by J. A. Low
“Family does that to you, boy.” My dad smiles noticing the tsunami of emotions I am currently riding while everyone else talks around us.
***
“Happy Thanksgiving,” I holler, welcoming the hordes of friends and family through my front door.
“Bro, something smells good,” Christian groans as he slaps me on the back. He’s right because the caterers have cooked up a fucking storm, all day I have smelt how delicious it is and can’t wait to dig in.
“Thanks for having us.” Axel shakes my hand.
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor coming in after him, greeting me. “Ready for the game, boy?” Mr. Taylor asks.
“Hell yeah, wait ‘till you see my new TV, the game has never looked so good.”
I quickly introduce Sienna to them as they head out the back to where everyone else is hanging out. Last night Jake, Derrick and I set the tables up in a large U shape in the backyard under the large tent we hired for today. There are about thirty people coming for Thanksgiving dinner, it’s been a bit of a production. Derrick, Stacey and Sienna have been busy decorating the home with over the top Thanksgiving decorations. I let them do it because they are so excited by the holiday. The table looks amazing outside. Mom is loving that Sienna invited her and Charlotte to help decorate it. Hessian table runners cover white linen table cloths, oversized pumpkins line the middle of the table, some holed out to hold candles in them with pine cones and green moss stuff scattered over the table as well. Someone cut up a tree trunk and is using it as place settings, which is blowing my mind. White bone china set a top of it with each person’s name scribbled in gold calligraphy on white place cards, silver cutlery and crystal goblets set beside it.
The doorbell is unrelenting as our guests arrive one by one, the backyard filling up with our nearest and dearest.
***
“No way, if it isn’t the Connolly brothers,” I exclaim, seeing Finn’s family standing in front of me. Wow, they have all changed so much since we all caught up last. Hudson is looking older than his years, deep tanned skin, messy blond hair, bulging muscles tightly encased in his navy blazer. Jackson is equally as buffed in a white pullover and Parker looking like he stepped right off the runway in Milan dressed in some over the top hipster attire, looking very Euro. We all slap each other on the back the way men do, catching up as much as one can at your front door, I usher in the Connolly family into our home. Luckily Mom walked passed the foyer and decided to play tour guide taking Mr. and Mrs. Connolly for a walk around our home and filling them in on things.
“Who the fuck ordered strippers?” Derrick hollers as Finn’s brothers walk out to the backyard.
“They’re my brothers,” Finn adds.
Derrick’s jaw drops. “Where the hell have you been hiding these men from me?” He accuses while licking his lips.
The Connolly brothers’ faces look exactly like Jake’s did when Derrick tried to crack onto him.
“D, I don’t think they could handle you,” Finn laughs.
Derrick shrugs. “True but I sure would like to find out.” He laughs.
“Get a couple beers into Parker and he’s anyone’s.” Hudson slaps his younger brother on the back, Derrick’s eyes light up at the challenge.
Parker punches his older brother in the stomach, making him groan. “Fuck you.”
Then he turns to Derrick, “You are a very good looking man and if I was gay I would so totally fuck you, but I have a thing for pussies.”
Everyone goes quiet looking to see how Derrick will react.
His eyes look over Parker then he bursts out laughing, swinging his arm around Parker’s shoulder. “I like you, you’re funny. I make a great wingman, just so you know.”
Parker smiles, “I like where your head is at, the chicks would be going crazy for you and then when you tell them you prefer dicks they will be all over me.”
Derrick laughs, “You’re a smart boy,” he tells Parker as they walk off toward the bar chatting away.
“Shit, Derrick is so going to corrupt him isn’t he?” Finn asks, looking a little worried.
“Yeah probably,” I laugh as Finn scurries off after them.
“So Jay, how’s civilian life treating you?” Axel’s attention turning toward Jackson Connolly.
