CJ wandered into the kitchen. “When did you learn to cook?” she asked her daughter.
“I haven’t. I’m watching a YouTube how-to video.” She pointed to her phone propped up on the counter. “I don’t have to cook. Aiden is an amazing chef.”
“Clearly.” CJ gave her daughter a disapproving once over. “Someone’s fat and happy,” her judgmental tone rang strong.
“That’s not nice to call somebody fat.” Nathaniel had an apple slice halfway to his mouth when he stopped to defend his big sister in a loud voice. “We don’t talk like that. And my sister is not fat, lady. She’s having a baby.”
A silence fell over the room as no one moved.
Schooner broke the silence, “Nathaniel, we don’t talk that way to our guests.”
“But, Daddy, the lady called Holly fat.” He was not backing down from the defense of his sister. A true gallant Moore man in the making.
“You knew?” she turned to Schooner. “And you didn’t think that you should share that with me?”
“It was not my place to share that.”
“What is wrong with you?” She was livid. Looking across the room at Zac, “And you knew, too, I suppose.”
“Like Dad said, it was not my place to share the news.”
“Fine.” She turned her sights back on her daughter. “And you didn’t think I should know about this?”
“I don’t want to raise this child alone and I have to worry about you running off the men in my life.” Holly lost her cool. A year’s worth of anger was raging in her eyes.
“So that is what this is about? You should be thanking me for that. I did you a huge favor.”
“I do not need any favors from you, Mother.” Holly spit the words out through clenched teeth.
“And you,” a livid CJ turned her sights on Mia. “I can’t count on you as a fellow mother to do the right thing?”
CJ wants me to do the right thing? There’s irony somewhere in this moment. “Is this like Mom-code?” Mia asked innocently.
“Put yourself in my position.”
In that moment, Mia actually felt bad for her. “CJ, put yourself in mine.”
Turning to her daughter, ex, and son, she pointed at each of them, “You, you, and you,” and then looked at Schooner, “where can we talk?”
“Follow me.” Schooner crooked his hand and opened the french doors to the deck.
“This should be good, it’s not me getting in trouble for once.” Zac was clearly taking pleasure in seeing his big sister on the hot seat.
“It’s freezing out here,” CJ bitched, stepping out onto the deck. “Isn’t there a room in the house where we can have some privacy?”
“Cooler heads prevail.” Schooner smiled at her.
“Were you ever going to tell me?” CJ locked eyes with her daughter.
“I would have sent you a baby picture.” Holly smiled, taking great pleasure in pissing off her mother.
“That is not funny.”
“You’re right. It’s not. And I was wrong for not sharing this with you. I’m sorry.” Holly knew her mother was actually right.
“Oh, man, you rolled over way too soon. Didn’t I teach you anything?” Zac gave his sister a disgusted look, enjoying instigating the situation.
“And you have nothing to say for yourself?” CJ gave her ex a hard look.
Leaning against the weathered wooden railing, arms crossed across his broad chest, Schooner smiled at CJ. “We’re going to be grandparents. Let’s enjoy our good fortune. And I think you need a glass of wine.” He added as an afterthought, pushing off the railing and walking toward the door, letting everyone know the conversation had officially ended.
The McManus’s entered the front door at the exact same moment that Schooner, Holly, CJ, and Zac were walking in from the deck.
“Oh, thank God,” Holly muttered.
“Coming simultaneously. I hope that’s what got you knocked up,” Zac whispered to his sister.
“You’re lucky I love you, you brat.” She swatted her brother in the arm and then went to greet Aiden, his parents, and his grandmother.
“Lift your shirt, I need to see that belly.” His mother was overjoyed as she inspected Holly’s baby bump.
“I think I’m carrying in my butt. I’ve kind of widened out.”
“I’ll bet it’s a girl. The boys are all in front and the girls make you go wide. That’s just how I carried.”
As Holly introduced them to her family, her anxiety catapulted as she finally made the introduction she was dreading. “Aiden, this is my mother, CJ.”
