I’m done waiting. Although it was only a short period of time with Piper this morning, I know it’s time to end this bullshit waiting game. It’s grand gesture time and since we’ll all be together tonight I don’t think there is any reason to put it off. I’m going to need help and I know just the person to help me.
When I walk in the door from my run the kitchen is in chaos. Every year my mom goes all out for Thanksgiving dinner. Laurel and I opted to stay home the last few years so I kind of forgot the crazy that ensues.
“Hey, ladies, how’s it going?” I ask as I open the refrigerator for a bottle of water.
“Save yourself, Ben! Mom’s lost her mind!” Ashton responds dramatically.
“Hush up, Ashton, or I will throw this pie straight in the garbage!”
“Don’t hurt the pie, Mom! It did nothing to you. I’ll peel the darn potatoes, relax!”
I catch Laurel laughing at the table, where she’s snapping beans.
“Hey, Laurel, do you think you could step away from those for a few minutes? I mean if the drill sergeant here will allow it?” I ask, nodding toward my mom, who responds by throwing a piece of carrot at me.
“Bentley James, you better get out of my kitchen unless you want to start helping!”
“I’m going, I’m going. I’m stealing Laurel for a minute though.”
“Fine, but not too long. We have a lot to do.”
I nod and motion for Laurel to follow me. I walk up the stairs and straight to my room.
“Close the door, would you?”
“What’s going on? I know you’re all messed up over Piper but I’m not going to fool around with you, Ben.”
“Funny. Sit. I want to talk to you about something.”
She does and I spend the next twenty minutes relaying my conversation with Piper this morning and my plan for tonight.
“Wow, when you make the grand gesture you really go all out. What about your sister? Are you going to tell her? Your parents?”
“Ashton, no. My parents, yeah. I think I have to so they don’t ruin the game plan.”
“Agreed. I’m a little worried about Ashton’s response though. She’s spunky, but I can tell she’s sensitive too. You know she’s going to be pissed you’ve been keeping this from her for months, right?”
“Yeah, but this isn’t about her. This is about Piper. I need her to know I’m all in and I need her to take a leap of faith. Ashton loves us; she’ll come around.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing. I’ll help, but I’m going on the record with Ashton that I did not condone the secrecy.”
“Noted. Now, go snap those beans so I can get to work.”
We both leave my room and I go in search of my dad while she returns to the kitchen. It doesn’t take long to hear the cursing from the back of the house. I turn the corner and find my dad with a pile of wood set to be split.
“Hey, Pops, need some help?”
“Oh thank goodness. I’m too old for this shit. Here, you split some of this wood so your mother can have her precious fire. I don’t understand why she insists we do this every year.”
“I don’t know why you act like she won’t. Why not keep a bunch of this already split? Move out of the way, I’ve got this. Besides, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Sounds serious. Everything okay with Laurel?”
“Laurel’s fine. I’m worried about her going home tomorrow but I know she has to. I just hope that asshole leaves her alone.”
“You’re a good man, Ben. Not everyone would have stepped up and invited her here. I think it’s been good for her. Your mom and Ashton, too. They weren’t always the warmest to her when you were together. They seem to really enjoy her now.”
“I know and I’m grateful to all of you. I actually wanted to talk to you about someone else. Someone I’ve been seeing.”
Silence develops between us as I split a few logs in quick succession. Once I’m done I set the ax aside and turn to my dad.
“Like I said, I’ve been seeing someone. It’s been kind of rocky the last few weeks or so but I’m ready to take it to the next level.”
“The rocky part wouldn’t have anything to do with Laurel coming to town, would it?”
I hadn’t thought of that, though now that he mentions it, this did all start when Laurel and I first talked. I just assumed it was Piper’s talk with her mom that started this, but it could be a combination. Interesting.
“I don’t know exactly. We’ve been taking it slow and just spending time together alone. Kind of our own little world, if you will. I’ve been patient waiting for her make a commitment and really make a go of it. Unfortunately, I may have been too patient and she’s managed to get inside her own head and now she’s overanalyzed it so much she’s backing away.”
“Ahh, this woman wouldn’t happen to be Piper, would it?”
“How did…?”
“There is only one person I know worth that kind of patience other than your sister. And, there is only person I know with the ability to get inside her own head enough to talk herself out of something like a relationship. I’ve known that girl most of her life and cared for as if she were my own. I knew something was going on with her when she stopped coming around as much. Now it just makes sense.”
