“I do too,” Vanessa says.“He loved Thanksgiving so much.”
“Especially the turkey,” Trish says.“He could eat half a turkey himself.”
Oh, boy.“I do have a confession,” I finally admit.
“What?”Vanessa looks unduly alarmed as she looks around the room.“Is everyone okay?What’s going on?”
I laugh.“No one’s harmed, but I burned the turkey.”
“Oh, no,” Trish says.“But are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say.“Other than a burned spot on the top of my oven, there were no casualties except the turkey itself.”
Vanessa’s eyes widen.“Thank goodness that didn’t happen yesterday.”We both start laughing at the same time.
“Right?”I shake my head.“The turkeys yesterday were perfect.”
“So what happened?”Trish asks.
I fill them in as Sam arrives, leaving out the kissing part.Sam strides in, still wearing riding boots, but she somehow always manages to look like she’s never even been near a horse—no dirt, no horse hair, nothing.Pristine.I have no idea how she does that.My boots are always crusted with mud, my white breeches stained with grass and horse spittle, and my shirt always gets covered with gunk the second I walk near the barn.
“Then what are we eating?”Sam asks.“There’s no turkey?Really?”
I point at the Tupperware that contains just enough turkey for four or five people.“We have that, but it’s maybe got enough for a bite each.But...Cillian had an idea.”
Before I can explain, he pulls up outside, his Audi gleaming in the rare Irish sunlight.
“He’s here.”I point.“He brought Irish stew, so we’ll have a traditional Thanksgiving with a twist.As Irish immigrants, we’re adding an Irish dish.”
“I hope he brought a lot,” Sam mutters.
“What?”Vanessa and I both turn.
“Well.”She looks at her hands, which is not at all like her.“I might have mentioned Thanksgiving to Richard.”
“Oh, no, I know he’s coming.”I pretend I’m not nervous at all.“It’s fine.”
“And his dad’s in town.”Sam bites her lip.“And then today, while we were working horses, I mentioned to Rían that I was going to finish early.”She sighs.“And he and his new girlfriend have apparently beendyingto try an American Thanksgiving.Thanks a lot, TikTok, and I couldn’t really tell them they couldn’t come, since they’re just two people.”She grimaces.“Sorry.”
Oh my word.
“Is there anyone else we didn’t know about who’s now coming?”Vanessa asks.“I did tell you Jack and his kids were coming, right?”
I nod.“You did, yes, and I doubt two small children will make much difference, so don’t worry.”
“Look!”Blaine shouts from upstairs.“Dad’s here.He parked right by Cillian.”
“Mason?”Sam hisses.“What’s he doing here?”
“I sort of invited him,” I say.“But it’s going to be fine.Mason said he’ll be on his best behavior.”
“So he’ll only sleep with two women?”Sam mutters.
“None of that,” I hiss.
Mason and Cillian walk through the door at the same time, each of them carrying a heavy bag.
“You brought the stew,” I say.
