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“Please hold your applause to the end,” I teased before I began. “However, I will accept money thrown my way at any time.”
Everyone laughed. At least, I think everyone did, since I wouldn’t look up. I mostly heard Jonah because he was the loudest and I was still attuned to him after all these years.
“Here goes nothing.” I plucked out a few notes. “It’s that time of year we gather round to feast and let our guards down. For only goodwill and cheer and maybe a little beer will—”
“Beer is bad,” Whitney whispered to her parents.
I didn’t hear their responses before I carried on with my silly tune. “—dwell among us. For we are always grateful for those who join us, even if sometimes Brant annoys us. Please no talk of politics tonight, for we all know you plan to run and all our votes you’ve already won.” I got brave and looked at Brant who was thankfully smiling at me while everyone else laughed.
“Now for Brant’s brother, our American soldier, we give thanks to you and your Army crew for keeping us safe and making sure we can continue to give thanks for this great land in which we live. Speaking of living, there are two among us who have lived a lot of days and we wish you many more. But Sam and Kay you should watch your ways. Your girls love you more than words can say, but we hope and pray you’ll stop your meddling ways.”
Dani and Kinsley snickered and looked at Brant, who Grandma had mentioned on occasion would make a fine catch for Kinsley. I disagreed, as I knew he had feelings for Dani, and from what I’d gathered over the years, I knew Brant would marry who his father deemed worthy, which meant it would be a strong political ally. There was no way John Holland would find Kinsley worthy—an orphan who was in debt up to her eyeballs, doing her best to live her dream of running her own restaurant. Unfortunately, I think Kinsley had kind of taken Grandma’s comments to heart by the way she blushed at Brant when he smiled at her. Poor Kinsley didn’t need any more love triangles in her life. The one she had with her business partners was more than enough.
Dani looked to her left where Brock sat, close but never close enough. Grandma had made sure that Brock sat next to her. A looked passed between them that pained me. It was as if each was staring into a mirror that showed them their deepest desires, but it was always a reflection, never a reality. I had to move on with my song or I was going to start tearing up. I related too much to the unrequited love that brewed between Dani and Brock.
I strummed a few more chords before I went on. “Now that the old folks have been warned.” I smirked at my amused grandparents. “I’d like to call Dani and Kinsley to attention. The next time you cut up my clothes, be ready for it to come to blows.”
Dani waved away my warning. “Please,” she called out, “you look hot now. Well, not so much today.” She pointed at my turkey sweatshirt.
“I like the sweatshirt,” Jonah gave his two cents, making me blush. I didn’t want him to compliment me in front of his ex-wife and daughter. It felt sacrilegious somehow.
I continued my song to hide my embarrassment. “Now that I’m all out of warnings, I’d like to extend a welcome to those who are new. Eliza and Whitney, thank you for joining our motley crew, we hope it doesn’t feel too much like a zoo. That leaves us with our long-lost friend.” I swallowed. “There’s no need to pretend that you were not missed. But it’s time for me to say goodbye. Now pass the pie.”
Everyone clapped and laughed, Jonah being the loudest. Everyone, that is, but Whitney, who still seemed confused about our weird family traditions. She was looking tentatively at all the pie on the table. Every kind from pumpkin to Dutch apple.
I sat back down at the table and let my ukulele rest on my lap, nervous to look across the table, but I could feel Jonah’s gaze on me. When I braved looking in his direction he mouthed, “I missed you too.”
Heaven help us.Chapter Nine“I hope you do not mind that I followed you out here,” Eliza’s sultry voice startled me.
I dropped the trash bag I was holding before turning around in the cold night air. We had just finished cleaning up and I was taking the trash out to the bins behind Grandma and Grandpa’s house. I needed a moment alone after the cozy way Jonah had helped me fill the dishwasher. If he touched me one more time tonight, I was going to self-combust. Did he know how hard it was to resist him? Probably.
