“Who doesn’t have gravy yet?” Mike asked, holding the ceramic boat up and glancing around the dining room table.
They were packed in, elbows touching, as dishes were passed around and plates were filled. Winnie, Susan, Tom, and their kids were all seated on one side, while Mike’s mom and dad, Jessica’s mom, and Noah sat across from them (with Noah on the far end from his grandmother, as he hoped).
So far, so good, thought Jessica. No one had brought up her new career or suggested she was too old (which she fully expected from her brother-in-law). The meal looked, and more importantly,smelleddelicious. Jessica hadn’t been run off her feet to get everything ready and she had managed to avoid looking like a loafer to her in-laws, who certainly wouldn’t have approved of their only son having slaved all day over a hot stove alone. Jess’s mom seemed to have a more cheerful vibe today as well, in her red sweater and dangly turkey earrings. She had shown up earlier than everyone else and had smiled delightedly when she found out Mike and Jess had been working together all day. “Oh, how wonderful, teamwork. It’s just as it should be.”
Mike’s father cleared his throat. “Should we say grace before we eat?”
Jess stiffened slightly but kept the smile on her face. Not that she had anything against saying grace, but she certainly would never presume to suggest it at someone else’s house. “Sure, Michael, why don’t you go ahead?”
“I think Mike should say it this year,” he announced.
“Oh, am I finally grown up enough?” Mike asked his dad with a wink.
“No, but you have a lot to be thankful for. Jess surviving that collision and your mom surviving her stroke.”
Jess and Mike exchanged a glance while he scratched the side of his neck. “Right. Of course.” He folded his hands in front of his chest and bowed his head. “Dear Lord, today we are grateful for each of the people sitting around this table, we thank you for our good health, our many blessings, and for second chances. Amen.”
Jess smiled to herself.Second chances?Was that aimed at her? Of course it was. He was trying to tell her that he was grateful that the two of them would have a second chance at a better life together. She picked up her fork and lifted a bite of creamy mashed potatoes with gravy into her mouth. Mmm, yes, this tasted like a better life already. And later, they would make love, and it wouldfeellike a better life. More vivid, more connected, more thrilling, becauseallof her would be in the moment. There would be no part of her mind wandering away from what he was doing to her, no thinking about which of the things on her to-do list hadn’t gotten done that day and what she would need to rearrange to finish them tomorrow. It would only be the two of them, skin on skin, lips on skin, the weight of him on top of her, as they started over. And it would be delicious. Perfect. More explosive than it had been in years for both of them because she would be bringing her old self back into the bedroom with her—that extraordinary young woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go out and get it.
And the next time she, Rach, and Diana got together for brunch, she would tell them about how wonderful things were between them, and Diana would feel bad for suggesting she was wrong to pursue her dreams, and Rachael would see that divorce wasn’t the answer for every problem.
“Jess?” Susan asked.
Snapping out of her fantasy, Jess glanced at her sister-in-law. “Sorry, what?”
“I was asking how things are going with your new job.”
“Oh, sorry, I was…it’s great, thanks. I’m on a steep learning curve, but luckily my boss is a good teacher.”
Michael Sr. looked down the table at her. “So, you really are serious about becoming a shyster?”
“Dad, you can’t use that word,” Susan said sharply.
“What? Shyster? Why not?”
“Because it’s antisemitic,” Susan whispered.
“No it’s not. It means an unscrupulous businessman,” Michael told her.
“Pretty sure you’re wrong about that,” Tom said. “I distinctly remember reading that it had antisemitic roots.”
“Well, that’scertainlynot how I use it,” Michael said defensively. “I use it to describe lawyers, who I think we can all agree are the lowest form of humanity.”
Mike sighed loudly. “Come on, Dad, that’s not fair.”
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Mike. I’m just teasing Jess.” Michael turned to her. “You don’t mind, do you? You know I’m just joking.”
Jess nodded, even though she didn’t think he was joking.
“Good girl,” Michael said. “Hey, here’s a joke for you, Jess. What's the difference between a lawyer and a prostitute?”
Mike cleared his throat. “Nope, Dad. Don’t—”
“A prostitute will stop screwing you when you're dead.” Michael, along with Tom, burst out laughing. The kids laughed too, looking scandalized by their grandfather’s dirty joke.
Mike sighed and mouthed, ‘Sorry,’ to Jess, who pursed her lips and shrugged at her husband. At least they were in it together.
“So, Jessica,” Lilian said. “You and Mike are going to have three college students in the house. How’s my Mike supposed to pay for all that?”
