“Yes, ma’am.” She trudges off to the playroom, shoulders hunched. It takes less than a minute before she starts humming and playing with her toys in the other room.
It’s obvious my sister wants to talk to me. My brother-in-law, being a wise husband, takes the hint and moves to their bedroom to finish watching the game.
I sit on the couch opposite Tiffany. “What’s up, sis?”
“It’s really good to see you, Holden.”
I squint my eyes. “Whoa. It’s good. Yeah, we see each other.”
“Not lately, not really. I have to chase you down on the phone to get you to come to your niece’s dance recital. You haven’t been to the last two Thanksgivings or family Christmases, and you skipped the Memorial Day cookout.”
“Labor Day. I was laboring.”
“Everybody was there, Holden. Everybody but you. Bailey misses you. We all do.”
“Are you visit-shaming me right now?”
My sister laughs. “In a way. It’s just really nice to see you. I don’t get it. You used to be around us all the time, but you’ve turned into a workaholic.”
“Hey, that’s not fair. You and Scotty own your own business. You know how it is.”
“Yes, that’s true, but we still make time for our family. What’s it all for if all you do is work? What’s the point of any of it?”
I don’t answer because I’m not really sure what to say. That I’m always at work because I want to be with Atlanta, an employee that I can’t have? That I’m trying to build the business so that she’ll want me? Because even as I say it in my head, I know how ridiculous it sounds. So I say nothing.
But her wise-owl, older-sister look tells me Tiff knows she’s hit the mark.
Chapter 6
Atlanta
I sit in my small rental home, eating a frozen turkey dinner and watching the NFL triple header. I could have flown home to Texas since we had the week off. My cousin, Capri, is hosting Thanksgiving this year and even offered to pay for my flight. I decided to stay in Hope Peak to finish up my big project. And, let’s face it, to be around in case Holden needs me.
“Pass interference!” I shout at the TV even though I’m completely alone.
It’s a Creekmore family tradition to watch football after our Thanksgiving meal, and this is the second year in a row I’ve watched it by myself. My shoulders tighten. It’s my dad’s favorite holiday, and he was not happy about me missing the family dinner twice. My phone pings.
Dad: Did you see that?
Me: That should’ve been a flag.
Dad: Your mom is losing it over here.
Me: Brace yourself.
Dad: She just threw a pillow at the TV.
We FaceTime at the commercial, complaining about the game and checking in. I miss my family, especially my brother, Aspen. We’re two years apart and very close. He ran back to his apartment for whatever reason, so I can’t talk to him, but it’s alright. We’ll catch up later.
I take the last bite of turkey and stuffing from my frozen dinner, then walk it into the kitchen and recycle the tray. As I pour myself a glass of wine, my thoughts drift to Holden.
Is he with family? Is he by himself? Weary, I lean against the counter. I’m still very angry with him for toying with my promotion. Doesn’t he know me well enough by now to understand that I will help him for free? He didn’t have to bargain with me. But at least I’ll be getting what I know in my heart I deserve, to be the head designer at Big Sky Architecture and Design. But it doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t sit right with me. It feels icky, like I’m not getting it on my merit, but because I’m helping him out of a tough spot.
I push those feelings down, refusing to listen to the negativity. He wouldn’t have said it at all if he didn’t believe in me, right? His actions show that he sees my talent. He consults me on major design decisions before anyone else like I’m already the lead designer in everything but title. But a niggling sense of doubt chews at my brain, so I slam the door on it before my thoughts spiral.
Content, I head back to the couch, glad to watch the Texans take the lead.
My phone bleeps with a message from my cousin, Capri.
