It’s Amelia and Clara’s favorite too, so I’ll freeze whatever cranberries we don’t use so I can make more later.
The rest of the day flies by in a blur of pies, sweet potato casserole, green beans—in a casserole and as its own dish—rolls, turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffed mushrooms, cranberry salad, and bean salad.By the time I’m done, my feet hurt, my back aches, and my head’s pounding.
But, I did one smart thing.I madetwo setsof almost everything, so most of the Thanksgiving cooking for tomorrow is almost entirely done.Pies, casseroles, pre-stuffed mushrooms, all of it.Tomorrow, all I have to do is make the rolls, bake another turkey, and pop the casseroles in the oven.Having a commercial kitchen is thebest.The fridge space alone almost makes buying this place worth it.
I’m going over a checklist of items in my head and reviewing the three dining room tables we have set—three different families staying in nine rooms opted to have their own individual Thanksgiving dinners—when a hand on my shoulder nearly startles me into last week.
I spin around.
It’s Cillian.“Hey, there.Easy.”His hands fly wide.“No harm intended, but I called your name and you didn’t answer.”
I smile.“Sorry.”I shiver.“Doing too many things for too long, I think.My brain has given up.”
He rolls his eyes.“What can I do?”He’s dressed in a suit.It looks like he came straight from work.
“What—why are you here?”I frown.“I texted and told you Mrs.Murphy’s sick, so I’m slammed.”
“Which is why I came over as soon as I finished the four closes we had today.”He spreads his hands.“Put me to work.”
“You already worked,” I say.“It sounds like it was a long day.”
“Ah, I went to my desk job.Now I’m here to do my boyfriend duties.”
It’s the first time either of us have said anything like that—boyfriend—other than when I shoved it in Mason’s face to make sure he didn’t freak out tomorrow.Hearing Cillian use the word seriously is vaguely horrifying.I did invite him to come for Thanksgiving earlier this week, which is a boyfriend kind of invite, but I didn’t have much choice.He was with me at the store when I started picking up ingredients, and he said he’d always wondered what American Thanksgivings were like.
“Cillian, listen, I really appreciate your willingness to help, but I can’t possibly ask you to?—”
He presses one finger to my lips, his eyes intent on mine.“You didn’t ask.I’m here, insisting.”He glances around the room.“I see the full dining table, set for twelve.And two more tables—breakfast room, and billiards room.Six and five.Did I count right?”
I nod.
“How were you planning to serve all of them?”He arches one gorgeous eyebrow.“Cloning?Are you part of some clinical trial?”He bites his lip.“Because that would beinteresting.”
I roll my eyes.“Stop.”
“Let me help you.It’s what boyfriends do.”
Clara was walking in, but she freezes and turns.“Uh, sorry.I, um, I’ll just?—”
“You’re fine,” I say.“Cillian showed up to help.”
“Your boyfriend.”Her eyes are large.
“Right,” I say.“I mean, we hadn’t decided on that yet, but we’re trying it on.”I clear my throat.“It’s, uh, new, and I like it.I hope you’re okay with it.”
Clara’s smiling a very awkward but also very happy smile when she backs her way out.“I’ll just go grab the chilled drinks for each room.”
“Thanks,” I say.
“Sorry.”Cillian looks chastened.“I hadn’t thought about how that might go down.”
“I have kids.”I sigh.“It’s literally the most central, most important part of my life, and up until now, my romantic lead was my husband.He got it.It’s harder now, and I guess for you, it’s not that fun, but they always come first for me.”
“So I can’t spring things like the word ‘boyfriend’ on you.”His eyes aren’t meeting mine.
Except, other than Clara walking in, hearing him saying boyfriend feltright.I step toward him and take his hand.“It’s been a really long day, and here you are, helping me out.You showed up without being asked, and you’re all dressed to impress.Your second job, you called it, and I know you were kind of kidding.But it’s true for me.My family is my first job, and this hotel comes second.”I squeeze his hand.“I think the boyfriend is okay, but I guess now we find out whether all the rest is okay for you, too.I chose this, but now you have to also, or this won’t work.”
He nods slowly, and then he smiles, looking up at me, right in the eyes.“Okay.”
