“Oh, please.” Mom smacks his arm. “You don’t have to thank me. Anyone spending Thanksgiving alone while I have a kitchen full of food? Not on my watch.”
He drops his gaze. “Well, I appreciate it all the same.”
She smiles, her sharp eyes missing nothing. “You just relax and make yourself at home. Marco,” she calls out. “Can you get Jude a refreshment?”
“Yes, dear.” My dad appears from the living room, extending his hand. “Jude. Nice to meet you. Liam can’t say enough good things about you.” Dad is a tiny bit shorter than Jude. He’s stocky and broad through the shoulders, with salt-and-pepper hair and deep-set brown eyes that don’t miss much.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate the invitation.”
“Call me Marco.” Dad claps him once on the shoulder.
Jack is next, pulling Jude into a half-hug that clearly catches him off guard. “Good to see you when nothing’s on fire,” Jack says, grinning.
Jude recovers quickly. “Oh, yeah.” He laughs awkwardly. “It’s a nice change.”
“Did Mom interrogate you yet?” Jack asks.
Mom frowns. “No. He just got here. And I don’t interrogate. I show interest.”
Jude laughs again, but this time it’s genuine, and I feel something loosen in my chest. He’s nervous, obviously, but he’s trying. That matters more than he knows. My parents respond better to someone who’s shy than they ever will to someone who’s overly confident.
Kara appears suddenly, moving to me, slipping her arm through mine. “Hey, Jude. Welcome and happy Thanksgiving.” Her smile is pleasant, her tone surprisingly friendly. Nothing outwardly cold. You’d never know she’d been bitching in the car about him being invited.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Kara.” Jude smiles at her.
“Thanks.” She turns to Mom. “Viv, is there anything else I can help with in the kitchen? The more you show me the more helpful I’ll be next year.”
“You could check the rolls in the oven, sweetheart,” Mom says, smiling affectionately at Kara. “In fact, I’d better get back in the kitchen too or we’ll never eat.”
“Lead the way.” Kara laughs happily. “Teach me all your secrets.”
“This way, future daughter-in-law.” Mom gives me a pointed look.
“Geez.” My face warms. “You’re so subtle, Mom.”
“Subtlety won’t get me grandchildren.” Mom smirks.
Kara laughs gaily, and they go off to the kitchen together, arms linked.
Jack chuckles. “Might be time to buy a ring, bro. Kara could get tired of waiting for you to pop the question.”
Dad sighs. “Your brother is right. It’s already been a year. Your Mom would be heartbroken if Kara got away.”
I’m not sure why my Mom’s pushy behavior is bugging me today. She’s made those kinds of comments plenty of times. It’s no secret Mom likes Kara and really hopes I marry her. Up until recently, I’d have said that was a sure thing. I’m hopeful Kara and I can get back on solid ground before it’s too late. When there are too many hurt feelings and ugly things said, sometimes it’s hard to forgive and forget. Sometimes it’s easier to cut the other person loose. I’m not there yet with Kara, but things need to change.
I meet Jude’s enigmatic gaze. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to the Walsh’s,” I say, leading the way into the other room with Dad and Jack on our tail.
Connor shakes Jude’s hand warmly. “Welcome to the mountain, son,” he says, his grin broad beneath his gray beard. “You settling in okay?”
Jude grimaces. “I think I am. Seems like a great town.”
“It’s the best.” Connor slings an arm around Dana. “This one tried to get me to move to California once. I told her she was out of her mind.”
Dana rolls her eyes. “That was twenty years ago, Connor. Let it go.”
“Never.” He winks at Jude. “You from the South? I hear a little something in your voice.”
“Florida originally. Then Atlanta.” He smiles politely when my dad pushes a beer into his hand.