“So nice to meet you,” he greeted her warmly with a hug, immediately taking her out of her comfort zone. “If this baby is a girl, I just hope she looks like you and your mom.” He looked at Holly. “And then I’m buying a shotgun.”
Holly looked at her mother. “You approve?”
“Absolutely.” She took in the charming, handsome man standing before her. “A significant improvement.” She couldn’t forgo the barb at her daughter.
In the kitchen, Seth donned an apron over his cashmere sweater. “I’m staying in here with you, where it’s safe.”
“Good idea, Steve,” Mia teased.
“Did I tell you I hate her?”
“Took you long enough.” She handed him a spoon and directed him toward the stove.
“Hello, everyone.” The front door opened again, and Charles and Gaby came in, Paola and Portia, running in past them.
“It smells wonderful in here, Meezie,” Charles called out to Mia.
“Did you just see that?” Seth asked Mia.
“I did.”
They had both watched CJ give Gaby a once over, checking out her competition.
“She is one competitive bitch.” Seth continued to watch the cool blonde, fascinated by her actions, both subtle and overt.
“You have no idea.” Mia shook her head.
Sensing their eyes on her, CJ turned and smiled her close-mouthed smile, and made her way toward the kitchen.
“Great, you’ve summoned the evil spirits, Princess.” Mia nudged Seth in the ribs.
“So, what did you do to Tom?” Mia had been dying to ask the question for a year.
“Nothing you hadn’t already done.”
Looking out into the great room at Aiden standing behind Holly, with his arms wrapped around her, CJ commented, “He’s really attractive. Those scars are actually hot. Did you sleep with this one, too?” She smiled at Mia, clearly amused at her own dig.
Mia put down the slotted spoon in her hand. “You know I’ve wanted to tell you something for nearly thirty years,” she paused to smile at her nemesis. “You are a bitch.”
“Thirty years and that’s the best you can do?”
Mia was dying to say, “No wonder he left you,” but just smiled at CJ and asked, “So, what are you going to have the baby call you, Granny or Grandma?” Continuing to smile, she went on, “Since I’m not a blood relative, I’m thinking Mimi for me. So, I’ve got dibs on that. You can’t have it, Granny.” Granny. Ha! That was much worse than calling her a bitch.
“What does he see in you?” Shaking her head, she left the kitchen.
“It kills her that he’s crazy about you.” Seth commented. “She hates seeing you and Schooner so happy.”
“Good.” Mia smiled. Nearly thirty years and this little psychodrama was still in full swing. She thought about how much they’d all grown and experienced, and yet, the old wounds needed little provocation, ripping wide open at just the slightest tug, releasing three teens, whenever they were in one another’s presence.
Catching Schooner’s eye, Mia motioned for him to come into the kitchen. “Let’s just set up everything here on the island, and everyone can come and get their own plates.” She had set two long tables, with no place cards this year, hoping everyone would mix it up and mingle. “And make sure Aiden’s parents are with us.”
“Do you want me to carve the turkey?” he asked. Looking to
see if he could help, he picked up the carving knife.
“After what you did to it last year? No.” Seth answered for her.
“I’m deferring to Princess.” She smiled at her husband.
“Smart move, BBC.” Seth held out his hand for Schooner to turn over the knife.
“Okay, I’ll go be a good host and see if anyone needs a drink.” Looking out at the room, he turned to Seth, “Your partner really is a saint,” he was referring to Henry keeping CJ occupied.
“He’d have to be a saint to put up with this one,” quipped Mia, smiling at her BFF.
“Not smart, BBC. I’m holding the sharpest knife in the house.”
“Schooner,” Mia grabbed him before he could get away and motioned for him to bend down so that she could whisper in his ear. “No speeches this year, Pretty Boy. This is Aiden’s show today.”
“Willingly handing over that torch.” He gave her a quick kiss and went to attend to their guests.
A few minutes later, Seth had completed his masterful carving, creating a Martha Stewart-worthy platter with a turkey meticulously surrounded with greens, citrus slices, and grapes.
