She leaned on the bar that stood between them and looked thoughtful. He saw one of her eyebrows twitch and had time to think, ‘Oh shit. What’s she gonna make me do?’ when she started to speak.
“Are you busy tomorrow?” Her sweet soprano voice was like a dagger in his back and he knew he would do whatever she proposed.
“I am not going Black Friday shopping for you. No way in hell.” She smirked as if he was mentally challenged, and he breathed and sigh of relief that this was not her request.
“My plan is to decorate this place for Christmas tomorrow. I need someone to hold the ladder so I don’t fall and break my neck. Wanna help me? I’ll take you out for pizza and beer after.”
Mmm … pizza, beer, and Nicole. He found himself nodding like a fool in agreement. Bewitching didn’t even begin to describe this woman. She graced him with a toothy grin and made a show of bouncing up and down, clapping.
“Temptress. What time?” he heard himself ask. He had no intention of being anywhere near the farm tomorrow; working Black Friday gave him hives.
“You tell me. Stone Valley’s closed tomorrow so we can start whenever. Unless you had plans with your girlfriend.” A small voice in a distant corner of his mind reminded him about Colin and his Friday night plans. Aaron wondered if he’d be storming out in the same fashion this time tomorrow. It was a chance he was willing to take, evidently.
“I’m fresh out of girlfriends. Is ten too early?”
“Sounds perfect.”
As he climbed into the delivery truck, he felt thankful he’d agreed to come on this delivery himself.
As they crested the ridge and began the descent toward her childhood home, Avery felt as if her stomach was trying to eat itself. For the first time in her life, she wished the pretentiously elongated driveway were longer. Her nerves jangled obnoxiously, like an unwelcome alarm on a weekend morning. She spared a sideways glance at Shilah, who flipped on the windshield wipers as it began to drizzle again. He hunched down a little in the driver's seat, as if straining to see the entire house at once.
“That's a whale of a house,” he observed and she could feel his amusement tickling her. The conflicting emotions were unwelcome. She could tell it was going to be a long and interesting holiday. They pulled in, and Shilah parked by the carriage house. Relief warmed her when she noticed Nicole's Jeep parked to her right. As if on safari in hostile territory, she knew she could use all the allies she could get. Shilah had turned off the ignition and the hush in their temporary cocoon had her convinced they should stay put for as long as possible. Shilah was eyeing her expectantly, his hazel eyes virtually dancing with entertainment. Avery felt bile in the back of her throat suddenly. Foreboding that meeting her family would unlink their connection caused her chest to tighten.
“Are you all right?” Shilah's brow creased in concern as nausea overtook her. She flung the passenger door open and vomited her entire breakfast onto the driveway. Amazingly, she'd managed to miss his car and her clothes completely. Her heart drummed under her breast, as if threatening to project out of her body like a parasitic alien.
“Avery!” She heard Shilah exclaim. She heard his door slam and knew he was coming around the car to her aid. Humiliated and breathless, an embarrassed moan was all she could manage. Tears sprung from her eyes as she wiped her mouth with a wad of tissues he produced out of nowhere, as if he were a magician with scarves up his sleeve. She couldn't recall having been more miserable. She willed herself to her feet, deftly maneuvering around the pool of vomit the size of Lake Michigan and stumbled into his arms.
“I’m sorry.” She practically sobbed at him.
“You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
“Don't be so sure. It's early in the day.”
He led her around the car to the driver’s side. He produced a bottle of water from the center compartment and a tin of mints. My hero on a white steed. She took a couple of moments to catch her breath and chug water.
“How did you get to be so perfect?” she murmured sincerely, too exhausted to be anything other than soul-baringly honest.
“Clean living.” His wit was as sharp and quick as a Chinese throwing star and Avery suddenly felt better, though she still felt clammy and sweaty. She ran an unsteady hand through the chestnut bangs that hung in her eyes distractingly.
“Should I take you home?” His hand gripped her shoulder and his serious tone forced her to make eye contact. He wasn't joking any longer.
