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She laughed and I gave her an expression that made her laugh more before she said, “We.” She pointed to me then her then to the two empty seats up front. “We are messed up. It’s why you fit so perfectly in this little square life of ours. Why they fit. Why I fit.”
“That so?” I thought about it. Thought about Apollo and Harpy. Thought about Harpy and Titus, Ripley, and little Rip. Yeah, I can see how to the outside it might look weird, but on the inside… “But at the end of this year—”
“At the end of this year, we shouldn’t need a piece of paper to hold us together.” She ran her fingers through my hair. “If I had one wish for my birthday, it would be that the three of you can see how far we have come and how far we can go…together.”
“Together?” I asked, brow arched.
“All the way and together. Yes.” She leaned toward me and before her lips touched mine, she said, “I love you. I love Stormy. I love Autumn. And if we can survive this holiday, we can do anything.”
Oh shit. I just remembered that her birthday was on Thanksgiving. “You hit the big one-nine in a couple days.”
“Yup.” She nodded. “I don’t think Stormy remembers that conversation, and I don’t know if Autumn knows, but my parents are going to be there and…I’m going to have a piece of cake and eat it, too.”
She gulped.
I sat up and looked at her, “You’re worried about your dad?”
“Very.” She looked toward the gas station and the sound of laughter from Storm and Autumn. “Very much.”
Ah, yes. The programing. I reached for her hand and said, “We will keep you from falling back into that, okay? Promise.”
She smiled at me and nodded. “Okay.”
I knew she didn’t believe me, but she was happy I had said it anyway. I would talk to the other people on this team and ensure her father did not get time alone with his daughter to…mix her brain up again.
Storm
This evening at the country club was going as well as could be expected. Winston was coming out of his funk, Autumn and Holly paid extra attention to him, and I was forking a big bite of cake when my mother finally tracked me down.
“Torden.” The disapproval in her tone used to bother me.
“It’s one piece of cake, Mother.” I took the bite.
“What?” she asked. Shook her head and smiled. “I don’t care if you eat cake, Sweetheart. You will burn those calories when you do your football workouts.” She looked to the three people I brought with me. Only one of those was announced. “I wish you would have told me you were bringing…who are they?”
“Winston and Autumn. I introduced them to you when we got to the house.” Before we changed into more appropriate attire for this little holiday kickoff. It was not the Thanksgiving Day dinner, no. That little tradition would involve only the highest rungs of society that didn’t want to host family, or didn’t have enough family speaking to them privately, anymore to enjoy a catered meal with all the trimmings of family atmosphere without actually having to have family…in their home atmospheres.
“Yes, but who are they?” she asked. My brow shot up. “Their family?”
I smiled. “Oh. Ah. Yes. Well. I, uh, didn’t exactly ask. They are my closest friends, so…that’s why they are here.”
“Of course.” She smiled. “I am glad you have friends. I just…wish I knew more about them…is all.”
“I’ll ask.” I smiled at the trio now looking at me as if I may need rescuing. I did. “I’ll be subtle.”
“Of course.” She waved her hand at one of the passing members, someone of more influence than my friends.
I put the plate and fork on the tray for used items as I made my way to the group. Once there, I said, “My mother is interested in where these two came from. What kind of influence you possess.”
Autumn snickered and said, “Just make something up.”
I laughed. Winston said as a slow song began playing. “Or…really make them wonder.”
He grabbed Holly’s hand and led her to the dance floor. I stood there, awkwardly and then asked, “You feel like it?”
Autumn nodded and I offered her my hand. As we moved to the spot next to Winston and Holly, I asked, “Why are you nervous?”
She gulped, looked at Holly, but Holly was looking at Winston all smiles and giggles. Autumn looked up at me. Soft, blue eyes blinked and then she said, “Because I…”