“Okay, everyone, come grab a plate and help yourselves and sit anywhere you’d like,” Mia announced to the group in the great room.
Standing in the kitchen, waiting for the guests to fill their plates and be seated, Mia leaned back on Schooner.
“Tired, Baby Girl?” He kissed the top of her head.
“Yes, very, but excited, too.”
“I know… me, too.”
When everyone was seated, Schooner and Mia filled their plates and joined their guests. Before sitting down, Schooner announced, “No longwinded speech from me this year. I just wanted to welcome everyone and say how thankful and pleased I am that you are all here and healthy. And, of course, Go Chargers!”
“Huh?” Seth turned to Henry.
“Football,” Henry explained. “He’s a San Diego Chargers fan.”
“Jets,” both Charles and Aiden yelled out simultaneously.
“My condolences. That’s just downright sad,” responded a smiling Schooner.
“Can’t argue with you there,” agreed Charles.
When everyone had finished their first plate, and people were either sitting back stuffed, or starting on round two, Aiden stood, picking up his wine glass, and clanging the side of the glass with a spoon, to get everyone’s attention.
“Schooner may not have made a longwinded speech, but I’m going to. So, sit back, undo the top button on your pants and get comfortable, because this might take a while. First, I’d like to thank Schooner and Mia for having us in their beautiful home to celebrate Thanksgiving and for making us this delicious meal. Oh, wait, I mean, thank you, Seth.” Everyone laughed and Aiden smiled at Mia.
“I get no respect.” Mia shook her head, smiling.
“So, first toast is to our hosts, Schooner and Mia.”
When everyone finished sipping their wine or cider, he went on. “I’m also really thankful that we could all be together this holiday. Honestly, I’m just thankful to be here. So many men and women who serve our country are not with their families today. Some are on bases, eating their Thanksgiving dinner in mess halls with their fellow soldiers, while others are out on missions, not celebrating at all. And for the families that are stateside or stationed somewhere around the world, whose loved one isn’t with them, I can’t help but think how bittersweet today is for them. So, I’d like the second toast to go to the men and women serving our country, especially those who are not with their families this holiday.”
With a resounding “Here, here,” from both tables, everyone took another sip.
“I’m also thankful to finally meet Holly’s lovely mother CJ. This has taken way too long to happen, and it is evident where Holly gets her beauty. If this baby is a girl, she had better look like the two of you.”
CJ preened.
“And I’d better get a shotgun.” Aiden deadpanned, then continued. “I’m also really happy my family is here today, especially my other girlfriend, my Grandma Rose.”
“I thought I was your other girlfriend,” Portia yelled out from the other end of the table, sending a ripple of laughter through the room.
“You’re my third girlfriend,” Aiden clarified, with a wink.
“Okay.” Portia was satisfied.
“He should be a politician,” Schooner whispered to Mia. “Charms all the women.”
“So, quite a few years back now, I was here in the winter, and I was hanging out on a cold Saturday afternoon with my friend, Billy. He was working that day, and I was just taking up space on a barstool, and watching some college football. A party of four walked into Castaway, four people I’d never seen before, so I figured they were day-trippers. There was this big, handsome guy, a pretty little lady, some younger guy, but I didn’t pay much attention to him, and the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen in my life. And, hey, this is Fire Island, I’ve seen some beautiful girls.”
“You were there that day?” Holly’s hands flew to her mouth in surprise.
“This is my story.” He gave her a hard look that melted into a smile. “But, to answer your question, yes, I was there that day. I spent the next two hours watching this girl. I was so drawn to her, and I don’t think she ever looked up at me. Not even once. And I was better looking than the guy she was with.” He smiled. “So, the other guy, the big guy,” he looked at Schooner, “got up and got one of the local newspapers with all the real estate in it from one of the racks along the wall. And then they spent the next few hours looking through that. They left, and the most beautiful girl in the world never even looked at me. Just my luck, right. I figured they were probably on the next ferry out. But the following morning, I’m out early running on the beach, and who’s running toward me? You guessed it, the most beautiful girl in the world. We nodded at one another and she was gone again.”
