Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“Can I ask you a favor?”
“Hmm?”
“Come to Thanksgiving dinner with my family tomorrow. Before you say no, you don’t have to come as my date or anything. I know that you’re not there yet. But I want you there. There’s always more than enough food to feed a small army.”
“You need to spend the day with your family.”
“I want you there.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You can’t just drop a last-minute guest on your mom like that.”
“You’ve met my mother, right? She’s prepared for half of Willow River to show up tomorrow, and it will just be us.”
“Yeah, you and your family. I appreciate you thinking of me, but I can’t.”
Reaching into my pocket, I dial my mom and put her on speakerphone. “Rush, I was just getting ready to call you.”
“Yeah?”
“You should call Crosby and invite her to dinner tomorrow. You know we’ll have plenty, and she has no family in town.”
I forgot that my mom doesn’t know much about Crosby’s past. “Funny you should say that. We had dinner tonight, and I was thinking of asking her. I was calling to make sure you were okay with that.” Okay, so it’s a little white lie, but I want Crosby to see that she’s welcome tomorrow. With my family and with me.
“Of course I am. You don’t have to call to ask to invite someone to Thanksgiving dinner. If you want her here, she comes. It’s that simple. The more, the merrier.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’m going to try and convince her.”
“You make sure that you do. Love you.”
“Love you too.” I end the call and toss my phone on the couch next to me. “You heard her.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a Thanksgiving dinner.”
“When was the last time?”
“I was twelve, I think. The foster family I was with were good to me. They had all their family over, and it was a great day. Lots of food.”
“Why didn’t you stay with them?”
“The man, his job got relocated, and they had to move. As a ward of the state, I had to stay behind. They weren’t interested in adopting me, so on to the next family I went.”
“They didn’t have big family dinners?”
“No. The next year I was in the children’s home, and they had dinner, but it wasn’t the same, and in the years following, none of the other two families I was with was bothered with Thanksgiving. They said it was a waste of money on fancy food.”
“I want you to spend Thanksgiving with my family and me. I’ll come to pick you up, so you’re not arriving on your own. We can go early and be the first ones there, or be the last, or arrive in the middle. Whatever will make you the most comfortable. I’ll do whatever I need to do to get you there.”
“Why?”
“It’s a day to reflect on what we’re thankful for. You are at the top of my list. I need you to be there.”
“Rush.”
“Crosby.”
“If I say yes, I’m going as a friend of the family. I told you we can’t do this. Tonight, it was a lapse in judgment.”
“Nope. Tonight was perfect. In my mind, you’ll be there for me as my girl. I want you to know that. To my family, we can tell them whatever you want. You and I will know the truth.” They will too, but I keep that to myself.
“Are you sure?”
“Never been more certain.”
“What time?”
“We eat at one. Everyone usually rolls in around noon and after.”
“Can we go early? Earlier than noon? I want to help your mom cook. I’m not the best, but it’s the least that I can do for her having me for dinner. And I need to make something.”
“Nope. Just ask my sisters-in-law. Mom likes to dote on all of us. She insists we just bring ourselves.”
“Well, I’m going to make something.”
I smile. “Alyssa did the same thing. Mom thanked her and then scolded her.”
“Fine, then. I want to help her as much as I can with the meal.”
“Deal. We’ll do it together.”
“Oh, what are you making?”
“French Toast.”
“You know how to make more than eggs and toast,” she teases.
“Yes. Carol Kincaid made sure that all her sons could survive on their own. We might not be chefs, but we know enough to get by.” I hug her close and bury my face in her neck. “Thank you. I’m excited to spend the day with you and for you to get to spend more time with my family.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
She takes a deep breath and slowly exhales. “Okay.”
I hide my smile in her hair. Convincing her was easier than I thought. I’ll have to remember to pull Mom aside and thank her for the assist. My girl will be spending Thanksgiving where she belongs. With my family, that hopefully will one day be hers.