CHAPTER THIRTY
Violet
Thanksgiving
Most of my adult life I’ve been nervous. Nervous about what I would do to piss Brent off. Nervous about starting a brand-new job, nervous that someone would see right through the lies I wove around myself and my situation. What I’ve never been nervous about before is meeting parents. Back when I met Brent’s, I was so numb to everything going on around me, I don’t even remember it. Then after we high-tailed it out of town, we never went back.
Today, though, is a very important day; I’m meeting Anthony’s family. The entire MTF crew has opened up their base of operations for everyone’s family to share in the holiday together. Spearheaded by Blaze and Whitney, it’s the first get together of its kind, but I can tell that most everyone is very excited about the families getting together. Anthony had to go help set up, so I’m grabbing the sweets I baked and the turkey we deep-fried last night that’s now been sliced, for anyone who would prefer to have a cold sandwich.
A text message comes through, right as I’m about to head out.
A: Don’t even be thinking about skipping this. I know you’re nervous, but I’m telling you, my family will love you. It’s just my parents.
V: Easy for you to say! I’m nervous, but I’ll handle it well. I promise.
A: I have no doubt. Let me know when you get here, so I can help you.
V: I will. Love you!
A: Love you, Vi, you have no idea how much.
It’s sentiments like those that prove to me what he and I have is the real thing. It’s also the type of words that can sometimes put fear in my heart. Brent used love as a kind of bargaining chip. Like if you do this, I’ll love you more, or if you loved me, you would do what I ask of you. I’m working hard on knowing there’s a difference between this love and that love. It’s hard, but I’m doing it.
* * *
Driving up to the headquarters makes my heart pound. I wasn’t aware there were this many people in the MTF member’s families. It looks like the high school football game parking lot. Caleb is literally out front directing traffic. When he sees me, he motions me into a more private part of the lot. Next to Anthony’s truck is an empty space, which he motions for me to park in. When I turn the car off, I look up, seeing a sign that says “Ace’s Woman” – which not only makes me laugh, but warms my heart. As I look down the row of cars, I see all of us have our own parking spots. These guys are nothing if not romantic.
Just as I’m about to let him know I’m here, Anthony’s arms wrap around me from behind. “Hey.” He drops a kiss on my exposed neck, tightening his arms around my waist. “I saw you pull in.”
“Hey yourself.” I turn in those arms, wrapping mine around his neck. “Are there as many people in there as I think there is?”
“It’s not that bad.” He chuckles as he leans in for a kiss. For a minute I let myself melt into his embrace, give myself over to the attraction and feelings we evoke in one another. “I see you didn’t take my advice and wear a dress.” He grabs my car keys and goes to unlock the trunk, where the food is.
My face heats thinking about the words he spoke to me while we were getting ready. “You said you’d have your hand up my skirt and your fingers in my panties. Jesus, I can’t be having that meeting your parents for the first time, are you crazy?”
“About you? Yeah, but I guess I understand where you’re coming from.” He hefts one of the heavily-laden plates before whistling toward Caleb. “Come grab this other one.”
“What am I supposed to carry?” I feel weird not doing any of the work, considering I serve people almost every day.
“Yourself, inside that door with your head held high.”
I have to fight back tears. Anthony will never know what those words mean to me, and he’ll never know how lucky I am. But I vow right now to make sure he knows how much I love him every day. Offering me his elbow, we walk into the building.
Ace
Inside, it’s barely controlled chaos, which is to be expected when all of us, and our families get together. Not to mention, I kind of like it. This is where I’m at my best. Glancing around the room as I move to take the food over to one of the long tables we’ve set up, I realize how thankful I am for this day and this life. A few years ago I wasn’t even home for Thanksgiving; today I’m celebrating with everyone who means everything to me. In one corner, I see Havoc with his wife and son. It looks like he’s just finished feeding Ransom, because he’s now burping him as Leighton looks on.
Tank is running around, chasing Stella and causing her to giggle and hide behind Menace’s legs. The smile on Menace’s face is enough to make Scrooge smile back. Then there’s Whitney and Renegade, sitting at their table sharing some wine, watching their daughter have a great time. It’s the stuff you see in Hallmark movies, but it’s happening, right here in Laurel Springs, Alabama.
“I can’t believe all the people here.” Violet puts her arm around my waist, leaning against my chest.
And here we are, cozied up to one another without a care in the world.
“Anthony, is this your friend?” I hear the voice of my mom coming up behind us.
“It is. Mom, this is my girlfriend, Violet. Violet, this is my mom, Ellen. My dad was here, but he had to run and get some ice, because the ice machine can’t keep up. You can meet him later.”
My mom is the type of person who has never met a stranger, and she quickly pulls Violet into an all-encompassing hug. “I’ve heard so much about you. It’s such a pleasure to meet the young woman who’s putting a smile on Anthony’s face.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who raised him to be such a good man.”
I pinch Violet’s side to let her know she did good, and my mom will eat this shit up like peanut butter on a spoon. The noise in the room is deafening as everyone is greeting everyone else, until we hear a very loud whistle.
All attention turns to Havoc, who now stands in the middle of the room. “Sorry, but I needed to get everyone’s attention. I wanted to thank you all for coming out to this get together instead of hosting a bunch of separate ones. I know over the last couple of years, my team and I have thought of each other as family. We’ve seen a lot together, done a lot together, and lived through things other people can’t fathom. For better or worse, they are my brothers. When we came up with the idea to bring all of you into this for the holiday, we wanted our two families to meet. Thank you all for agreeing to be here, we hope you enjoy the food, and the company. Hopefully this will be a tradition for years to come.”
There’s a very loud round of applause as everyone starts getting in line for food. “C’mon y’all, let’s eat.”
* * *
“Did you make this turkey?” Mom asks as we sit at one of the long tables.
“The one for sandwiches? Yeah, I deep-friend it yesterday, carved it up, and we refrigerated it overnight. I was hoping there would be some left, but with this crew, I’m not sure that’s possible.”
“If you only knew how much you all eat, you should see Ernie’s order every week,” Violet jokes at my side.
“That’s where I know you.” My Mom snaps her fingers. “You waitress at The Café. I play Bridge in there once a month with my book club.”
“Yes, I remember you.” Violet is genuinely happy as the two realize they’re more acquainted than they thought.
“I hope you don’t mind me saying so. What happened to you was a shame, and I’m thankful you’re with Anthony now. He may be a lot of things that aren’t great, but he is a great man.”
“Spoken like a mother who loves her son.”
“No.” I put my arm around Violet’s chair. “Spoken like a mother who had to deal with a juvenile delinquent and still manages to love him after all these years.”
“You’re my favorite.” Mom winks.
“Shit.” I laugh. “I’m her favorite until I piss her off, and then my sister becomes her favorite,” I say loudly to Violet.
“One of the perks of having two children. When you two get to that point, remember that two is better than one.” She winks.
I share a look with the woman sitting next to me. All this togetherness, all this family, and all this love is almost too much to take sometimes. Especially for a man who lived so much of his life on the front line, but when I see her grin so hard her lips almost disappear I know I’m where I want to be, where I need to be, and where I’m supposed to.
In years past I couldn’t say that, but now? It’s one hundred percent the truth.