“You were in a blue knit cap.” Holly was astounded, her hand covering her mouth again as she put together his tale with pieces of her memory.
“I was. Very good.” He smiled. “And then I didn’t see her again until the next summer and she was still seeing that guy, but she and I became friends and had a lot of good times laughing together. Now, I would think about her too much. And truth be told, I would also think about ways to get rid of the boyfriend.”
“Oh, I like him.” The words flew out of CJ’s mouth, causing the McManus’s to laugh. The Moores, not so much.
“But I didn’t have to get rid of the boyfriend, because she did it for me, and then let me know that I wasn’t imagining this thing between us. It was there, and it was real, and she was feeling it too. So, here was this girl I was crazy attracted to, totally enjoyed being with, got along great with. And, yeah, she’s beautiful and smart and funny, but I still had no idea who this woman really was. And as time went on and I really got to know her, I was even more blown away. But it was on July 4th this year, when I was literally falling apart in the streets, she was there to catch me, and give me her strength. I was in an alleyway shaking, and she held me and said to me ‘I’ve got you. You’re going to be okay. I’ve got you.’” Aiden stopped for a moment to gather himself, his eyes brimming. “Yeah, she’s beautiful and smart, but she’s also tenacious and relentless and she loves so hard. And lucky for me, I’m the guy she loves, because this is the woman I want at my side every day, for the rest of my life.”
Pulling a black velvet box from his pocket, Aiden dropped to one knee next to Holly’s chair, “Angel, everything I do in my life, for the rest of my days, I want to do with you by my side. When I look at you, I see my forever in your eyes, and I’m whole again because you are a part of me. Will you marry me? Be mine forever?”
“Forever and a day.”
“That works, too.” He smiled, slipping the ring on her finger. “Forever and a day.” Leaning forward he took her face in his hands, looking into her eyes with a smile, before sealing it with a kiss.
>
Before their lips were apart, they heard the muffled pop of a champagne bottle being uncorked, perfectly done, by turning the bottle and not the cork, keeping the sound to a minimum. Still, she could feel his muscles tighten.
“I’ve got you,” she whispered, taking his face in her hands for a second kiss.
“Yeah, and this time it’s forever and a day.” He stole her phrase.
Enjoying a glass of champagne, CJ congratulated her daughter, admiring her cushion-cut ring. “That is lovely,” she remarked. “And you know, I knew about this and you didn’t.”
“Well, then, that makes us even.” Holly referred to being shocked by her mother’s presence.
“Have you thought about when you’d like to get married?”
“This ring has been on my finger for like five minutes. Why, do you have a trip to Europe planned or something? We can get married then.”
“Don’t get pissy with me, young lady. I got that letch out of your life. You need to let it go already.”
To anyone looking on, they appeared to be a mother and daughter having a pleasant conversation, maybe talking about decorating a baby nursery. Through smiling, clenched teeth, Holly hissed, “Don’t you do anything to Aiden.”
“I like Aiden. Why would I do anything to him?” She glanced over at her future son-in-law, eyeing him appreciatively.
“Don’t touch him. I’m not kidding.” There were furrows between Holly’s brows.
“I wouldn’t dream of it. He’s my grandchild’s father. Even I have boundaries, Holly.” Her tone was indignant.
Hearing the end of the conversation as CJ walked away, Zac slung an arm over his sister’s shoulder. “Today is the day you got engaged. Don’t let anyone rob you of that joy. Come, let’s go talk to Grandma Rose, she’s a hoot.”
As she watched her mother walk toward the kitchen, Holly sat down next to Aiden. “Promise me you will never be alone with her.”
“That’s so weird, your father said the same thing to me.”
“He did?” Holly was surprised.
“Yeah, he told me if I had to, I should take Natie with me to the bathroom.” Aiden laughed, thinking it was a joke.
Moore than a Feeling (Moore Than a Feeling #1; Needing Moore #4) Page 27