Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
She nodded, but the small talk faded fast. “So, you know Thanksgiving is in a couple of days.”
“I’m aware.”
I felt the old nerves rise—the ones that came whenever conversations turned back to the club, back to what I’d left behind. “Well, your father and I are hoping that you and Ava will join us for lunch over at the clubhouse.”
“I don’t know, Mom. I’m not sure I’m ready for all that.”
“I know it won’t be easy, but it would mean a lot to your father.” Her voice grew softer as she added, “You remember how much fun we used to have. Everyone would gather around, and there was always so much food. They had everything you could imagine... Turkey and stuffing, sweet potato casserole—”
“—and Torch and Savage stealing all the pie before we’d even finished eating,” I added, surprising myself with a laugh. I’d tried to forget those years, but there were times when the good had a way of shining through the cracks.
“Exactly.” Mom giggled. “I know it’s been a long time, but it would mean a lot to have you and Ava there with us.”
“I don’t know, Mom.”
“It’s time, Beck,” Mom pressed. “You’re a part of this family, and you always will be. That’s not going to change.”
Her words struck something deep in me that I’d buried a long time ago. I tried to forget the club and everyone in it, but they hadn’t gone anywhere. They were still there, and they were still my family. And they were Ava’s, too. She wanted to know them—needed to know them, and I didn’t want to take that from her.
At the same time, I wasn’t sure I was ready to face the past.
“Think about it,” she said softly. “Just think about it.”
She leaned in to kiss my cheek, then left as quickly as she’d come.
While she had certainly given me something to think about, I still wasn’t sure I was ready for what Thanksgiving might bring with it.
Torch
“I can’t believe I burned the cranberry sauce.”
“It’s fine.” Dad walked over and kissed Mom on the cheek. “Everyone likes the canned stuff better.”
“They do not!”
“Yeah, babe. They do. They just don’t want to hurt your feelings.” Dad gave her arm a quick squeeze, then stepped back as he added, “Same goes for the pumpkin pie and roasted asparagus.”
“What!”
“I’m not gonna lie. The asparagus thing is a little gross.” Dad grimaced. “It’s a little slimy, and once it gets cold, it’s just ugh... nasty. And then, you try to reheat it, and it all goes downhill from there.”
“Logan!”
“Hey.” He held up his hands in surrender. “It’s not like you’re a bad cook. You’re phenomenal—even better than Cass, and that’s saying something. Hell, nobody can touch your corn pudding or your potato casserole. But your asparagus is a hard no.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve been taking it for years, and everyone loves it.”
Dad glanced over at me, and I knew he was about to throw me under the bus. “Are you gonna tell her or am I?”
“Oh, no. I’m not telling her shit. If you wanna go there, it’s all on you.”
“Pansy-ass.” Dad shook his head, then looked back to Mom and said, “We toss it every year.”
“What do you mean, you toss it?”
“We didn’t want you to get your feelings hurt.”
“I can’t believe this.” Mom turned to me with a mix of hurt and rage in her eyes. “And you were a part of this?” She brought her hand up to her chest. “My sweet, precious son. The son I carried and loved with all my heart and soul.” Her eyes narrowed, and her tone became hostile as she continued, “A child that was six days late and weighed over ten pounds with a head the size of a bowling ball! You were a part of this!”
“Ah, Ma. Come on, now. You know it wasn’t like that. We were just looking out for you.”
“Well, don’t do me any favors.” She grabbed the aluminum foil and started wrapping her asparagus. “I’m taking this today, and you two keep your mitts off it. You’ll see. By the end of the night, this dish will be gone. Just wait and see.”
“And if it isn’t?”
“I’ll never bring it again.”
“Deal.” Dad glanced up at the clock, then said, “It’s about that time. We should get going.”
“Who’s all coming today?” I asked.
“Mostly just the brothers and the ol’ ladies. Most of the kids are off doing their own thing.”
“Like what?”
“Well, your sister is with Casey and Addie on their ski trip, and Darby and Susana are spending the holiday with their new boyfriends,” Mom answered. “But Lauren and Flynn are coming, and I’m pretty sure Beck and Ava are coming.”
“Beck and Ava, huh?” I watched as my mother braced herself when I asked, “How come you don’t sound at all surprised that she’s coming or that she has a daughter?”