Page 85 of Autumn on My Mind

“You do look a little warm,” she says. “Do you feel feverish at all?”

“Yes,” I say. “Or—no. Not feverish. Warm.” I clear my throat and fan my face, trying to get some air. “It’s warm in here.” Then I scoot my chair out and stand up, sending a covert glare at Dom, who’s still smirking. “Let’s grab some food.”

Anything to change the subject.

The rest of the Harpers follow suit, rounding the table and heading for the food. Dominic glances over his shoulder at me as he passes, but I ignore this as I pull out my phone. It’s just begun to ring, and I’m a coward who would rather put off the inevitable dinner for a bit longer.

I smile when I see Nate’s name on the screen, though. “Hi,” I say, drifting around the table and standing in the very corner of the room. I have to raise my voice a bit, because it’s loud in here.

“Hi,” Nathan says. “I was calling to see how everything is going. How’s Mom?”

I make a noncommittal sound.

Nate gives a knowing hum. “Yeah. And are you still sleeping at the shop?”

“No, I found somewhere else,” I say. Then, before he can ask where exactly I’m staying, I move on. “But your timing is impeccable. I am about to begin a dinner with Alvina, her new boyfriend, and her new boyfriend’s family,” I say in a low voice.

“That sounds like a nightmare,” he responds, but his voice is perfectly cheerful. He has the luxury of cheerfulness—he’s a million miles away with his girlfriend.

I glance around to make sure no one is nearby before speaking again. “I think I’m suitably prepared, but you never know with Alvina, so please wish me luck.” I pause. “Or if you have any teleportation technology up your sleeve, get me out of here. That would work too.”

Nathan laughs. “No teleportation on my end.” Then, more serious, he goes on, “But get out of there if you need to, Reese. I mean it. Don’t let her walk all over you.”

It’s a conversation we’ve had before, but I sigh. “Yeah,” I say, and even I’m not convinced. “Well, I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Good luck, little sis.”

My lips twitch at this. “Thanks, old man. Be safe.”

He lets out a snort of laughter, and we hang up. I do feel better, though, having talked to him.

I turn around and head toward the tables stretched with food, tucking my phone back in my pocket. I’m stopped in my tracks, however, by my mother, who appears in front of me with a plate of food.

“Here,” she says, holding it toward me.

I blink at her, confused. “What—for me?”

“Of course for you,” she says, waving the plate at me. But her impatience is laced with uncertainty, with hesitation I don’t understand as she smooths her free hand over her hair and fidgets with her earrings.

I think…

I think she’s trying to be a proper mother right now. Is that what’s happening here?

But what else could this be? The way moms get food for their kids in buffet lines; the way mother birds regurgitate worms for their chicks to digest.

“I—” I begin in a stilted voice. Why do I feel so weird? “Thanks.” I take the plate in a kind of haze, barely looking down at it before I make my way to the table where Daryl is already seated, an open seat for Alvina on one side and Rosie on his other.

Dominic is already there with his food, his earlier smirk gone. He’s across the table next to Rosie, and I nod when I see his brows raised in question.

I don’t know exactly what he’s asking, and I don’t know exactly what I’m answering, but the moment makes sense nonetheless.

His presence is grounding, and my body eases into the seat next to Alvina’s rather than folding in robotically.

My mother settles next to me in a cloud of perfume and jingling jewelry, and I lean away to give her more room. Then I pick up my fork and look down at my plate.

Salad of some kind, with dried cranberries and sunflower seeds, and two pieces of turkey.

I swallow uncomfortably and remind myself that what’s important is Alvina tried. I guess she doesn’t know I really don’t like turkey—I never have. And I’ll still be hungry when I’m done, but I can get up and get more.