Page 82 of Whiskey & Honey
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.”