Page 98 of Worth the Fall

My heart pounded with the declaration.

“I will,” I said before pushing open the door and walking into the brisk air, Jasper hot on my heels. He ran off and then promptly returned to my side.

The seasons were changing, and I knew the first snow was going to fall soon. That was something that Sugar Mountain taught you when you grew up here. It let you know when it was going to snow, giving you at least a little bit of warning before it did. The air took on a completely different feeling, and I swore that you could almost smell it before it started falling. I gave it less than a week.

After chatting with my parents, who were driving down to some tiny Florida island for fish instead of turkey, I headed back inside. The kitchen table had been transformed in my short absence. There were holiday place mats and a vase of fall flowers I hadn’t seen before in the center. Each place setting had a glass of wine or a beer in front of it with the exception of what I assumed was Clara’s seat. There was a fancy wine goblet, filled with what looked to be apple cider. I’d seen the bottle in the kitchen earlier.

“I hurried while you were outside.” Clara beamed up at me, and I realized that she had most likely been the one to set the table.

“You really do have a good eye for decorating,” I complimented.

She clapped her hands. “I knew you’d like it.”

Mr. O’Grady placed some bowls and dishes on top of the table before announcing, “It’s ready. Grab your seats, scoundrels.”

I giggled right along with Clara as she reached for my hand and pulled me toward the seats that she had decided were ours. She was on my left, and Thomas sat down on my right, instantly putting his hand on my thigh and giving it a squeeze. Matthew and Patrick sat across from us, and Mr. O’Grady would eventually be sitting at the head of the table, if he ever stopped moving.

“Should we help your dad?” I asked.

Thomas rolled his eyes. “He doesn’t let us.”

“Calls us lazy, but then tells us to sit down. It’s very confusing.” Matthew pretended to be offended.

“I’m old, not deaf,” Mr. O’Grady said as he carried a giant platter of freshly carved turkey with both hands. Once he put it on the table, he pulled out his chair and sat, reaching for his glass of wine and taking a small sip.

Clara cupped her mouth and leaned toward me. “This is my favorite part,” she whispered, and I found myself getting just as excited as she was, even though I didn’t know what was coming.

Mr. O’Grady cleared his throat. “Welcome to the family, Brooklyn. We’re happy to have you here,” he said, and I felt my eyes start to mist over for no good reason. “We have a tradition in our family where we go around the table and say what we’re thankful for. And since you’re new, we’re putting you on the spot and making you go first.”

Damn.

Thomas could have at least warned me so that I could have prepared a little speech or something. I gave him a dirty look before glancing down at Clara softly, who was looking up at me with those big brown eyes.

“I wasn’t expecting this, but it’s a nice tradition. Without sounding cheesy, I’m thankful for every one of you,” I said before sucking in a quick breath. “A year ago, I would have never thought that this was where I’d be. I’m so thankful for my job at the resort. For my boyfriend.” I gave Thomas’s hand a squeeze under the table. “For my best friend.” I looked right at Clara as I said it, and she grinned so big that it made my heart swell. “Thank you for making me feel like part of the family.”

“Cheers,” everyone said as soon as I finished, and we each took a sip from our respective drinks.

“Me next!” Clara raised her hand, and everyone suddenly grew quiet. “I’m thankful for my Pops,” she said, looking at him and smiling. “And my uncle Matthew.” She gave him a silly look, and he grinned like she’d just told him that he was her favorite. “I’m thankful for Uncle Patrick, my room at his house, and our new doggy, Jasper. I really do love him,” she said with a smile, and I noticed Jasper lying under the table, completely unbothered, even though his ears perked at the mention of his name. “I’m thankful for my daddy ’cause he’s the best daddy in the whole world.” She leaned forward so that she could see him before she focused her attention on me. “And I’m thankful for Miss Brooklyn the Waffle Princess, who I want to be my mama someday.”

There were a couple of audible inhales at the table, but I had no idea who they had come from. I could barely hear anything over the sound of my heart beating.

“I already have a mom. My real mom. But I thought that you could be my mama, and that would make me real thankful,” she continued explaining. She’d clearly given this a lot of thought.

I bent down toward her. “I’d like that,” I said to her like it was a secret between us two, even though the entire table was watching us.

A tear fell, and I quickly wiped it away. I felt Thomas squeeze my thigh once more, but I couldn’t bear to look at him. I knew I’d never stop crying if I did.

“Did I make you sad?” Clara asked as she wiped at another tear falling down my cheek with her little finger.

“No. You made me real happy.”

Mr. O’Grady cleared his throat to either get out the emotion clogging his throat or our attention. I wasn’t sure which. “I’ll go next,” he announced. “I’m thankful for this family. For how it’s growing and how strong it is. I’m thankful that you boys stand up for what’s right and that you have each other. I’m thankful that little Clarabel has the biggest heart out of all of us. And, Brooklyn, I’m thankful that you’ve come into our lives. It was getting a little too masculine in here,” he said with a gruff laugh before raising his glass.

“I’m thankful for my good looks,” Matthew started without being asked, and we all laughed. I almost choked on the liquid as it went down my throat. “You laugh, but I mean it. I am thankful that I’m so damn handsome. And that I have the best brothers any guy could ever ask for. I’m thankful that I have the coolest niece on the planet. The best dad in the world.” His voice cracked a little, and he stopped for a second. “I’m thankful that Brooklyn came around and got this guy to stop being so grumpy all the time. I’m not sure I can even call him Grumps anymore, but I probably still will.” He smiled as he looked at Thomas, and he reached for his beer. “Happy for you, brother.”

“And you’re thankful for beer, Uncle Matthew,” Clara added with a giggle, just like she’d said this morning at the house.

“I’m definitely thankful for beer,” he agreed as he took a giant gulp and gave Patrick a nod that told him it was his turn to go.