Page 113 of Already Callin’ You Mine

26

PRESLEY

“Tell me again why it’s done this way…”

Jace looks both ways at the four-way stop, letting my not-quite-a-question hang in the air.

“It’s tradition,” he finally answers.

Yes, I got that part. The Hayes family Friendsgiving setup was explained to me multiple times, by multiple members of the family. I already knew that Hayes Industries officially closes at noon on Tuesday the week of Thanksgiving. Since so many Hayes employees end up working at the Gobble Wobble—formerly the Turkey Trot—on actual Thanksgiving, the company gives everyone a half day on Tuesday, plus Wednesday and Friday off to make up for it. That part I remember not only from high school, but my father’s work schedule for the last almost twenty years.

But the part where each generation of the Hayes family goes their own way—Auggie and Miss Belle with their friends, all the boys together, and then Willa off with her people—is where I got lost. Isn’t this supposed to be a family day?

“But why?” I press.

Jace shrugs, as if that’s an answer in itself. A move only he can pull off.

“It dates back to World War II, I think. When everyone was leaving for, or coming home from war, or away at war…I don’t remember. Gus could tell you. But they decided to spend this day with the generations instead of fam units. They called them “generational gatherings.” We’ve done it ever since.”

I chew on his answer for a moment, the sound of Otis humming in the backseat weaving into the sound of the tires against the pavement.

“But that doesn’t make sense. If people are coming and going from war, then wouldn’t you want to be with your family? Your whole family?”

Jace shrugs again, this time with just one shoulder. “It’s tradition; it doesn't have to make sense.”

Okay, well…point to Jace for that answer.

We pull into the long, dirt drive that weaves through the Hayes property, leading to Magnola Manor, Hayes House—the antebellum mansion that has now been turned into staff housing—the original home of Jace’s ancestors who started the company circa the Civil War that now acts as a bunkhouse, Gus and Margeaux’s cottage, and the new house that Hux just built for Dolly. Oh, and some peach groves. Who could forget those.

Otis continues to hum in the back, his happy noises making my own heart sing. More than that, getting to simply be a passenger princess feels like a luxury. I’ve gotten so used to always being the one driving—after all, my car is the one with the car seat—that I thought this would feel weird. But nope. Doesn’t hurt that I swoon a little each time I think about how Jace went out and bought a car seat for his truck so that we didn’t have to worry about which car it was in.

He really is all in. And I’m so here for it. Someone needs to go back in time and tell teenage Presley that it’s very important that she doesn’t get her wish. Teenage Jace might have been something, but grown-up Jace? He’s something else. Something so much better.

“Are you ready for your first Friendsgiving, Little Man?” Jace asks, throwing the truck in park and climbing out.

“Yeah!”

Throwing the backseat door open, Jace starts to unbuckle him, having finally mastered the right order of operations for the harness.

“Your Aunt Dolly is known for her side dishes. They are world famous. Although your Aunt Margeaux is a close second with some of hers. Those are spicy though, so you might not like them.”

“And Jace is known for almost burning the house down.”

I whip around, Hux’s booming voice startling me. Where did he come from?

Jace doesn’t seem rattled though, reaching in and pulling Otis out of his seat.

“Don’t listen to Uncle Hux; he’s full of it.”

“Of what?” Otis asks.

Oh dear Lord…

I rush around the truck, trying to figure out a child-appropriate answer to that question. Thankfully, Jace beats me to it.

“Turkey. He’s full of turkey.”

“Which is how he almost burned down the house,” Hux adds. Reaching for me, Hux pulls me into a warm hug, like he hasn’t seen me in weeks, instead of only a few days ago. “You know, Presley, if you want a feature for your little safety project, that’d be a good one—make sure you fully thaw a turkey before you deep fry it.”