“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to Liv. I can’t leave her hanging. I could keep the condo, and she could continue living there, but we are currently splitting the payments, and I would need that money to pay for something else.”
“That’s completely fair. You would give notice mid-December?” she asks as if it’s been decided. A done deal.
“Yeah. That would be ideal. I want to talk with Liv before I make any solid decisions or plans,” I remind Mom because this isn’t set in stone yet. Otherwise, she might start making plans of her own.
“Kat, you take your time thinking this through but know that no matter what and no matter when, you can always come home. And you always have a job.”
“Thanks, Dad. That means a lot.”
It seems like now would be a good time to transition. I broke things off with Philip, so I don’t have a boyfriend keeping me there. I like my boss, and most of my clients are great, but I’ll never let a job tie me down.
The only thing that’s keeping me in Columbia is Liv. I know she’ll understand and support my decision. She always has. It's one of the things I love about her.
The only thing that’s holding me back is me.
***
Thursday morning, I slowly make my way downstairs when I hear guests arrive. My uncle on Dad’s side, Richard, his wife, Candy, and their adult son, Billy, his wife, Susan, and their five-year-old daughter, Eliza, are here. I say hi and hug each of them in turn.
“Gram, can I help make the dinner?” Eliza’s high-pitched voice rings out. Eliza is adorable with blonde ringlets and bright blue eyes. She’s carrying this well-worn stuffed puppy that she talks to as she walks around the house.
Candy looks to Mom for a response. “Of course, my dear. How about you wash the potatoes, and I cut them?”
“Yay!” she sings as she runs off to the kitchen.
Hearing the doorbell, I rush over and am greeted by Dan and Sam. Both have their arms full of bags and ingredients. Dan always makes this delicious sweet potato casserole. I would never tell Mom this, but it’s my favorite Thanksgiving dish.
“Can I help bring anything in?”
“No thanks, Kat. This is everything.” Dan makes his way into the kitchen while Sam hesitates for a minute.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Kitty Kat. You aren’t even wearing pjs.” Sam smiles softly. I’m wearing black leggings and an oversized blue sweater that hangs off one shoulder. “You look great, by the way. Charleston suits you.” His smile is contagious, and I feel like I can breathe a little easier now that he’s here.
“Thanks for dragging me here kicking and screaming.”
“Between you and me,” he leans in and whispers, “I brought rope and duct tape in case I had to tie you up to get you here.” He winks at me and kisses my cheek. I force myself not to reach up and touch the spot that his lips just touched.
I shake my head and follow him into the kitchen. I amnotthinking about Sam in my bed Monday night. Or how he felt under me when I woke up. I amnotstaring at his ass through his jeans and definitelynotthinking about what Sam would look like out of those jeans.
Shit, I need to get a grip. This is a family holiday, for fuck’s sake!
The kitchen looks like a tornado hit it, or a starved toddler. It’s absolute chaos with people filling each empty corner and food covering the counters.
I stand in the doorway as Sam sets everything he was carrying down on the counter and steps back to my side. We share a knowing look, one that says we don’t want to be in the chaos.
“Hey, pretty girl, will you and Sam set the table?” Mom doesn’t even turn around, yet she knows I don’t want to be in this circus we call a kitchen.
Sending her a silent thanks, I reply, “Sure, Ma.” Turning around, Sam and I head back out to the formal dining room, where we work to pull the ends of the table out to fit another couple of leaves in. Once that is done, we head towards the hutch and start pulling out the dishes we use for holiday dinners.
“Sam, will you grab the wine glasses? I can’t reach them.”
“You got it, short stuff.”
“Not everyone can be a sexy giant like you, Sam.” I freeze, realizing too late what I just said. I look at him in horror.
“So, you think I’m sexy, huh?” That thirsty smile of his only adds fuel to the fire burning in my core.
“Definitely not. I think you need to have your hearing checked.” I know my attempt at recovery fails when his smile widens and he winks at me.
