Page 89 of Love Me Not
Somehow, in a relatively short period of time, we’d all found our happily ever after. Too soon for me and Trey to know that for sure, of course, but I already couldn’t imagine my life without him. He made me smile so much my cheeks ached at the end of the day, and when he wasn’t around all I could think about was when I’d see him again.
Ironically, his house wasn’t far from my apartment. A fact I learned only a week ago when we’d all gathered after the play. He, too, could have walked to the restaurant that night, but kept that little factoid to himself until I called him on it. He said he wanted the excuse to both pick me up and walk me home.
He looked so cute when he made the confession that I couldn’t even be mad about it.
Food was passed back and forth, across and around, the table as we all filled our plates. Becca plopped this amazing silicon baby bowl down on Noah’s high chair tray, which stuck in place as if she’d glued it down. Then she loaded the little sections with mashed potatoes, peas, and a few green beans from the casserole.
Within minutes the child was wearing most of it.
Once everyone had what they wanted, Calvin said, “Who’s going to start?”
We offered a collective stare of confusion.
“Start what?” Donna asked.
“Saying what we’re grateful for.”
Oh. He was one of those.
Again, he was met with silence. Except for Noah, who was shoving peas into his mouth between fits of glee.
“Come on, it’s Thanksgiving,” he said, as if we had no idea why we’d gathered for this meal. “It’s tradition.”
Mom tried getting us kids to do this once when we were little. Janet was grateful for Sal DelMonti being assigned the seat beside her in her fourth grade class, five-year-old Frankie gave thanks that the marble he got stuck the week before came back out of his nose, and I thanked God for giving Joe pimples. Yes, I was a horrible child.
After that, she never made us share our thoughts again. On anything.
“I’ll do it,” Ryan said, drawing all eyes his way. “I’m grateful that I found the most amazing woman in the world, and that she agreed to marry me.”
Megan blushed as Jacob went next. “I echo that and add my thanks for our little one. I wasn’t sure I’d ever have a whole family again, so I’m really grateful how my life has turned out.”
Were they trying to make me cry?
Jacob leaned over to kiss Noah’s head before mouthing an I love you to his wife on the other side of the high chair.
“My turn then,” said Miles. “I’m grateful to be here. After a lot of Thanksgivings eating ramen on my couch, this is nice.”
“Enjoy it,” Josie said. “Because dinner with my family won’t be nearly this relaxed.”
“I know.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “But don’t worry. Someday your mom will like you as much as she likes me.”
Josie rolled her eyes. “That will never happen.”
We all laughed before Becca said, “I’m grateful for all of you.” She teared up, which triggered tears for the rest of us.
“Dang it, woman,” Josie said, chin up and blinking at the ceiling. “Don’t make me cry.”
Donna hurried to the counter to grab a box of tissues, then passed it around the table. Even Calvin took one.
“When I moved here during the summer,” Trey said, clasping my hand under the table, “I wasn’t sure how things would turn out. I definitely didn’t expect to be celebrating the holiday with all of you. Thanks for making me feel welcome.” Turning my way, he added, “And thank you for changing your mind about dating.”
The girls laughed, which was the perfect antidote to the tears.
“I wouldn’t have changed my mind for anyone else,” I said in a moment of honesty. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
As Trey leaned in for a quick peck on the lips, Calvin raised his glass. “To friends becoming family. And to many more holidays like this one.”
A collective hear hear filled the room as glasses clinked together, and baby Noah squealed along, clueless what we were celebrating but understanding the joy surrounding him. Calvin was right. We had become a family. All of us. And Donna was right too. Sometimes a person came along who made you happier than you ever thought possible.