Chapter Thirty-Four
Lorena toweled off.“I’ll see you after Thanksgiving.”
Spencer passed her a water bottle.“Doing anything special?”
“My husband’s sister and her family are coming to New York, and we’re going to have dinner out and see the holiday sights before they go home.”
“Sounds nice.”
“What about you?”
“Haven’t decided yet.”It was getting down to the wire, but he was still on the fence about going home for Thanksgiving.On the one hand, he wasn’t looking forward to a whole holiday’s worth of comparison to his dad at his age.But at the same time, he had no idea what to do with himself instead.The gym was only open for a few hours on Thanksgiving, and he’d taken the next few days off when he’d thought he’d be away.
Lorena headed to the locker room, and Emily approached him.“Couldn’t help overhearing that your holiday plans were up in the air.”
Spencer nodded.“That’s true.”
“Barry hosts a dinner for people who can’t afford to fly home or don’t go for one reason or another.You should come.”
Spencer was all set to politely decline but couldn’t bring himself to do it.The only reason he was still planning to go home for Thanksgiving was that he hadn’t known what he’d do instead.But now new plans had presented themself.
“That sounds good,” he found himself saying.
“It usually is, and I’d say that even if they didn’t have their own courtyard.”
“Nice.Do I need to bring anything?”
“You’ll have to ask him exactly what, but how this works is, all he and his husband make is a turkey.Everybody else brings sides, starters, and desserts.”
Barry readily accepted Spencer’s RSVP and requested that he bring a side dish or two.That would be easy enough, but the hard part was still to come.He waited until his nephew would theoretically be asleep, then called his sister.After a few minutes of small talk, Laura asked, “When are you coming for Thanksgiving again?It’ll be here before we know it.”
He took a deep breath.“I’m not going to be able to make it.The fact is, I haven’t felt so hot lately, and it would be better to stay here.”
“That’s all the more reason to come where it’s quiet!”An ill-timed ambulance cut off the first part of her statement but rounded the corner to let Spencer hear, “...take care of you at home.”
“I am home.”
All at once, he realized he wasn’t saying it to be argumentative.He’d made his little studio feel like a home rather than a holding cell.He’d done so well at work he’d gotten promoted, he had new friends, and he’d found love again here.
“Look, the stress of travel and everything isn’t going to help.I’ll still see you at Christmas”—he should be further along in therapy by then—“but I can’t make it now.”
After hanging up, he canceled his ticket home.Now someone else who wanted it could have this last-minute opportunity, and he could have a quiet holiday.
The night before Thanksgiving, he sent Misty a text from the bed in his quiet apartment.
Spencer:I feel so much better from avoiding travel alone.
