“THANK YOU SO much for offering to help me!” Vicky pulled me through the front door with Gracie’s legs clutched around my hip. The cold morning air bit my fingertips that held my pan of banana pudding.
“Of course. It’s the least I could do.” The heat rolled over me as we walked through the front door, and I let out a sigh of relief. Gracie spotted Joey, the family pug, snoring next to the fireplace and immediately began to squirm out of my arms, determined to get to him.
“Be nice, Gracie. Be nice,” I spoke sternly to Gracie as she waddled over to the dog.
“I almost forgot, Happy Thanksgiving!” Vicky squealed and pulled me into a side hug, so as not to disturb my dish.
“Happy Thanksgiving!” I repeated, unable to control the huge smile covering my face.
“Here, I’ll put this in the fridge.” She grabbed the pan from my hand just as Madi bounced down the stairs.
“I thought I heard you! There’s my Gracie-booboo!” She crouched down on her knees and pulled Gracie into her arms while Jack decided to join them.
I listened to Gracie and Madi giggle while Madi waved me away. Taking that as my cue to join Vicky in the kitchen.
“Alright, boss, put me to work.” I saluted Vicky as she rolled her eyes at me.
“Okay, will you crumble the cornbread for the dressing?” She slid a pan of cornbread in my direction while she frosted a cake.
“You mean the stuffing?” I glanced at her, washing my hands.
“Girlfriend, you’re a Texan now, it’s dressing.” She giggled, shaking her head at me.
“Got it, dressing.” I returned the shaking of my head.
The dinging of the oven timer rang in the air as Vicky lifted her eyes upward and whispered, “Please, Lord, let it taste like my mom’s.” Then she bent over and pulled a pie out of the oven with perfectly golden crust and the scent of apples with a hint of cinnamon, filled the air.
“That looks delicious.” I inhaled the sweet scent, my mouth beginning to salivate.
“Hopefully it tastes as good as it looks. How dare my momma go and take her honeymoon on Thanksgiving.” She giggled and inspected the pie that was now sitting on a wire rack.
“Is she having a blast?” I smiled, continuing to crumble the cornbread.
“She is; it’s her first time really going on any kind of big trip. She said the beach is beautiful there. I’m just glad she’s enjoying herself...even if she did abandon me on my husband’s favorite holiday.”
“At least you have me.” I bat my eyelashes at her, and she let out a boisterous laugh.
“And I’m so, so thankful.” She reached over and squeezed my shoulders. “Now get back to work.”
We both giggled and continued with our tasks for a few minutes in silence before Lee emerged from the back door, the smell of barbeque filling my senses.
“What is that yummy smell?” I inhaled deeply.
“Turkey.” he said proudly, pounding his fist against his chest in a caveman fashion.
“I’m not following.” I stared between the two of them in confusion.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never had smoked turkey?” I shook my head before he continued. “Ah, I forgot you’re a northerner.”
“Guilty.” I shrugged.
“Well, down here we smoke turkeys.” He chuckled as Vicky handed him a glass of tea.
“And deep fry them,” Vicky chimed in.
“I’ve only had turkey cooked in the oven.” It was the little things about Texas that still managed to surprise me.
“Ain’t nothin’ like a Texas Thanksgiving.” Lee rubbed his belly and started to snoop at the covered dishes on the counter.
“Ah, nope.” She slapped his hand away from the aluminum foil and he gave her a light tap on the bottom.
“Alright, I’m heading back out. Send Josh out here when he gets here!” he yelled over his shoulder before closing the door behind himself. I darted my head in Vicky’s direction who was staring intently at the cranberry sauce simmering on the stove top. I glared harder at her causing her to stare even more intently at the sauce, refusing to look in my direction.
“Vicky?” I mumbled, biting the inside of my cheek.
“Did I forget to mention that?” She feigned innocence and bat her own lashes this time.
“You did.” I nodded my head, still staring at her.
“I’m sorry. I’ve just been so busy. It must have slipped my mind.” She gave me a devious grin.
“You are such a liar.” I swatted her with a dish towel.
“Look, I didn’t want you to back out if I told you. And you know good and well you probably would have.” She put her hands on her hips.
“Not necessarily.” I tried to portray my own innocence.
“You’re so full of it. I know you, Ryan. You would have backed out at the last minute, and you know it.” She stared, waiting for my reply.
“You’re probably right,” I confessed.
“I know I’m right. This way, you’re stuck. And it’s going to be fine. It’s not like you’ll be alone with him. My aunt and uncle are coming over, and my brother is coming and bringing his new fiancé.” She rolled her eyes when the last word left her lips and I couldn’t help but giggle at her annoyance with her future sister-in-law.
“He just makes me so nervous,” I admitted, just as the doorbell rang. My eyes got wide, and Vicky tried to hide her smile under a dish towel she was holding.
I let out a deep breath, which was shaky, as I focused on crumbling the already miniscule bits of bread at my hands. I glanced down at the dark jeans and black sweater I was wearing. I was grateful that since it was a holiday, I’d taken the time to do my makeup and curl the ends of my hair, but I would have paid even closer attention to my appearance had I known that I would see Joshua today.
“Don’t stress, Ryan. You look beautiful,” Vicky assured me, as if reading my mind, and gave me a playful swat on the behind with her towel before retreating from the kitchen.
Part of me wanted to take the opportunity to run. I tried to decide how I could grab Gracie and dart out the door without Joshua seeing me. I wasn’t prepared for this.
But before I got the chance to put my plan into action, I felt him.
His presence.
His closeness.
His warmth.
My hands froze as I felt him draw closer. I glanced out of the corner of my eye, unable to move my head in his direction. With a quick glance, I saw we were dressed almost matching, both in dark jeans and a black shirt. He drew closer, and the scent of his cologne filled my senses. It was a woodsy smell, deep sandalwood with just a hint of citrus. I closed my eyes and let the delicious scent surround me. His hand grazed my side as he pressed his lips to my temple, softly but so brief, before speaking quietly in my ear.
“It’s good to see you, Ryan. You look beautiful.” His voice caused a shiver up my spine as he pulled away too suddenly for my liking.
“It’s good to see you too.” I turned to face him and couldn’t help but swoon at the beauty that stood before me. The light scruff on his face covered his dimple, and the deep hue in his eyes glistened.
“I don’t want to keep you, I know Vicky has you busy. But I want to talk to you in a bit, okay?” He gave me a quick wink before pulling further away from me.
“Kay,” I mumbled, my voice taking on a strange rasp. He replied with a simple grin, displaying his perfect smile before making his way out the back door.
I let out a deep breath when I heard the door close behind him.
“Oh my,” I whispered to myself.
“Ya okay there, hon?” Vicky smiled, appearing in the kitchen.
I shook my head, slightly and touched my temple where his lips were, feeling the heat radiating down my cheeks into my neck. This feeling, the first time his lips touched my skin, would now be scorched into my psyche, especially if it were the last time.
“Just breathe, Ryan. It’s okay to feel something.” She gave me an elbow nudge. I couldn’t speak, so I just shook my head, unsure if I believed her or not.
I had so much baggage, and he was way too perfect for someone like me.