Everyone else just stared, mouth agape, while they watched “Daddy” clean his face with his napkin.
“Maggie, I must say, that’s quite a mighty fine glaze on that ham.”
I stared, dumbfounded.
“Annie made it,” I managed.
“Gemma, my dear, would you be so kind as to join me in the coat closet? I do believe I have a rather large inconvenience in my trousers that perhaps you could attend to.”
“Oh, shit!” Graham chuckled, taking a drink.
“Oh God, eww!” I recoiled, then elbowed Graham in the ribs.
He grunted. “What?”
“Ooo—come, come, come, dear… or at least I hope we do.” Uncle Silas made my dad jump up, grab Gemma’s arm, and dash out of the dining room like there was a fire following behind them.
I scanned the table, mortified.
Katie sat there with a smirk the entire time.
I kicked her foot under the table and mouthed, “Do something!”
“Oh—Um—!!” She jumped up. “Let me get some more potatoes to go around.”
Fuuuck! Like this was what I needed. And now of all times? I couldn’t believe Uncle Silas would be so careless… so thoughtless… as to possess another innocent man after what happened last time—let alone my father.
Giggles and rhythmic thuds followed by moans from both Katie and Gemma echoed from the coat closet, through the kitchen, and into the dining room.
“Jesus Christ, Graham.” I leaned over to him, fanning myself. “I think I’m going to pass out.”
“I think I might join you… but first, pie.” Graham grabbed his plate and shoved off from the table, his chair skittering across the wooden planks.
A few seconds later he returned with the entire triple berry pie I’d baked him and a fork. I glanced over to Hunter and held his hand, running my thumb over his, but he pulled back and threw his napkin on the table.
“You okay?”
“Peachy.”
I lowered my voice so as to not draw attention. “Hunter, what is it?”
“I can’t believe the amount of time you spent on that.” He jabbed a finger toward Graham. “Hand selecting berries. Cutting the little shapes out of dough. And mine didn’t warrant a second thought, did it?”
“What? You asked for Rice Krispie Bars with red and white sprinkles. No matter what I would have done to them, it wouldn’t take more than twenty minutes. If you wanted me to spend more time, request a harder dessert.”
Hunter stood, looking down his nose at Graham. “Leave it to him to request the most time-consuming pie. I’d wager he just wanted to keep you busy with your mind on him for as long as possible.”
“Huh?” I looked back at Graham, who had already devoured a quarter of the thing. What in the actual fuck just happened?
“Maggie, your friends are mighty rude, and I’m afraid it has rubbed off on you. Why on earth would you make such a beautiful pie for a man other than your fiancé?” Mom said, crossing her arms.
“Ugh, he’s not my fiancé.”
Hunter’s jaw tightened, something dangerous moving behind his eyes. “No, but Iamyour boyfriend. And I deserve better than this.”
“Oh my God, really?” I glanced to Graham, who was now hunched over the pie, elbows on the table, protective like it was the only thing giving him life.
Pushing away from the table, I grabbed my plate and stood. “You want something better? Here.” I picked up a square box wrapped in sleek matte black paper and a thick gold ribbon, and shoved it toward him. “Open it. I’ll tell you all about it.”
