“My absolute favorite.”
I pan across crab legs, trays of clams casino, and the baked oysters Rockefeller. Damn, even trays of split lobsters, cooked Thermidor style.
“Your son is really sweet. Kind of exceptional. He’s so fortunate to have parents that don’t completely suck.” I can’t help myself. “Dave reads books to my stray cat. I planted that odd idea, but he’s been on board. Not everyone would. Not sure if he told you. He’s too modest, so he probably didn’t, but he’s been looking after me and my difficult cat for months.”
“I’ve heard about the cat and the books. And you. Not all from him, but I’ve heard.” His mom smiles. “From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I read to him.”
“Dave shared that with me. He hasn’t forgotten.”
“I’m just glad it somehow took. And that it’s one of the things that’s helped you two connect. Something special here. But I’ll try to refrain from pushing.” She raises up her plate and moves us through the crowd. “Diana? We are not missing out on the Thermidor, so get in here!”
The guests before us are still hovering over the table, but I don’t hesitate to step in, lest I miss anything, but I turn and wander for a second to grab Dave’s hand so he’s with me as we attack this table. And his mom is all smiles as I get the three of us to load up plates of this gorgeous seafood and all the sides.
“More German potato salad,” I call out. “And the spicy aioli for the fried calamari that I suspect is Dave’s doing.”
“How did you—” he tries to ask.
His mom about whoops as she rounds the table and adds another crab leg to her tray. “This girl knows your food. More importantly, she seemingly knowsyou,” she adds. “Will you be here for Christmas too?” she asks.
Jeremy shows up and raises a glass.
It’s not something I’ve thought about, so I have to take a moment—but not a long moment. It’s then I realize and acceptthat I don’t have an actual home to go home to. At least not one I want to revisit. I survey this family, and while I’m so happy for them, I know I will never have this.
Finally, I answer and affirm, “I will be in Snowshoe.”
This all feels like too much. Too beautiful. This family is clearly so close and loving and…well, healthy. Things I cannot relate to in any way. Amazing parents who love their child wholeheartedly. Who love each other. I cannot imagine that they’d ever be able to welcome me and my damaged history into their realm.
Dave’s father frowns. “Not just in Snowshoe, buthere, yes? At our house? With us?” Jeremy tries to speak softly when he talks to his wife. He has to yell over the crowd. “She doesn’t really have a family, right? That’s just not okay. We’re her family, yes?”
Much to my delight, Georgia nearly jumps up and down. “Damn, yes! And thank God!”
“Okay, crazies.” Dave steps in, and though he’s clearly embarrassed by his parents, he wraps a sweet arm around my waist. “She will absolutely be with us on Christmas Day.”
I lean into him, my security once again. “So, Dave’s dad, I have to ask about you and your mom. She’s how many years old and still on the boat three days a week? Sorting lobsters?”
“Yes.” Jeremy beams. “She’s a hero. Not the oldest hero. We lost that icon a few years ago.”
“Virginia Oliver, yes?”
“Yes,” he says solemnly as he raises his glass.
Virginia was a captain and worked until she was one hundred three and passed not long ago. I’ve read everything and watched everything about that lobsterwoman and posted about her so many times. She was truly an icon. It was pleasing to see how many of my followers knew and loved her and how they mourned her passing so deeply.
“Such a loss,” I agree. “But she represented your industry, right? The dedication?”
Jeremy nods. “This is a family business that we love. We’re all in this.”
A rather drunken voice interrupts our conversation. “Yeah, but too bad David copped out, right? He was a great lobsterman.”
Wait. Dave was a lobsterman?
“Killer boat, killer crew, hauled in the cockroaches of the sea and the money. He ran away for no good reason.”
Anjanette must have just arrived, but she scuffles through the crowd and pushes this person out the door. The nameless and faceless voice fades away, but we all heard his words.
“There was a good fucking reason, so you shut the hell up!” Anj calls back, her words and voice loud and clear.
Someone changes the subject fast, but David ambles outside, trying to move casually, but visibly upset, and we all hear glass smash outside.
