I love to cook, so I was looking forward to spending the day with Amy in the kitchen. She quickly let me know that I wasn’t allowed to let Hannah do anything other than set the table, but that I couldn’t actually tell Hannah. Apparently, nobody has informed her that she can’t cook. Poor Steve.
As the only living female in my family, it’s been my responsibility to cook Thanksgiving dinner for a couple of years. This year I was thankful I didn’t have to do it alone. My thankfulness increased when Amy didn’t ask if I wanted to pull the gizzards and neck out of the turkey. I’d done it several times before, but for some reason the sight of the turkey with her arm up its butt made me dry heave. Thankfully she was busy, elbow deep in turkey butt, she missed me bolting to the bathroom. I emptied my stomach and sat on the bathroom floor wondering if the test was wrong. I quickly cleaned myself up and sprayed the bathroom spray to cover the nasty smell of puke. Back in the kitchen, Amy announced everything was ready or in the oven. We had opted to have the guys deep fry the turkey so we had about a half hour before they needed to drop it in the oil.
I jumped in the shower and then called all the girls to get ready. I couldn’t wait to get my hands, literally, on Callie. She didn’t usually wear much makeup and she wore her hair pretty simple. So I was dying to give her a makeover, then watch Curtis and Will squirm. Amy even let me fix her up. When Hannah asked if I wanted her to do mine, I quickly understood where Amy was coming from. I didn’t want to tell Hannah she wasn’t any good at doing hair and makeup.
We timed it perfectly, just as I was putting the finishing touches on my own makeup, Luke yelled that dinner was ready. Hannah acted like her pants were on fire, she darted down to the guys without waiting for the rest of us. Callie was next, I wish I could have seen Curtis and Will when they saw her, but I knew even if I had gone ahead of her, Cal wasn’t going to let me watch them. I didn’t even make it all the way into the room before Cal was standing before me. It’s a good thing there are no little kids or pets, because I am pretty sure he would have run them over while trying to get to me. His words of admiration were spoken loud enough for everyone to hear. I couldn’t help the pink that made its way across my cheeks.
Luke announced again that dinner was ready. We all made our way to the dining room table, which was set beautifully with the crystal and china. Luke took the head of the table with Amy to his left, Cal took the other end of the table and maneuvered me to be sitting to his left. Instantly, my heart warmed at the thought that I have a place at their table. It had been so many years since I sat at a table that was full. I owed this family so much, they have welcomed me and Steve as significant others, plus our other brother who is currently exploring an alternative relationship. They have welcomed us into their folds without reservations, which makes them pretty amazing.
Hannah and Amy had forewarned me about the “I’m thankful for...” tradition that we’d all be expected to participate in. I’d already decided I was thankful for them, the whole family. It was an easy answer, but I was still a little nervous. I glanced around the table again, thinking to myself that I could easily say one thing I was thankful for about each and every person at the table. I was completely jolted from my thoughts when Cal cleared his throat and jerked my chair, turning it until I was facing him. It was in that moment I realized he was down on one knee. This was happening, my jaw dropped a little and the uncontrollable tears flowed.
“Sierra, you are without a doubt the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. I want to love you, protect you, and honor you. I want to make babies with you; build a life and a home with you. With a blessing from each of your brothers and from my parents, I am asking you: will you do me the honor of being my wife, will you marry me?”
I was literally speechless. I couldn’t get the word to come out, so I did the next best thing. I turned into a damn bobble head, nodding up and down with extreme force. Our hands were shaking as he slid the ring on my finger. As he stood, the word broke free, louder than I’d ever spoken, “Yes!” Which made him chuckle, right before kissing me hard with everyone standing around watching. He pulled back resting his forehead against mine telling me with his eyes that he meant every word.
Everyone gathered around hugging and kissing us; congratulating us, until Luke announced, once again, that dinner was ready. Conversation flowed all through dinner. Seriously, it was the best Thanksgiving I had ever had. It wasn’t until we were almost done eating that the table was quiet, it was then that I looked at the ring for the first time. It was then that I lost it. Steve and Curtis had been watching and waiting for me to notice. They knew how much it meant to me to wear my mom’s ring. They knew, and they made it happen. Steve and Curtis were on either side of me before anyone even noticed my tears. It was Curtis who spoke to the group, “Please, excuse us for just a minute. We’ll be right back.”
Without words, the two of them escorted me out to the back patio by the pool. They took turns hugging me, letting me cry. Really, words weren’t necessary, but I had to ask, “Are you sure it’s okay if I use it?”
It was Curtis who spoke first, “It is more than okay Sis. Mom would want you to wear it. When Calvin asked us permission, Steve and I talked about it and knew instantly that it was meant for you. We also gave him Mom’s dress. He didn’t look at it, Amy is holding it for you to try if you want.”
That just made me cry more. Curtis finally released me, his arms were quickly replaced with those attached to Steve. “One more thing Sierra. It’s time to tell him about the money. I don’t think it’s going to make a single bit of difference for him. He loves you. But he deserves to know.” Steve waited for me to acknowledge what he’d said which I did with a nod. Then he continued, “When we agreed that the three of us would have to agree if one person wanted to tell someone about the money, we didn’t talk about any of us getting married. What I’m trying to say is, we haven’t talked about whether we should be asking people to sign a pre-nup.”
Curtis spoke before I could gather my wits enough to respond. “She is not asking him to sign a fucking pre-nup. You going to have Hannah sign one?”
“No. That isn’t what I was trying to say.” Sucking in a huge breath, he finished his thought, “I didn’t want to sound like a dick but apparently, it didn’t work. I was trying to tell her that I wouldn’t expect her to do that, because I sure as hell am not asking Hannah to sign one.”
Curtis got quiet before he spoke again, I could see the agony in his eyes. “I’m not telling Will and Callie. I don’t know what is going to happen with us and I don’t want to expose myself in that way yet. That might make me a dick, but so be it. I will keep you both posted if I change my mind.”
“I assumed it goes without saying that I will be telling Hannah at some point. I know it isn’t going to change anything but I think she should know.” Steve couldn’t help but smile each time he said her name. I hope they never lose that in their relationship.
“Thank you. Both of you. I love you.” I wrapped an arm around each one as they each leaned in and kissed my head like always. “Let’s go back in before they do all the work without us.”