I shrug.“You know how it is.”
He nods.“Honestly, I’m surprised you secured one at all.”
“Me and my sister got there early.”I glance at Adrian again.“I wanted to get one for you guys.”
Adrian rubs a hand over his jaw, and for the first time tonight, his posture softens.
Keith grins.“Well, you know what?We’d love to come after dinner and share the pecan pie.”
Relief washes over me, and I smile, genuinely this time.
“So, I’ll see you later for Scrabble?”I say, hopeful.
“No,” Adrian replies at the same time Keith says, “Yes.”
Keith flashes me a quick wink behind Adrian’s back.He’s got me.He’ll make sure Adrian’s there.
Adrian doesn’t want to spend time with me.I get it.I’m the enemy.
But enemy or not, no one should be alone on Thanksgiving.
I clear my throat.“All right, I better get going.I need to get dinner on the table.I’ll see you soon.”
“Don’t count on it,” Adrian mutters.
“Can’t wait,” Keith counters with a grin.
I shake my head, smiling as I step out and drive home.
Getting back, the house is as noisy as ever when I walk through the door.
“Mom,” I call out, hanging my coat on the rack, “we’ve got two coming over for Scrabble later.”
“Who?”Mom asks from the recliner.
“Wait.Two?”Hazel calls from beside her.
“Keith and Adrian,” I reply.
My siblings immediately start plotting how to crush our guests in the game.
I head to the living room to set up another table with extra space for drinks and snacks, then scan the house.The usual mess isn’t terrible, but I make sure everything is at least presentable… The bathrooms clean, the furniture straightened, the kitchen counters wiped down.
Mom joins me in the kitchen, helping put the final touches on dinner.The food is spread across the table, steaming and ready, and when I call everyone over, they come rushing in like a stampede.
We sit together, passing bowls of mashed potatoes, sharing what we’re grateful for, talking about ways to be better versions of ourselves.Unfortunately, Aurora wasn’t able to make it because she came down with the flu and didn’t want to get Mom sick.
Felix drops food on the floor.Sophia and Jasper start bickering, and I can see the makings of an all-out food fight brewing.
I narrow my eyes.“Everyone, eat your dinner, or there’ll be no pie.”
That gets their attention.
“Yeah, and we got the chocolate cream pie this time,” Hazel announces.
Suddenly, they’re all enthusiastic about finishing their plates.
Mom squeezes my hand under the table.“Thanks, love,” she whispers.