I sit down on the chopping log and take the water my dad offers me. Once I’ve emptied the bottle I lift my shirt to wipe the sweat from my head.
“Yeah well, that girl you mention is a frustrating woman.”
My dad laughs. “I don’t doubt it. All the good ones are. Your mother challenges me at every turn. I pity the man that falls in love with your sister.”
I can’t help but agree with that. Poor bastard. Dad and I sit in comfortable silence as I wonder if I’ve completely lost my mind to move forward with this plan of mine.
“I’m done waiting for her. I’ve agreed to take this painstakingly slow so that she warmed up to us being more than friends. Me being more than her best friend’s brother. We both know Ash isn’t going to take this well and wanted to make sure this was worth the drama it is about to create.”
“I see. So you’ve been lying to your family and friends for months for Ashton’s sake?”
Ouch. “When you put it like that, we sound like jerks.”
“No, son, I don’t think either of you are jerks. I truly believe that you both are putting Ashton’s feelings ahead of your own. That’s a little stupid, but it doesn’t make you jerks.”
“Stupid? I thought it was noble. And maybe a little selfish.”
“Noble? Oh, Ben, you are grasping now. I think you’re scared of your sister. Hell, she scares me sometimes and I’m her father. Look, here’s how I see it. You’ve known Piper most of your life. She’s been part of this family and like a sister to Ashton. You’ve been gone for years, just making the occasional appearance. We’re all happy to have you home and you’re afraid your sister is going to vote you off the island or something if you tell her you’ve fallen in love with her best friend.”
“I never said I was in love.”
“Are you?”
“I’ll tell you what I’ve told Laurel and Jameson – if I am, then the first person I tell should be Piper.”
“And that’s the answer. Give your sister a little credit and accept that she’s going to react, most likely poorly. But, she’ll come around and in the end you’ll have the one thing you’ve always wanted and deserved. True love.”
“You’re so certain it’s true love?”
“Yes, son. I’m certain. You have your mother’s and my blessing.”
“Good, because I’ve decided I’m done waiting and there’s no better time than Thanksgiving for a big declaration. I’m going to need you to help run a little interference though.”
“Oh this sounds intriguing, tell me what you have planned.”
I catch my dad up on my plan and let him know Laurel is in on it, too. He thinks it’s brilliant and promises to clue my mom in a little so she doesn’t ruin it. I’ll make sure Jameson is in on the plan when he gets here. I check my watch and realize the next four hours are going to pass slower than any other time in my life.
Jameson was happy to play along with my plan and thinks the fact that everyone is in on it but Ashton is even sweeter. Those two need to get over their hatred of one another or this is going to be a long life.
Piper arrived a few hours ago. Not unlike every time I see her, she looked sexy as hell and I was instantly hard. I’m not sure how I’ll get through life with a constant hard-on but I figure there are worse things in life. Once I managed to get my act together and calm down the activity in my pants, we exchanged a very awkward hello.
Now that I’ve managed to get her alone for a few minutes, I’m going to feel things out. Hopefully she’ll give me some sort of indication of where she stands after our talk this morning.
“Hey, Princess.” She startles a little.
“Oh, geez. You scared me. Hey.”
“Sorry. What’re you up to?” I ask as she turns her back to me again, looking in the oven. I begin walking up behind her as she responds.
“I’m just checking the rolls while your mom and Ash put the food out. You?” Her breath catches a little as I stand close to her back. I catch her reflection in the oven window and see she has her eyes closed. It’s as if she’s calming herself.
“Just waiting to eat. I’m starving.”
“Uh, yeah, well good thing there’s food. These are probably ready now.”
“The timer says two minutes left.”
“Oh, so it does.”
“You look beautiful today, Piper. You know I love when you wear your boots,” I whisper close to her ear and watch as she shivers. Good. That’s the response I want.
“Ben,” she sighs.
I place a kiss to her shoulder and walk away. I’m almost out of the room when I hear her groan and rest her head on her forearm against the handle of the oven. I start to whistle as I walk. That was the confirmation I needed to move forward with this plan.
Dinner is delicious as usual and the conversation is casual. Piper doesn’t seem to be upset by our encounter in the kitchen earlier. She’s sitting between Ashton and Jameson, which is enough to drive a person crazy, so each time she looks my way I try to reassure her it isn’t forever. A few eye rolls from her confirm she is ready for us to finish up our meal.
