Chapter Twenty
“You didn’t tell me the entire North family was going to be at your house for Thanksgiving.” Dina folded her arms over her chest and plunked down on the stool in Autumn’s kitchen. “I only brought enough punch for like four or five people, not for however many people are going to be showing up any second.”
“We’ve got plenty of drinks,” Autumn assured her. “And just be happy it’s not your family showing up.”
Dina chuckled as Autumn opened the oven to baste the turkey.
“How long have you known they’d all be coming over?” Dina asked.
“Since the beginning.” Autumn flashed an evil grin and winked at Dina.
“And you didn’t think to tell me?” Dina stood up from the stool and walked over to the bowl of celery stalks.
“I knew you wouldn’t come, and I knew I wouldn’t have the energy to have to hunt you down and drag you back to our house today.”
“It’s still not right.” Dina grabbed a knife and began slicing the rest of the celery for the veggie platter. “I feel tricked.”
“Well, you should.” Autumn chuckled. “So have you thought any more about when you plan on telling Sam?”
“Telling Sam what?” Joel asked, coming into the kitchen with a large flower arrangement.
“Yeah? Tell me what?” Sam asked, following closely behind his brother.
The moment his eyes connected with Dina’s her pulse quickened and she put the knife down.
“Tell Sam it wasn’t the guacamole,” Autumn muttered, grabbing the vegetable platter that Dina had been working on and moving it over to the kitchen table where several other appetizer trays had been placed.
“If it wasn’t the guac then what was it?” Sam asked, setting Romeo on the kitchen floor.
“Just a bug.” Dina’s cheeks flushed, and her heart rate steadily increased, but this time it was because she hated misleading Sam. However, now was certainly not the time to tell him. Not to mention, just the mere thought of the guacamole made her stomach roil in complete protest, and now she had to deal with that side effect of the conversation.
Sam’s eyes steadied on hers. “That’s a relief because I’m known for my guacamole.”
Dina feigned a smile as she tried to push away all the horrid memories of the green dip.
“You okay?” Sam asked softly as he made his way over.
Autumn and Joel had ventured into the dining room with more trays of food.
“Totally.” Dina nodded.
“You seem kind of distant.”
“Do I?” She shook her head. “I don’t mean to.”
“Does it have to do with that guy?”
Dina’s expression went blank as she pulled her brows together. “What guy?”
“The blondie. James I think his name was?” Sam smiled and waited for a reply.
“Oh, not even in the slightest. What would anything have to do with James?” She leaned against the counter and noticed a flicker of relief dash through Sam’s gaze. “I’ve known him forever, and he’s completely harmless.”
“Harmless?”
Dina nodded and let out a sigh. “He’s one of those guys I’ve known for more years than I can count, and I can tell him just about anything.”
“Good to know.”
“He was only here for the weekend,” Dina added.
“I gathered that when I noticed his car wasn’t in the driveway after Monday.”
“You noticed?”
“It’s hard not to.” Sam smile widened, and Dina tried to figure out if James’ presence bothered Sam.
If it did, maybe he did care a little more than he let on.
“My flowers are still alive. That was really nice of you to bring those over.” She grabbed a celery stalk and took a bite.
“I felt really bad about everything.” Sam narrowed the gap between them, and the familiar pulse of electricity shot through her just as she heard a large group of people enter the house, and she completely stiffened. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She chuckled and drew a breath. “Just a little nervous.”
“Why?”
Dina shrugged and glanced at the punch for four she’d made. “I’m not even sure.”
“Don’t be.” He touched her chin and brought her gaze back to his. “My family won’t bite.”
Dina laughed and took in a deep breath. “I know. It’s ridiculous.”
But it really wasn’t. She had a bad feeling that Grandma Martha and Sam’s mom might be able to sniff out her pregnancy and the father of her child all at one Thanksgiving meal. They were too smart for Dina’s own good.
“Sam, you better have brought the sweet potato casserole,” Grandma Martha said, entering the kitchen carrying a large cardboard box with several pies inside.
“I sure did. I need to go get it out of the car.” Sam glanced at Dina and made the motion for her to follow him out front.