Jackson was medically discharged from the Marine’s recently; he was injured when his Humvee hit a landmine during a patrol while in Afghanistan. He nearly lost his leg, but luckily it was just severely damaged by shrapnel, but due to the large amount of scarring his movement is impaired. He’s unable to return to active duty, so he has taken an early retirement and I guess is learning how to live in the real world again, which would be hard after ten years in the Marines.
“It’s weird, man, just taking one day at a time. Trying to keep busy.”
“Tell them what you are doing now,” Hudson slaps his younger brother on the back.
Jackson gives him a look, “Me and a couple of buddies of mine have started our own security firm. We are hiring ex-military guys who were medically discharged or hurt during service but still want to work. We are giving ex-servicemen dignity after everything they have given to our country.”
Everyone is silent. Fuck, what a noble cause.
“Man that is awesome,” Oscar adds.
Jackson looks a little shy, his large shoulders shrugging. “It’s all some of us know and all we are trained to do, protect people.”
“I think we should talk, because I might have a job for you and your boys,” Axel pipes in.
We all look at him.
“The label is expanding so we need to start looking at expanding our security teams, because hiring those temporary dumb asses we used at the Sons of Brooklyn concert last night is not how we want to run things.”
Last night security got a little rough with the fans, bloody noses and shit, made the news and made the band look bad. Thank God Vanessa handled that PR nightmare.
“Yeah Finn told me about what happened last night, I can guarantee our men wouldn’t behave like that.”
Axel nods. “Okay, let’s set up a meeting next week and work out a business plan between each other.”
A huge smile appears on Jackson’s face. “Thank you man, thank you so much.”
“You’re family, we look after our own,” Axel says, shaking his hand. He’s right, Charlotte is the label’s in house tour photographer, Derrick is our freelanced stylist and Vanessa, well she’s head of PR, so why not hire Jackson’s security firm to look after us.
***
Next through the door are Yvette and Sebastien. I thought it was going to be weird, especially when Sienna came barreling in giving them both a big hug and a kiss. I remember vividly what it was like seeing Sienna in Sebastien’s arms and I didn’t like it then and I sure as hell am not a fan of it now, but I push down my jealousy for Sienna’s sake.
“Hope you enjoy this,” Sebastien hands me a fancy bottle of wine. I shake the man’s hand and exchange pleasantries with him. “Thank you for letting me come to your home, I appreciate being welcomed,” he adds in his thick Latin accent. “Sienna looks so happy; I am happy for you both.” Damn it, I hate that the man is so nice.
***
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Johnny crows, as I open the door to the Sons of Brooklyn boys.
“Happy Thanksgiving guys, great work last night,” I acknowledge, slapping them all on the back. Last night’s concert was pretty amazing; the vibe was outstanding. I was really proud of them, they killed it.
“Thanks for having us today,” Chance adds.
“You’re part of the Dirty Texas family now boys,” I respond, cupping Chance’s shoulders. “Come on lunch is nearly ready, then it’s football time.”
“You know the Giants are going to crush you,” Tyler shit talks.
“As if, Dallas are going to destroy you,” I add.
“Hi guys,” Charlotte calls out as she bounces into the foyer. They all smile and I can see Blake hanging at the back.
&n
bsp; “Thanks, man for today,” Blake grabs my attention.
“It sucks you can’t go home and see your family.”
Blake shuffles his feet. “Sometimes it’s better if you don’t.”
Frowning at Blake’s cryptic comment, who wouldn’t want to see their family? But then I remember Charlotte telling me briefly that Blake doesn’t have a very happy home life, but before I get a chance to say anything more, Charlotte is standing before us.
“Everything okay?” She looks between us; last time he was at my home we were rolling around on the grass trying to kill each other.
“Sure is, sweetheart. Come on Blake I’m starved. I’ve had to sit here all day being tortured by these delicious smells. He nods and follows my lead to the back garden where everyone is milling around.