“No. I think I'll live. I just need a bottle or two of wine.” He shot her a disapproving look.
Mitch and Jo's Land Rover approached them and parked on the other side of Nic's Jeep. Their youngest jumped out of the car before it had come to a complete stop and zipped to Avery's side like a jackrabbit. She nearly bowled her over with a vice-like hug.
“Aunt Avery!” Anna cried, her freckled face beaming. Her impish eyes shifted up to look at Shilah and the girl turned a deep shade of crimson. Avery didn't blame her a bit, recalling the first time she'd laid eyes on him with a sly smile. Mitch and Jo appeared carrying covered dishes, curious expressions amateurishly masked on their faces. Their eldest trailed far behind them, not failing in her role as the “Drama Queen of Teenage Angst.” Faith rebelled and dodged around Nicole's Jeep to avoid the puddles last night’s rain had left in its wake. It was a bad call; as she cut through the small path on the passenger side of Shilah's car, she stopped in her tracks, exclaiming in horror and indignation.
“Eww! What the frig?” She made a large circle around the car, checking the bottoms of her Ugg boots as she joined them. Shilah covered a smile and Avery blushed profusely. “Somebody puked over here. I think I got it on my boot!”
“Sorry.” Avery looked at her niece's reproachful face and tried not to snicker. Faith could be such a priss it was hard not to find her amusing.
“You did this? Stay away from me, I can't get sick. I got the lead in the school play.” Her niece held her fingers up in a cross in front of her as if warding off Avery like a vampire.
“I'm fine, but thanks for your concern,” she rebuked and Faith glanced at Shilah and blushed much in the same manner as her sister had.
“You must be Mr. Nizhoni.” Jo tossed the picnic basket she was carrying to her husband and stuck out her hand to Shilah. For a split second, Mitch jostled the items he was carrying like a juggler who was about to drop six knives.
“Please, call me Shilah.” He shook her hand and charmed her with his bright smile. Avery tried not to laugh when Jo's freckled face grew pink. Three out of three. Go Shilah! Mitch chatted with Shilah in typical Mitch fashion as the group made their way to the house. Jo caught Avery's eye and mouthed the word “damn” enthusiastically. With more Team Shilah members, she felt a bit more confident facing her mother. They all entered the foyer and could hear the general bedlam that accompanied a gathering of the Harpers. Suddenly Ike appeared in the foyer, grinning from ear to ear.
He turned to someone out of their line of sight and shouted, “You can't get me!”
He tore off across the foyer, ignoring the group at large and Jake shuffled after him, giving the group a wave. After they removed their coats, Avery grabbed Shilah's hand and led him into the great room. Angela sprawled on the sofa with her feet in her husband’s lap. Dean, attentive as always, massaged them for her. Andy sat opposite of them on a chaise lounge and appeared disgusted by his parents’ display of affection. Avery tried not to gape at Angela, who in the past 6 weeks appeared to have gained fifteen pounds all in her belly.
“Holy crap, Ang!” Avery blurted. “You’re a house!”
Angela’s face dropped and Shilah slowly turned to Avery and looked at her like she’d grown a second head.
“Wow. Really?” He whispered in disbelief.
Dean began to assist Angela who tried to stand, but Shilah spared her the effort. He crossed to her and sat down next to her offering his hand. She smiled at him, her face a visage of relief.
“Hi.
I’m Shilah.” Megawatt smile firmly in place, in no time flat he was engrossed in a conversation with the couple about their impending delivery.
Avery made a beeline for the restroom and gargled three times with mouthwash. Her nerves jangled, and she briefly considered asking Nicole for a Xanax. She reminded herself that she couldn’t control anyone’s behavior but her own. Shilah had social graces, and if they were to be together for any length of time, he may as well see this aspect of her life sooner rather than later.
Returning to the great room, Avery turned to her nephew, who was staring at his cell phone, fingers flying at the speed of light. He didn’t bother to look at her when she greeted him, so she snatched it from his hand and flung it onto the other couch.
“Hey! What the crap?”
