Caleb nods, clearly unsure of what to make of my son’s sudden philosophizing.
“And maybe, when he moves here, he’ll start reacting more, right? Like, it’spossible, isn’t it?”
Lauren nods. “I believe it could be possible.”
“Either way,” Brody continues, “if it weren’t for the accident, you and Cameron wouldn’t be here living with us now, and I’m really happy that you are. I know it’s not reallysuperlike that, but, uhm, it’s been kinda like having a second dad here and like having a brother. I dunno if I’m makin’ sense or not, but I guess I’m just really really glad that I have more people in my life who have differences… like me. So, sometimes super good things can happen, even from bad things.”
Brody hugs Caleb, and that’s when I hear Maria, on the other side of me, sniffling into her napkin. Caleb squeezes him tightly, rubbing his back. Lauren reaches over the back of Caleb’s chair, her hand finding mine as she smiles softly at me.
Natalie scoffs, swiping at her cheeks. “Shoot, my eyes are leaking all over the baby.”
Danny chuckles, stroking his wife’s thigh. “Here, lemme take Nadine,” he offers. “It’s about time she had a bottle anyway.”
For the rest of the dinner, the topic of conversation changes focus, thankfully. Chatter picks up about how our relationship is working out, and about how much happier Caleb seems lately. I’d like to think that he recognizes all the changes our core family unit has seen in him too.
He’s not popping as much ibuprofen for his back pain, for starters. Since he was discharged from PT, he has been utilizing a combination of the stretches his doctor sent him home with and also has beenenjoying regular back massages from Lauren and me—who each dole them out very differently, might I add. There are some evenings he opts for my more gentler approach, and there are sometimes he requests them from Lauren, who has a more, I don’t know,aggressivetouch.
I honestly think it helps her burn off steam too, especially on the nights she doesn’t go all Chuck Norris on a punching bag at the gym.
Also, can we just talk for a minute about his smiles? God, they’re popping up all randomly now, and I’m entirely for it. He’s fucking stunning to look at, and when he’s not all droopy and broody? Man, I’m done for…
I should send his therapist a thank you card, flowers or an edible bouquet, or something.
And he’s getting out there more too. Granted, it’s mostly still with me and we just wind up at Portside together after work—the closest thing he and I ever get to going on actual dates around here, mostly because of my own still-lingering apprehension—but still, we have fun. Currently, we’re having a hell of a time watching Gannett, our dim-witted golden retriever captain, stumble through figuring out how he feels about Gordy, the pissed-at-the-world grouch of a bartender/owner of the pub.
Both Caleb and I being betting men, we currently have a couple of them going. One is that they discover all their bickering is actually flirting. The flirting thing is an obvious no brainer, however. No, what we’ve bet on is whether or not those idiots figure that shit out before Christmas. I say yes, there will be jingling balls before the New Year, but Caleb seems to think that there will be balls droppingafterit. The second bet is whether or not Gannett will freak the fuck out once he has a sexual awakening.
I think he absolutely will, but Caleb seems to think Cap will take it in stride.
Eventually, Caleb’s family decided that they’d like to stick around Ternbay longer because it’s so infrequent now that they all get together like this, so they help clean up. They’re going to spend the night at Double C ranch so they can also help pack up the things they don’t want disposed of when Caleb sells the cottage. Currently, they’re all jamming out to eighties rock while taking turns doing dishes.
I’m bending over, trying to make room in the fridge for yet even more leftovers, when I spot a reflection coming towards me on the freezer door. “Lo,” I warn, my voice low, “don’t eventhinkabout it…”
I spin to find her flat palm all wound up, still ready to smack my ass in front of everyone. She scowls at me, and I smirk. “Don’t mess with me when I’ve got pie in my hands,” I tease her.
Nana Wilmot chimes in, “She looks like a woman on a mission to me!”
I waggle the pie, offering Nana a look. “I could smash this right in her face.”
“You wouldn’tdare,” Lo hisses, pressing her lips together to suppress a smile.
Brody starts off a chant, “Pie Mum! Pie Mum!”
Natalie whirls around, spinning a dish towel lengthwise, ready to snap it at any second. She takes a stand beside Lauren. “I’ve got your back, sweetie.”
Lauren beams at the camaraderie, and the sight of it warms my heart—momentarily, of course, because she still looks like she’s about to lunge in and swat my ass. Caleb joins me at my side, pulling me protectively in front of him. I lean down and back, awkwardly pressing a kiss to his cheek, a sign of my appreciation.
“Oooh, a right proper standoff,” Maria hums, drying her hands, appearing ever so amused.
Ned warns her, “Stay out of it, Mar.” Then, he settles back on the counter, crossing his arms over his chest, looking like he’s settling in to watch a good show.
Suddenly, the eldest of Natalie and Danny’s boys, Diego, swoops in, scoops some of the pie out with his bare hands and smears it down both Caleb and Natalie’s faces before hooting triumphantly and taking off, licking his fingers. Cameron, standing off to the side holding Pepper, doubles over laughing before fist bumping his cousin.
Danny looks like he’s about to scold his son but stops short when Natalie’s look of shock morphs into one of amusement.
She licks her lips, swipes the pie off one of her cheeks, and whirls around on her son. “Oh, this means war!” she proclaims, snatching the pie from me and chasing Diego around.
An all-out food fight breaks out at that point. Laughter and happy mayhem all around. No one is even taking sides anymore, it’s every person for themselves. I’ll probably never be able to get these stains of my dress, but at this point, I really could care less. Let the memories stay embedded in the fabric because this is the best Thanksgiving I have ever had, and, for the life of me, I’m not so sure what I was ever terrified about to begin with.