Dinner is served not long after the Sons of Brooklyn boys arrive, there is so much food that we decided to set up a large buffet table so everyone could help themselves. There are a couple of large turkeys cut up with bowls of stuffing, a mountain of ribs, BBQ brisket, salmon for the non-Southerners, honey baked ham, big bowl full of baked beans, collard greens, roasted corn, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, salads, sweet potato pie with marshmallow topping which Sienna thinks is genius, creamy corn casserole, broccoli cheese casserole, hash brown casserole, corn bread, cranberry sauce, gravy and fresh dinner rolls. My stomach growls in appreciation, thankfully there is enough guys here to help us get through all this food.
There was also a whole station dedicated to desserts; pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, Thanksgiving shaped sugar cookies, apple fritters, lemon meringue pie, peanut butter cheesecake, bowls of custard, cream and ice cream. I can already feel the top button of my pants getting ready to pop.
“Luckily I am eating for two because there is so much food,” Sienna whispers to me as she takes her seat.
“There is a lot of hungry men here, I guarantee there won’t be any left overs.”Dad refused my request for him to sit at the head of the table saying, “Son this is your Thanksgiving.” So I tap my glass to get everyone’s attention, we say Grace then we all dig in. About an hour later we are all pretty stuffed and Vanessa stands up and clears her throat. “Thought I would start the tradition off first today with what I am thankful for.” Everyone nods.
“Angel, I know you’re thankful for me,” Christian pips up.
She pegs a bread roll at him. “I am thankful that my best friend has found true love and happiness and is now only down the road instead of a twenty-hour flight away.” She raises her glass of champagne to Sienna and I.
I stand up next. “I am thankful for the life Sienna is growing inside of her. I am thankful for the love she shows me every day and I am thankful that I found her.” When I sit down, Sienna leans over and gives me a heated kiss. “I am so thankful I found you as well,” she whispers.
We continue on around the table saying what we are thankful for, and before long, it’s Derrick’s turn. This will be interesting.
“I am thankful for Finn and Evan’s hot as hell brothers,” Derrick announces with a smile, making everyone laugh and the boys blush.
“It’s been a busy day today,” Stacey mentions walking out to the front boutique area, as we get ready to close up for the day.
“That magazine spread Sienna did has done wonders for the boutique. I’m booked solid, well into the New Year,” Derrick says with a smile as he shifts through racks of couture.
“Enjoy it while it lasts, because there is no way in hell Evan is going to allow me to do another one anytime soon,” I respond as I sip on a bottle of mineral water.
“Please, that man loves the attention,” Derrick laughs.
“He’s forgotten that we have signed on for a baby shoot, so I’ll remind him when he is in that new dad bubble and won’t be able to say no.” The plan was devious but they were offering a large sum of money again and being able to donate all that money to charity, to make a difference, is worth it.
“Give him a blow job and he’ll do whatever you want,” Derrick laughs, giving me a high five.
“You know me so well, D.” I high five him back.
“It always worked on me,” a familiar male voice says.
“Beau!” I identify, looking at him, like a ghost standing before me. No way, there is no possible way he is standing there.
“What the fuck,” Derrick roars. And, before Beau knows it, he is knocked flat on his ass, with a heavy breathing Derrick standing over him.
“What the hell, D?” I scurry over to where Beau is sitting, a nice red mark burning on his cheek.
“He deserves more than a fucking punch in the face, Si, and you know it.” Stacey is holding Derrick back, the adrenaline pumping through him. Even after all this time, Derrick still couldn’t stand him.
“Are you okay?” I ask. Looking at Beau, his blue eyes sparkle, he looked good dressed in a navy suit, looking every inch the expensive lawyer that he was.
“Yeah, I’m good,” Beau says, slowly getting up off the floor.
“I guess I didn’t hit you hard enough if you can stand,” Derrick growls.
“I’ve never accused you of punching like a girl, D. I learnt my lesson last time,” Beau says through gritted teeth. Derrick and Beau got into an almighty fight at my thirtieth birthday in Sydney, after I found Beau with his ex in our boat house.
