Their love for each other radiates from all around us. It’s in the little things, like the way my dad wraps an arm around mom, still after so many years of marriage, the small smile my mom wears as she watches us, the smell of pie lingering in the air while plates holding only crumbs rest on the coffee table, and the layers of memories that my childhood home holds.
* * *
Darcy snores softly beside me,her hand resting on her lap, wrapped in mine, as I make the drive back into town and towards our best friend's home for Friendsgiving. Soft, contemporary pop music flows through the speakers of the Porsche. Before Darcy, I would listen to dad rock but I’m finding that this music calms me in a way I’ve never experienced—or maybe it’s Darcy’s presence. Either way, this music is quickly becoming the new soundtrack of my life.
I park on the road in front of the house, unbuckling myself, then Darcy. “Hey Mama, we made it to Kodi’s.” I lean in, speaking softly so as not to startle her. She doesn’t stir, so I try again. “Darcy, baby, we gotta get inside, everyone is excited to see you.”
She moves a little more and I place my lips on hers gently, “Mama, come on. The sooner we get inside, the sooner you can be home and in your pajamas… Well, I guess technically mine.”
That is the statement that gets her eyes opening, looking around briefly before gracing me with a smile and kissing me.
“I have to pee,” she informs, then she’s out of the car and knocking on the front door faster than I can grab the green bean casserole we were charged with bringing tonight out of the back seat.
“What’s up, man? How was dinner with your parents? How are they doing, and the girls?” Maverick asks, pulling me in for a hug as I enter his home.
“It was nice, she fits in so well with my family. Like she was meant to be there all along,” I say quietly as we walk towards the kitchen.
“Maybe she is.”
He says it so casually that it feels almost patronizing. I flash back to where Darcy and I were about six months ago and panic flurries in my chest. In less than three months, I’m going to be a dad.
Will I measure up to the father I grew up with? Or will I fail my son?
“I need to use the restroom, long drive.” I abruptly leave Maverick standing in the entryway to the kitchen, his brows furrowed. I make my way down the hall in a hurry. As I reach for the bathroom door, it swings open, and Darcy pops out looking refreshed from her nap in the car.
“Hi.” She says quietly, smiling up at me.
“Hi, Mama.” I can hear the strain in my voice, I just need a moment alone to pull myself together.
“Are you alright?” Her beautiful face scrunched up, concern evident in her tone.
“Uh yeah…” I pause, “Just need to use the restroom urgently if you’ll excuse me. I’ll be out in a moment.”
“Yeah… Yeah okay.” She still seems confused by my behavior but steps out of the doorway.
“D?” I call, stopping her. I pull her into a hug and kiss the top of her head. She relaxes instantly. After a moment, I release her and she’s heading off, down the hallway.
I give myself two minutes in the restroom to pull my shit together and plaster a smile on my face before joining my friends at the dining table. Sitting down beside Darcy, she instantly places a warm hand on my thigh, squeezing it tightly.
“Sorry guys,” I tell them, I know they’ve been waiting on me.
Familiar eyes sit around the table but then I meet three pairs I’ve only met in passing. Conrad Hoyer, recently transferred to the Manta Rays, sits alongside his girlfriend, Enid, and her younger brother Mace. Mace smiles fondly at Bella as she animatedly tells a story about Shell Shock’d (the rescue Enid works at) and a turtle named Bart.
“Okay.” Kodi claps her hands excitedly, “Before we eat let's all go around the table and say something we are grateful for. I’ll go first, I’m thankful to have married such a wonderful and loving man.” Kodi smiles lovingly at Maverick who pulls her in for a passionate kiss, which, in my opinion, goes on a little longer than necessary.
“What about Bella?” Bella accosts from Kodi’s other side, a finger aggressively wagging in the direction of her Mama.
“Bella, baby, I am so grateful I get to be your Mama every day.” Kodi smiles at her, pulling her into her lap as we continue around the table.
“I glad that I get to have pie for dinner.” Bella giggles from Kodi’s lap.
“With dinner,” Maverick corrects with a chuckle. “I’m grateful that my Dad, Grace, and Jason are here, with us, for Thanksgiving this year.”
“I’m so happy to be here with my kids, all of them,” Stu says, giving us each a smile that has my throat clogged, and I’m not the only one. All of the girls are dabbing their eyes, overcome by Stu’s sentiment.
“Jason and I are so grateful that we get to share with you all in person that we will be moving to Florida in December! We closed on our house yesterday afternoon!” Grace’s face lights up at her announcement.
“Oh my God yay!!!” Kodi, Darcy, Sin, and Harley scream together.
