Page 125 of A Love Like Candle Light

Today is the day. Thanksgiving to be precise. I’m about to leave for Nic’s. Which is not what I’m nervous about.

What I’m nervous about is meeting Molly.

It’s been eerily quiet in the house ever since we buried Elizabeth. The days after, I kept waiting for doors to slam closed, for the familiar rattling of my curtains or cupboard doors closing. But nothing.

No more feelings of being watched. No more jump scares. I can even finally use my other room upstairs without getting the creeps.

Though I have to admit, I kind of miss her closing my cupboards for me. I got so used to it that I’ve run into left-open doors like three times already, much to the amusement of Erik.

Being on my toes the whole time kept my thoughts occupied, but when I woke up this morning, I remembered I’d be meeting his aunt today. And ever since then, I haven’t managed to think about anything else. My brain went through any possible situation, any possible conversation we could have and found a way for me to embarrass myself in each and every one of them. Fun.

My doorbell rings, and I jump up, heart thundering. I straighten my shirt and patting down my leggings, ignoring Abby’s personified ‘what the hell is going on with you?’ stare. Yes, I’m dressed super casually, but damn it, we’re having Thanksgiving dinner. If there is one day and occasion to dress casual, this is it.

Okay. Take a deep breath, Kylie. You can do this. You’re only meeting his aunt, not some prime minister or president. Really, how badly could it go?

As if she senses Erik is on the other side, Abby darts ahead and waits impatiently by the door, a soft nervous pitter patter in the air from her paws and wagging tail tapping the ground.

Zach wasn’t close with his parents, so I didn’t feel too nervous about meeting them. He made it clear, whatever their opinion was of me, it didn’t matter much. He was much more nervous about meeting mine.

He introduced them to me over a low-stakes dinner at his place and the only other time I met them was at our wedding, where we exchanged maybe three words. We never got together for birthdays or major holidays, and ultimately, he wasn’t much of a family guy and didn’t want to spend them with mine either.

So today is the first big Thanksgiving I’ve celebrated in almost a decade and I’m excited. Finally, a nice, huge, self-made dinner instead of sad, microwave turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie, because preparing those for two people wasn’t worth the hassle.

As soon as I open the door, Abby darts out and I don’t even try to stop her. Instead, I take one more deep breath, before I pull it open further.

“Hi, babe.” Erik’s face breaks into a big grin as soon as he comes into view.

“Hi.”

I step outside and let him gather me up in his arms for a big, hearty hug and a kiss to my temple. His arms are nice and warm. Winter came over Wayward Hollow fast.

Where the lake was surrounded by the prettiest shades of red and gold in the fall, the bare trees make the atmosphere a lot more serene. Very horror movie when combined with early morning mist.

Cold wind blows a strand of hair over my eyes and sends a shiver through me.

“You okay?” he mumbles right above my ear, and I find myself nodding against his chest.

“I’m a little nervous, but I’ll be fine,” I mumble against his sweatshirt, feeling his chest vibrate with a chuckle.

“You really don’t have to be nervous.” I poke the small of his back. How very unhelpful. If I could flick a switch and turn my anxiety off, I would.

“She’s your aunt. I want to make a good impression.” His arms around me tighten and he walks me back into my hallway. He reaches for one of my scarves and drapes it around my throat, keeping me flush against him with one arm.

I wasn’t going to wear one for the ten minutes it takes to Nic’s house, but oh well.

“You couldn’t make a bad impression if you tried.” He loosens his hug but doesn’t let me go yet.

“You must be Kylie, it’s so nice to meet you,” a female voice suddenly appears behind him.

“Eep.” I squeak and try to step out of Erik’s hug, but he closes his arms around me tighter. “Erik!” I scold him and try to push him off, but he won’t let me go. At least not until Abby jumps him to demand a proper greeting in the form of pets.

“You two are so cute.”

I turn to his aunt. My cheeks are burning. Maybe from the cold, maybe because I find it impossible not to blush whenever Erik is around.

She stares at me with twinkling eyes and a kind smile. For a moment, she looks so much like him, the fact they’re related really isn’t deniable.

“Yes. Uh. Hi. I’m Kylie.” I stammer and awkwardly extend my hand.