Page 89 of Call It Serendipity

“Ooh,” Jenny says excitedly, clapping her mittened hands together. “I ran home from the café last night to watch that in time.” She turns to Lucy. “Did you catch the new Friends last night?”

Lucy nods back with equal joy on her face, declaring, “Easily the best episode ever.”

“And then when Monica put it on and made the wings dance and⁠—”

“Okay,” Mack cuts in. “Then I’m assuming this means it’s good to go.”

Claire smirks. “Yes, drop that bird.”

Slowly, Levi lowers the wire hook speared through the turkey. We collectively hold our breaths as inch after inch sinks below the oil until it’s completely submerged. Then he kneels back down to flip the burner on once more.

“So far so good,” Claire says from Lucy’s other side, giving her a nudge.

“And what happens next? We all stand here and watch it for⁠—”

Jenny’s question is cut off by the sound of the gate by the garage creaking over. Then my sister comes strolling through.

“What are you all doing back here? Are we eating outside or something?” she asks as Claire and Lucy hurry over to give her a hug.

But it’s not my sister that has my attention. It’s the dark figure walking through the shadows behind her. It looks oddly familiar, like someone I know extremely well.

“Tay, who is—” I start to ask as he steps into the floodlight’s glow. “No shit.”

“Hey, long time no see,” my best friend greets me with a wry grin.

“Tad! What are you doing out this way?” I stride over as well, my own mouth lifting in a surprise smile.

“You didn’t tell me Tad was the second brother you wanted to bring,” Lucy says to Taylor. “Although maybe I should have guessed.”

“You knew about this?” I look between them, still partially in disbelief that my three favorite people in the world are all together in this backyard with me.

“I knew Taylor was bringing someone, that’s all.”

“And you must be Lucy,” Tad says, extending his hand to her.

He’s a tall guy, with a few inches on me even. Something that’s not common. And he’s wearing a vest over a flannel, giving him the look of a local rather than a New York City executive.

“I am, it’s so nice to finally meet you,” she replies, taking his hand.

“You have no idea.” He shoots her a charming smirk. “I feel like I already know you. The way this guy⁠—”

“Alright, man. Don’t make me sorry to see you,” I cut in, earning a chuckle.

He releases Lucy’s hand to shake mine. “It’s been too long, brother.”

“You’re not kidding. Glad you managed to get away from the office.”

“Yeah,” he snorts. “Maybe we can convince Richard you need a second set of hands out here for a while… you know, with your article.”

“My article,” I drawl slowly, taking far too long to realize Taylor’s clearly looped him in on the cover story. “Right, that would be perfect.”

“Careful,” Claire warns, her attention on me. “This town has a way of drawing people in.”

My arm snakes back around Lucy, and she doesn’t hesitate to settle against my side. “This town, and its people,” I agree. And I’m honored to have fallen prey.

50

“This is all so good,” Taylor moans, as if she’s never eaten a home cooked meal in her life. I’m tempted to tease her, but this really is the best Thanksgiving dinner I’ve ever had—and the first that wasn’t catered.