“Dina, so glad you could make it,” Grandma Martha set the box down on the kitchen counter and turned to Dina, giving her a hug just as Sam’s mom came into the kitchen. “It’s like I never see you leave your shop anymore. I bet you’re working yourself to death.”
“Close but not quite.” Dina’s shoulders relaxed slightly as she finished cutting the vegetables.
“Sam, you didn’t tell me you were bringing a date,” his mom cooed and Dina hid a smile. “So good to see you again, Dina”
Sam’s eyes widened in horror and Dina held in a chuckle. Some habits died hard.
“That’s a first, isn’t it?” Grandma Martha laughed, taking her pies out of the box.
“Oh, I’m not his date.” Dina shook her head and ran her hands down her leggings.
“Could have fooled me.” Grandma Martha tossed the cardboard box on the floor and wandered over to the punch bowl. “This looks good. Is there anything extra in it I should be worried about?”
“It’s non-alcoholic,” Dina said, noticing Sam had already fled the scene.
“You know, I’m really not a huge fan of liquor.” Grandma Martha poured herself a cup of the pink bubbly beverage. “I’ll have a sip now and then, but I find it gets a person into trouble more often than not.”
“I’m sure you’re right about that.” Dina smiled, noticing how quickly she relaxed around the Norths, regardless of her worries.
“Well, I don’t mind it.” Sam’s mom laughed and poured herself a glass of red wine. “Would you like some?”
Dina’s hand inadvertently went to her stomach and she shook her head. “I’m fine. I was just going to stick with punch today.”
“I see.” Sam’s mom smiled and took a sip of wine.
“I was going to go help Sam with the casserole.” Dina cleared her throat and ran her hands down her hips as Sam’s mother smiled.
“Absolutely, dear. If you two need any help, let us know.” His mom took another sip and sat down at the table while Dina scurried out of the kitchen, absolutely certain that his mother knew something.
By the time she’d grabbed her coat and made it through the front door to the cold, crisp air she was a nervous wreck again, and her thoughts were running in a million different directions.
“You okay?” Sam asked, bringing Dina out of her fog. “You look like you’re about ready to jump off a bridge.”
Dina’s gaze flew to Sam who was leaning against the passenger door of his SUV. He looked sexy with his knit cap resting below his brows with only his sparkling blue eyes taking her in.
“Sorry. Yeah. Totally fine. Just a little distracted.” She hugged herself as she made her way over to the SUV.
“You don’t have anything to apologize for.” He put his arms around her and brought her in to him. “You look cold, Cali girl.”
“I am cold and confused.” Dina looked up into his eyes and a rush of desire flooded through her. She wanted to be with Sam, like really be with him, and she was disappointed in herself for automatically going there with him in her mind.
He brought her in a little closer, and she rested her head on his chest, warmth wrapping around her body. “I can help with the cold, but I doubt I can help with whatever is going on in that head of yours if you won’t let me in a little.”
“I doubt it too.” Dina giggled. “My mental state is a little fragile at the moment.”
Sam took a step back but kept his arms looped around her.
“I can’t imagine you ever being fragile.” Sam’s brows pulled together. “Is it because of your family and the holiday?”
Dina stared at him in surprise. Her parents had been on her mind more since the pregnancy, and she’d even called and left messages on her parents’ voicemail a few times with no returned calls, but she doubted the confused mess of emotions running through her traced back to family. She’d gotten over it years ago. She was certain of it.
No.
She was pretty certain it traced back to Sam North and her current predicament.
“Not really my family.” Dina shook her head when a lump unexpectedly formed in the back of her throat. “I’m used to Friendsgivings after all these years.”
“Friendsgiving?” Sam asked.
As she swallowed the tightness away, she realized maybe there was more to it than she realized. Maybe Sam was right. She missed her family or at least the idea of what she wished her family had been.
Dina smiled at Sam and drew in a breath. “Friendsgiving. You know, where family isn’t around so you celebrate with friends instead?”
“I don’t know, but it’s a cute term.”
“I’m full of them.” She cracked a smile and Sam brought her back in.
“You know what I think?” he asked, touching her chin softly.
