nd smiled like I would if anyone in my family had chosen to wake me up at a
reasonable hour. I figured noon was reasonable, as I d meant to get up muc
h sooner. But I d been up late the night before because Haily had come over
. I d invited her, wanting to make things better between us. And it was...
really nice, actually. I think over the last months I d become so uncomfort
able around her because I knew what she wanted from me and couldn t give it
to her. Now that the secrets were out of the way she suddenly felt like my
friend again. When she reached to touch me I didn t feel the need to go in
to complete defensive mode. When she made a comment about my ass in a parti
cular pair of jeans I didn t jump to the conclusion that she was trying to
flirt with me and I shouldn t touch it with a ten-foot pole. And best of al
l, she didn t look hurt every time she looked at me. So we d stayed up and
hung out way later than we d expected to before I drove her home. This was
after I d suggested she just crash in the guest room but she insisted that
if she wasn t home Thanksgiving morning her mom would consider it a federal
offense.
I still felt sleepy after all of that and yawned widely as I checked to mak
e sure I d worn boxers to bed before I threw back my covers and passed Lean
na s small figure to grab a pair of pants on the way to my closet. I pulled
on a worn but clean pair of jeans and studied two sweaters my mom had pres
ented me with and then hung up just yesterday. One red, one a powder blue.
I didn t have to ask her about them to know that she wanted me to be wearin
g at least one of them in our family pictures that afternoon. I picked up b
oth, turned to Leanna and held them up.
She didn t pause in telling someone that she was sure she couldn t make one
event or another as her eyes squinted through her glasses when she made a
face at the blue one and pointed to the red. The blue ended up on the floor
, the red on my back. I found myself stretching in it since it was a little
snugger than I was used to, but the material was soft against my skin as I
struggled to pull the tags off the sleeve. Because I was about to rip it,
Leanna moved in my direction and did it for me. A moment later she was hang
ing up with her family and reaching up to smooth over the blond hair that w
as sticking up on my head. Do something about your hair before you come up
stairs, she warned. Your mom s armed with a camera. She made a face. So
rry I woke you up, this was the closest place to get away from the zoo up t
here.
That s okay, I insisted. Is Uncle Ray here?
Since first thing this morning. Your cousin is adorable, by the way. Chad
s freaking out because everyone s playing with the baby and no cooking is g
etting done.
I smiled, because she d said that with affection. Mom s not mad I m not up
yet?
Leanna rolled her eyes. I did mention there s a baby up there, didn t I? Bu
t she did say something about your chores. What have you got? I ll help.
I smiled, deciding to take her up on that.
Do you want to feed the rat, the bird or the goat?
After a quick trip to the bathroom to make myself presentable, I ended up
feeding the goat and the rat, and then I headed into the kitchen where my
family had congregated. My uncle Ray looked less stern with me than the la
st time I d seen him, probably because I wasn t working on an early police
record anymore. Grannie Tenny looked a little brighter than normal, smile
d at me twice when I refilled her coffee for her, and I struck a pose for
several pictures for more than one camera. Eventually I settled down in th
e living room with Chad, Leanna and my aunt Patty for a card game while ou
r house slowly developed the odor of hot food and sweet-smelling pies. I w
as surprised when Caleb called to say happy Thanksgiving and that he was b
ored to death, but I was happy to hear from him, even looked forward to sc
hool starting because I found myself missing him.
A few hours later and I d helped my mom expand and set our dinner table be
fore we all sat in front of more food than everyone combined could possibl
y eat. My uncle Ray said a few words that made us laugh and then my dad fo
llowed with a little speech that was downright cheesy as he talked about t
ogetherness. But it was nice nonetheless.
And then the doorbell rang.
The look on my face probably mirrored everyone else s as we fell silent an
d looked over the table, doing a head count to make sure everyone was acco
unted for. Finally, my mom gave Chad a nod to go see who was at the door.
My brother snatched a roll off the table before he went, and we didn t wai
t for him as we started passing food. But Chad was back soon enough, and w
hen I caught my brother s eye, his expression somewhat curious, he gave me
a nod to follow him.
Frowning and trying to figure out what was going on, I silently excused my
self from the only neighbor I had looking at me, Grandma Tenny. Chad waite
d, his hand moving to my back as he led me towards the front door. It s f
or you, he said quietly, but didn t have to elaborate as I looked over th
e living room, my eyes pausing on Milo Trust.
It was obvious my brother had invited him in because he wasn t standing out
side, but he was currently crowding our front door as if he were expecting
to bolt out of it at any given moment. His ironed pants made him look talle
r and his white dress shirt was untucked and rumpled. His dark hair was ask
ew in a way that was only ever a result of him pulling at it so much and as
his green eyes met mine they seemed sullen and nervous as I smiled at my b
rother and indicated that he should go back to the table. The moment Chad w
as gone that same smile faltered and I crossed the room to Milo, taking it
upon myself to lean on the front door just in case he decided he wanted to
run.
Are you okay? I asked, not bothering with pleasantries. It was always ple
asant to see Milo, but the fact that he d shown up on Thanksgiving told me
there was cause for concern.
He shook his head, but his words contradicted the action. I m... fine. Look
, I m sorry, this was stupid. I don t even know why I m here.
He reached for the doorknob, but I covered it with my hand first, forcing hi
s attention back in my direction. What happened? I asked.
Milo frowned, his gaze drifting towards the noise currently in our kitchen and
then back at me. I ll tell you later.
Your dad? I asked.
The dark look that crossed his features was answer enough as he shrugged
one shoulder heavily. We were supposed to be sitting down for dinner. He
brought up my grades.
I made a face at that. What s wrong with your grades? I knew for a fact th
at they were better than mine, and my parents were pleased enough with me. I
didn t get it.
Milo rolled his eyes. Nothing. Everything, because nothing is ever good enou
gh. The point is, I m sitting with him and his girlfriend for a holiday...
And he brought up your grades, I said nodding. Then what happened.
Milo pulled at his hair in a way that made me want to reach up and protect it.
There was a lot of yelling... and I m... really sorry to bother you.
You re not bothering me, I insisted, moving my hand to his shoulder, urg
ing him away from the front door. Come on, we re just sitting down. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]