With pursed lips, Leo shrugged.
It wasn’t until we were in the doorway that we figured out what was going on.
Set on the table along with tall, elegant candles, was an elaborate Christmas dinner. A beautiful, glazed ham sat at the center of the table. A deep dish of cheesy scalloped potatoes made my mouth water.
Then my eyes fell to the silver platter of perfectly roasted vegetables, a golden brown crisp along their edges.
“Dom…” Leo started
Turning on the heels of her feet as she finished uncorking a bottle of wine, Dom shook her head. “Just thought you’d be hungry.”
Leo took the first step into the room. But I let her hand fall away from mine as I stood in the doorway.
Was it an apology? Or just convenient for Dom to have more dolls in her playhouse?
“Even Vipers have to eat.” Dom grumbled as she sat down. “I made your favorite.” Nodding toward a bowl of peas at the middle of the table, Dom sat back in her chair.
Sure enough, next to the glazed ham was a bowl full of round green pearls. But not just any peas, peas and pancetta. As soon as she said it, I could smell the familiar dish. I hadn’t had it since I was little. When Isaac would invite all of the Tierney’s to Christmas dinner, when he and my dad would talk about their next big project at the head of the table.
A flash of laughing faces came back to mind. My mother and Dom’s mom giggling in the corner. Before everything changed.
“Sit.” Dom clenched her jaw, as her icy blue eyes met mine. “Please.”
My heart hitched in my chest. All of this was the closest she’d gotten to an apology in the last couple weeks. I wasn’t sure what had caused her to change her mind and I wasn’t certain that I was buying it.
But it would have been a waste to let the food get thrown in the trash.
Stepping forward, I pulled out a chair at the opposite end of the table. As annoying as it was to have to look at Dom while I ate, it was better than having to be near her.
As soon as I was in my seat, Leo started to grab platters and dish food onto my plate. Once it was set in front of me, there was barely any of the white ceramic showing.
I didn’t take a bite until Doctor Leo finished getting her own food. There was no big speech, no toast to new beginnings. Just the sound of forks and knives cutting into food.
I grabbed a scoop of the peas when I thought Dom wasn’t looking. As soon as the fork was between my lips, I felt tears welling in my eyes. The crisped pancetta melted on my tongue,mixing with the fresh lemon zest and the earthy flavor of the peas.
Just like I remembered.
I kept my eyes on my plate, knowing I couldn’t trust myself to meet Dom’s eyes.
There was a comfort in the silence, like there was no need to speak because there would be time for that.
And just that feeling made my shoulders relax as I dug in.
Maybe there was hope for Dom. For all of us.
55
KIERA
New Years cameand went in a flash, just like it always did. With the kids off to parties at their friends’ houses, Spencer was back home with us. And selfishly, I couldn’t think of a better way to ring in the new year than with her and Leo.
I wasn’t big on partying. When I was a kid, Maura had always dragged me off to some party or another with the instructions to stay out of the way and out of sight until the morning. So spending the night at home in my pajamas without any angry yelling was a huge upgrade.
Still, even stuck at home, my angels did their best to make the day special. Setting up a big platter of sushi and an assortment of drinks at the head of the dining room table, Leo kept the tunes pumping all night while Spencer coached us through drinking games she’d picked up in college.
“No wonder the LD girls need saving every five minutes, this shit’ll make you black out,” Dom had grumbled two rounds into flip cup.
Despite her grouchy attitude, Dom managed to stay up with us until midnight, only cringing slightly as Leo and Spencer raced to be my first kiss of the New Year. She even offered to stayand clean up the dining room while the rest of us headed off to bed.