“What?”
“I think you pretend the stuff with your family doesn’t bother you, but it does.”
“That’s an interesting take.” Dina shifted in his arms and drew a silent breath. “But I’m honestly used to it. I learned long ago that I’d never meet my parents’ expectations, especially my mother’s and have just learned to—”
“Look elsewhere for approval?” Sam asked softly, his arms loosening around Dina.
His words struck Dina hard, and she didn’t even know why.
Maybe because he could sense things about her that she couldn’t even sense herself? Or maybe it was because no man had ever stopped to notice or care about her family dynamics.
She bit her lip and worked her way out of his arms.
“Like where?” Dina narrowed her eyes on Sam, but he didn’t flinch. Whatever he was trying to say, he stood by it. “Where would I look for approval?”
“Men,” he said simply. “You wanted to feel accepted and loved and there were a few men who possibly offered that sense of belonging.”
A flicker of anger darted through Dina.
“I’m not one of those women who has daddy issues and searches out a fix for my personal problems with the men I date.” She bit her lip, wondering if that was precisely what she’d done, and glanced back at the house before turning back to him.
“I never said you had daddy issues.” Sam’s gaze stayed on hers.
Ignoring him, Dina continued, “For your information, I have mommy issues.”
“Mommy issues?” Sam’s brows shifted.
Dina folded her arms over her chest. “Yeah. Mommy issues.”
“Why don’t you elaborate?” The curiosity in Sam’s eyes was surprising.
Against Dina’s better judgment, she started to talk, “There’s not much to tell.” Dina let out a heavy sigh and wondered how her Thanksgiving turned so deep so suddenly. “When I was young, both of my parents were actively involved with my siblings and I was often the second fiddle. By the time I was eight or nine, my mom had basically lost complete interest in me. My dad picked up the slack and took over, but by the time I was eleven or twelve he’d shifted his focus to my brother and sister as well. I was so confused. I didn’t understand why they’d always go to my siblings’ recitals or games yet never make it to mine.” Dina’s chest tightened, and she realized she hadn’t taken a breath. “By the time I got into high school, it was pure torture. Any little thing I did was blown out of proportion yet my sister and brother could do no wrong. In fact, they’d done things far more serious than I even thought about, and all they got was a dinner out or a car for their birthday.”
“And you have no idea why the discrepancy?”
“Not a clue. Only recently have I stopped blaming myself.” Dina’s lips curved into a scowl. “But, it’s all in the past now and I’m completely over it.” She let out a garbled laugh. “Can’t you tell?”
Sam shook his head and kindness coated his expression. “Families are complicated mazes of confused decisions and clouded outcomes when it comes to right and wrong. No doubt about it, but parents should never favor one child over another.”
Dina’s gaze flashed to Sam’s as she realized his father had done the exact same thing, only it had been an entirely new family he favored.
“You’ve got some experience in this realm.” The heaviness suddenly started to dissipate as she stared at Sam, his eyes full of understanding.
“I sure do and even though I’m over it as much as you are, it still stings when I think about it.”
“So you don’t think about it.”
“Exactly.” Sam winked and spun around to his SUV to get the casserole out of the backseat when his mother came wandering out front.
“I was beginning to worry something happened to the two of you.” His mom smiled and looked at her son suspiciously.
Sam laughed and closed the door before whispering, “And then there is the other kind of family member. One who is completely nosy and can’t help herself from snooping.”
“One extreme or another, but I’d take that any day.” Dina chuckled and followed Sam a few steps behind. She didn’t want to look too eager around his mom, who was now standing by the open front door ushering them inside.
“You’ll freeze to death out there and that is certainly something I don’t want to see happen to either of you.” She closed the door behind Sam and Dina as Dina shook off her jacket.
Sam’s mom glanced at Dina’s stomach and looked away quickly once Dina attempted to suck in far too dramatically. Dina quickly turned around and worry crept through Dina as she made her way into the dining room where Grandma Martha had just set down a bowl of guacamole and tortilla chips. The mere sight of the green goop sent Dina flying to the nearest powder room where her worst nightmare came to life as everyone heard her get sick right before the turkey was served.