“Your uncle did say something about you being at a friend’s house, but that doesn’t answer my question. Where are you? Do you need to be picked up to come home and spend the holiday with us?”
My hand tightens on the phone. “I’m spending today with my boyfriend and his family, Mom. You’re all invited if you’d like to come.” I give her the address at Jack’s approving nod. “Are you coming?”
She’s quiet on the other end of the phone, and then I hear her say something to my father. “We didn’t realize you had a boyfriend. Of course we’ll come to meet him and his family.”
I hate the twisted feeling in my gut. The desire I can’t shake, the eagerness to see them again after so long, knotted and twined with anxiety and fear that they’ll mess everything up. “See you soon,” I say, and hang up.
Jack’s lips are tugged up in a slight smile. “Hey Mom,” he calls into the kitchen. “We’re gonna need stuff for three more place settings.”
FOUR
JACK
Eli doesn’t pace when he’s nervous. His nervous energy coils inside instead. I only see it because I know him. His face becomes mask-like, the way it was the first few weeks I knew him. His dark eyes fix on the doorway, and although he looks like he’s leaning against the wall, his shoulders are rigid beneath his soft sweater.
“I want to eat!” Hugh says from where he sits at the table.
“Here, honey, have a roll while we wait,” Mom says.
“They should be here by now,” Eli says in a quiet voice. “It’s been half an hour.”
“Don’t worry,” I tell him.
“They’re already making a negative impression.”
They’ve made a negative impression all this time, with their neglect. Being a few minutes late is nothing. But I don’t say that to Eli. Part of him is nervous because he wants them to impressus, but he also wants them to be better. He hasn’t seen them in two years. He knows now that they’re failing him, but he still wants to believe they can do better.
I hope they can. And if they can’t, I hope Mom rakes them over the coals.
I hear a car door in the next minute, closely followed by two others. “They’re here,” I call to Mom, as Eli goes to open the door.
Mom bustles over, Widget flying past. Eli takes a second before he draws the door open, the wings of his shoulders moving with a deep breath. His uncle leads the way in. My eyes skirt right over him and fix on Eli’s absentee parents.
Eli’s father is definitely the one related to Uncle Remington. They both have dark hair and broad shoulders, like Eli. His father has black eyes, compared to the green of his uncle’s, and his face doesn’t seem as naturally pulled down in a scowl. It’s somewhat blank.
Eli’s mother has curly brown hair and brown eyes a little lighter than Eli’s, and a face full of makeup done perfectly. I assume. It’s obvious she’s wearing it, but it looks really nice. Guess if her world is fashion photography, she’s used to wearing it expertly, but it seems weird to be so done up for Thanksgiving with family. She’s also wearing a short dress and high heels. I look at Mom, in dark jeans and a purple T-shirt with a turkey on it, and try to hide my smile. One mother clearly gets this day more than the other.
“Elliot!” Eli’s mother says, spreading her arms.
Beside me, Eli is still rigid. His voice is his first reaction, low and raw.“Mom.”
He kind of lurches forward to meet her embrace. The smile playing at my lips fades, something clogging my throat. He must have grown a lot, since the last time she hugged him. Does it feel different, to him? Does it feel different to her?
She pats his back and ends the hug after a few seconds. Too soon.
Eli doesn’t show anything, though. He just backs away, gives his father a hug that lasts barely a second, and dips his head at Uncle Remington. “I’m glad you came. This is Jack.”
“Nice to meet you,” I manage. I don’t think I mean it. Conflicting emotions churn inside me, sadness welling in my chest even as rage creeps up my throat. Seeing them, putting faces to the silhouettes that have caused Eli so much pain . . .
Mom steps forward. “Lilah Benson, Jack’s mom. I’m so glad you could come!”
She hugs Eli’s mom—she hugs all three of them. Uncle Remington looks flabbergasted.
“Please, come on in. We’ve got the table all set, and I know the boys are hungry. They always are, but in this case, I’m sure we all are!”
Mom ushers them to the dining room. Janet and Hugh are already sitting. Eli’s mother pauses at the sight of them. “My daughter, Janet, and my grandson, Hugh,” Mom says.
“Oh, you have a grandson,” Eli’s father says. “How nice.”