“Get your face out of that phone and converse with people in the flesh!” She responded as she pulled him to his feet. “Come help me find something to drink.”
“Since when don’t you know your way to the bar?” Andy gave her an incredulous eye roll and she gaped at him. This kid had been the sweetest of the bunch six weeks ago. Avery considered the impact of the pregnancy on Andy. Not being the baby any longer was a drag, but at his age, Avery thought he needed his ass kicked.
“Since when did you become such punk?” She shot back, glaring him down. His face fell and his shoulders slumped. He mumbled something that sounded vaguely like an apology and shuffled off, snagging his phone on the way out the door. Avery let him go and moved behind the bar. She’d corner him later and grill him. The urge for a stiff drink was more of a pressing concern. Sadly, the ice bucket was empty. She scooped it up and made her way down the hall toward the kitchen. As she entered the kitchen, she could hear murmured sounds from the pantry and recognized her mother’s voice and heard her giggle. She poked her head into the pantry and spied her mother whispering into her cell phone. Sandra saw her and straightened up to her full height, an expression of surprise blooming on her face.
“I have to go. Happy Thanksgiving.” Her tone was all business. She hit the disconnect button. “Some people just can’t leave you alone on the holidays.”
“Who was bugging you on Thanksgiving?” Avery wasn’t sure what to make of her mother’s bizarre demeanor. She turned from the pantry and opened the freezer, filling the ice bucket with the speed on an expert. When it came to her parents’ wet bar, Avery was a Grade A mixologist.
“Just a board member. Where’s your friend?” Her mother exited the pantry and slipped her phone into her pocket.
“In the living room. Mom, I want you to be nice.” Her demand was firm and she turned to gauge her mother’s reaction.
“Well, of course I’ll be nice, Avery. He’s our guest.” Scoffing, her mother picked up two trays of finger food.
“Where’s Nicole?” Avery snagged a cucumber sandwich off one of the trays, as her mother tried to bat her hand away.
“Changing.” Her mother’s tone was stilted and aloof at the mention of Nic. Avery shot her a look, and Sandra’s lips were pressed in a flat narrow line while she focused on rearranging her perfect party trays.
“What did Nicole do to piss you off?”
“Try running around town with Patrick O’Connell’s son right after the election.”
“To be fair, she was running around with him before you lost the election.” They rounded the corner and came face to face with Avery’s dad.
“Ladies, do you know what I’m thankful for today?” John was all smiles, and Avery couldn’t help but smile back at him.
“What?” Sandra snapped, throwing an ugly look at her youngest daughter.
“I’m thankful for the extended golfing season that allowed me to afford these.” He reached into the inside pocket of his coat jacket, producing an envelope. He held it out to Sandra. On instinct, Avery took the trays from her mother so she could open the envelope.
She looked on as her mother’s face contorted in surprise and disbelief.
“John?”
“Well come on, Mom. What’s inside?”
“First class tickets to Paris.” Her mother’s stunned response came out in a whisper.
“I know you’ve always wanted to see the Lofa.” He beamed, his pride blatant.
“It’s the Louvre, Dad.” Avery offered.
“I don’t know what to say…” Sandra groped at speech. John took her into his arms and Avery made herself scarce. Since Ryan’s death, her mother’s behavior had struck her as even more erratic and unpredictable. She thought some time away would suit her parents well.
The noise level in the great room was at an all-time high. Everyone had assembled, including the children, who nearly jumped Avery for the food when she entered the room.
“Whoa, whoa. What is this, shark week? Don’t your parents feed you?”
After surrendering the trays to the teenagers, she broke away from the kids and fled to the safety of Shilah.
“Did you lose any fingers?” Shilah raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. John and Sandra entered the room and the kids greeted them in unison, causing the noise level to be ear splitting.
“Momma. Want food!” Ike shouted at Nicole and everyone laughed.
“Me too, Ike,” Avery’s dad chimed in as he patted him on the head and crossed to Shilah, Sandra on his arm. Avery studied her parents’ expressions, eager to gauge their reactions to her date.