“What the hell are you doing here, Beau?” I question, wondering why after all these months he is here in Los Angeles.
“I was in town for work and I had to give you something.” Beau reaches into his pocket and pulls out a check, handing it to me.
“What’s this for?” Not registering what it was.
“Half of my estate.”
What is he talking about?
“After finding out about Dad and Diana I lost it, I wasn’t myself. It’s taken me a while to find myself again. I started counseling, talked through everything that has happened to me with my family, my mind is a lot clearer about what I went through and what I put you through when it came to the divorce. I heard about your accident in Paris and that made me think about how I could make things right between us, plus maybe give us both closure.”
“I’m pretty sure Sienna is well and truly over you,” Derrick hissed.
“Yeah I know she is, Derrick, she looks happy with Evan from the photos I’ve seen.” Beau gives me a timid smile. “It’s hard to miss your photos, they’re kind of everywhere.”
“Why are you here, Beau? Last time you came near me you damn well nearly ruined my life.”
Beau nods, “Yeah I know, like I said I was in a bad place and not really thinking. But I’m here because you deserve so much better than me. I know you’re engaged to a super-rich rock star now and don’t really need the money but that check is for what you should have been given when we divorced.”
Looking down now to the white check, the black lettering coming into focus and there are a lot of zeros on the check. “Beau this is too much,” I say, trying to hand back the check.
Beau shakes his head, his floppy blond hair bouncing around. “No, Si, you are owed this money. I don’t care what you do with it but it’s what you are entitled to.”
“And what do you get out of this?” Stacey demands, usually the quiet one in our group who likes to stay in the shadows. Looks like our little mouse has found her lady balls.
“Nothing Stace, honestly, I’m doing it to put that chapter of my life behind me. I want to move on and find someone that makes me happy, like Evan does for Si.”
Okay my heart may have thawed a little at his comment.
“Well then thank you, Beau. I wish you all the best in finding that perfect someone for you. You deserve to be happy and you deserve to make someone happy, like you did me.”
Beau looks shocked by my confession.
“What you did at the end was shitty and unforgivable but all those years together they were not all bad.” It was the truth, ten years together is a long time and Beau was a great husband
up until the end, but looking back now I don’t think Beau and I would have lasted, we were growing apart slowly, kids probably would have been the undoing for us.
“Really? After everything that man has done to you,” Evan yells at the entry of the shop.
My body stiffens, how the hell did he know that Beau was here? My eyes flick to Derrick and the phone that is now in his hand.
“I told Sienna if you ever came back that I would pummel you but I can see Derrick has already beaten me to it,” Evan sneers.
I walk over to Evan, trying to pull his attention away from my ex-husband and back to me.
“Babe, it’s okay. Beau was just saying goodbye, he just wanted to give me a check for half of our estate, so we could both move on.”
Evan’s blue eyes flick over my shoulder and then back to me. “You don’t need that fucker’s money,” he replies through gritted teeth.
“I know I don’t but I fucking deserve it.”
Evan looks at me shocked.
“Ten years, babe, I worked so damn hard for everything that we owned. Beau didn’t pay for all of it. So I am going to take this check and I am going to cash it. And you know what I am going to do with it?” I look up at him as he raises an eyebrow at my question.
“No darlin’, I don’t know what you are going to do with this check.”
I turn to Derrick and say, “I’m going to expand Wyld Jones into a global brand. New York, Paris and eventually back in Sydney.”
Derrick and Stacey gasp behind me and Evan gives me a dirty smirk, his hands wrap around my waist pulling me to him.
“Really now?” He smiles, his face moving closer to me.
“We might even open one in Texas,” I add, which makes him laugh.
“All that oil money needs to be spent somewhere,” Evan mentions, his lips hitting the curve of my neck, his teeth sinking into my skin and I let out a breathless moan.
“I guess he is staking his claim,” Derrick muses to no one.
Evan hums in agreement.
“Evan,” I say on a moan, pushing him gently away, realizing where we are.