While multiple conversations are occurring around us, Laurel catches my attention and raises her brows in question. I nod that it’s time.
“So, what is the Sullivan after-Thanksgiving dinner tradition?” she inquires.
“We have pie in front of the fire,” Ashton responds while reaching behind Piper to smack Jameson.
“Watch it, brat!”
“Kids, settle down. Ashton, stop being abusive,” my mom says, then shrieks in horror and covers her mouth and looks at Laurel.
“Patty, it’s fine. Jameson is a bit of a pest; I think Ashton should swat him.”
Everyone laughs, but I can see the regret in my mom’s eyes. Dad rises and walks over to her and pulls her into a hug while whispering reassurances. I glance at Piper, who has a confused look on her face. Laurel must recognize her expression, too.
“That’s why I’m here, Piper. The man I was seeing recently had a bit of a violent side. The Sullivans offered me a place to regroup. I guess I didn’t tell you that before, did I?”
“Oh, Laurel. I’m so sorry. That’s awful. It’s none of my business, please don’t feel you have to explain.”
“It’s okay. This week has shown me what it’s like to be around a family and see true love,” she says, glancing at my parents, who are holding each other now.
“Anyway, enough of that. Pie and fire? Is that it?”
“What else did you have in mind, dear?” my mom asks.
“Well, one of the things we’ve done after dinner the last few years with friends was play charades. Dinner is always so heavy and it’s a great way to avoid the nap everyone wanted to take.”
I smile at her and turn to Jameson, Piper, and Ashton across the table. Jameson is smiling like the Cheshire Cat while both Piper and Ashton look confused. Ashton speaks for both of them, “Charades? Really?”
“Yep, it’s fun. We don’t play the traditional version, though.”
“Oh, is it strip Charades?” Jameson asks.
“Uh, no. But nice try. We don’t limit the categories, anything is approved.” She hesitates and looks at Jameson and clarifies, “Within reason, of course.”
“What do you all say?” I ask then. “Feel like playing a little game? Oh, and there’s one other rule, remember, Laurel?”
“Oh yes, we play teams of two and the teams can keep going until they have a wrong answer.”
“That could take forever, why would you do that?” Ashton asks.
“You’d be surprised how entertaining it can be. Remember, there are no categories. Some answers are easy and others not so much.”
“Sounds fun. Shall we move into the living room? All of this can wait until later,” my mom says while looking directly at me and smiling. Now she looks like the Cheshire Cat.
Once we’re settled in the living room, Laurel suggests the teams should be based upon the closest relationships. My parents are obviously a team and Laurel suggests since Ashton and Piper are so close they should be one too. That leaves either Laurel and me or Jameson and me. Jameson bows out and offers to be the time and score keeper, leaving Laurel and me as partners. After explaining the rules, which have never existed before this afternoon, Laurel stands and pulls out the bowl of clues she had placed on a shelf earlier.
“I guess you were prepared for us to play,” Ashton jokes.
We rally back and forth between teams for the lead. After about thirty minutes everyone is having fun and laughing. I wonder if we should actually make this a tradition. Jameson announces to everyone that we are currently tied for the lead at three points each. Dad decides this is a great time for a break. His suggestion is perfect because it allows us to move our seats. I take the seat that puts me directly in Piper’s sightline. As everyone returns to the room, Ashton notices everyone has moved. When she starts to take the spot that should be Piper’s, my mom speaks up.
“Ash, why don’t you sit next to me,” she says, patting the spot next to her.
“Okay. Let’s do this. Ben and Laurel, you’re about to go down. Piper and I are going to wipe the floor with you.”
“Ashton, hush up. It’s not even your turn. Let your brother and Laurel have their turn. I swear, Paul, I don’t know where she gets her sass.”
Everyone laughs and I take a deep breath. Laurel steps up to me like she’s giving me a pep talk.
“Ready for this?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be. Did you pull the clues?” I ask.
“Yeah as soon as the girls left the room. Those are random words if I’ve ever seen any. I assume they are not the standard Charades list. You know, if we had ever actually played this game before,” she laughs.
“They’re random to you but they won’t be to her.”
“Alrighty, Laurel, you’re up,” my dad says, winking.