“Shilah, it’s good to see you again. How are things at Gates Corp?” John asked as he and Shilah shook hands.
“We’re whipping the place into shape. And you?” Shilah responded, and as he let go of John’s hand he took her mother’s.
“Great. Taking the wife to France.” John responded and Shilah graced Sandra with a slightly devilish look as he kissed her hand.
“Ooh la la,” Shilah murmured. Avery gaped at the exchange, feeling foolish and betrayed. Nicole handed her a glass of wine with a sympathetic look and Avery downed it.
As the Harpers sat down to the dinner table, Avery fumed. She’d nearly had a nervous breakdown worrying about introducing her parents to Shilah; then she found out that they’d all met on more than one occasion. Shilah’s amusement was obvious, which only irritated her further. The kids had all announced what they were thankful for, and Anna had made a huge production about how grateful she was to the Indians for teaching the white man how to survive in the New World. Shilah could barely contain his laughter as Jo and Mitch both exchanged troubled looks. Mitch practically yanked Anna back into her chair. Avery took another long drink from her wine glass.
The adults took their turns, including a schmoozey speech from Shilah about being thankful for all the friendly people he’d been honored to meet in Jefferson Point. He winked at Avery as he took his seat and she had the urge to punch him in his perfect face.
John stood, his expression grim.
“I’m thankful for everyone here today. My spectacular family. I know Ryan’s here with us. You know he’d never miss a meal.” Several of the adults chuckled, including John, who wiped a single tear away. “I’m thankful for Ike. He’s a gift. Ryan’s legacy.”
“Hear, hear,” Jolene murmured quietly as she and the other adults held up a glass, except for Nicole and Avery. Nicole scrambled for her glass and Avery swooped hers up as an afterthought. She tried to imagine what it was like for Nicole to sit through all these moments, Ryan thrown in her face. Nicole shifted her gaze in Avery’s direction; she seemed to beg her to keep silent with only her eyes.
Sandra let out a loud sob. Avery, her tone dripping with sarcasm, announced, “And I’m thankful for precious moments like these.”
All eyes were on her. Shilah sucked in an audible breath. Avery picked up her glass and the bottle of wine and with a curt “excuse me” left the room and made her way out the back door. A moment later the door opened and Shilah spun her around, forcing her to face him.
“Did you bring me here to watch you self-destruct?”
“This is a day in the life with
the Harpers, Shilah.”
He looked furious.
“It seems like everyone else is having a pretty good time.”
“Well, things aren’t always as they seem.”
“I’ll say.” His barb came out of nowhere and she reeled from the sting of it. Stunned speechless, she stood vulnerable, as if waiting for the killing blow. He seemed to take in her reaction with little emotion and paused.
The back door cracked open and Mitch stuck his head out.
“Aves. Dad is waiting on you to carve the turkey.”
After Avery allowed Shilah to lead her back to the table, everyone ate their dinner in near silence. After excusing herself, Avery headed straight for the bar. She saw Shilah conversing quietly with Nicole, who looked Avery’s way. Concern was written all over her face. Shilah had Avery’s coat and purse under his arm.
As she was about to pour herself another drink, Shilah was at her side.
“We’re going.” His tone was non-negotiable.
As they pulled onto the highway, Avery finally spoke.
“Hey, thanks for the heads up about knowing my parents. Looks like I worried myself sick for no reason.”
“Why were you so worried? Are you ashamed of me?” His casual smile that usually pulled her out of a funk made her blood boil.
“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.”
“Your family’s great, Avery.”
“If you say so.”
“Let’s go meet mine. You can see for yourself.”
“Yeah, let’s get right on that.”
Shilah pulled into his hotel parking lot and ran inside. His know-it-all attitude was starting to get old.
He returned, placing a bag into the trunk. Avery raised her eyebrows as he climbed in the driver’s seat.
“You can’t seriously expect me to just hop on a plane with you.”
“It’s the holidays. Is there any better time?”
Avery remained in denial all the way to her house.
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