a simple affair. Seeing Lucas around, Mitch wanted to knock back a few drinks, but Grace was having none of it. After lunch, Marco and Orla took the kids back to their place, leaving the household a cozy group of five. Despite the small number, a festive dinner was a must – a full table of hearty dishes celebrating togetherness and abundance. A few days ago, Mitch had snagged a five-pounder from the river, and had be