Epilogue
Callum, Thanksgiving
I gazed at the tiny, squirming bundle in my arms. “Look at her, Z. Have you ever seen anything so adorable?” I glanced up to find Zandra eyeing me sardonically. Chloe was giving the same narrowed look, tail twitching.
“Same answer as the first hundred times you asked since we got her. No, I have not.”
“Then why do you seem grumpy? What happened to your heart-eyes for our new fur baby?”
Zandra lifted the wooden spoon from the batter she’d been stirring. “I love and adore everything about our kitten. And about you, Callum, except for how you wanted to make gluten-free, dairy-free pumpkin pies from scratch, and now you’re making me do all the work. I’m going to mess this up.”
I walked over to her to kiss her temple. “First of all, no, you won’t. You’re a great cook now. Second, Daisy was sad without me holding her. It’s like she knows we’ll be away from her this afternoon. Could you say no to these eyes?”
I held up our kitten, and Zandra’s expression melted. “Fine, keep cuddling until I get these in the oven. But then it’s my turn with her.”
“Deal.” With my finger, I rubbed Daisy’s furry little head as she tried to climb up my arm.
A lot had changed for Zandra and me in the last couple of months.
My roommate era had officially come to an end, complete with a huge goodbye party for me, Connor, Niko and Darius.
We’d invited most of Silver Ridge to the event.
There’d been lawn games and other family-friendly activities in the afternoon, followed by drinking and reminiscing late into the night.
There’d definitely been some off-key singing.
Zandra had joined in with me. I’d never seen my girl that tipsy, and I had to say, it was hilarious.
Our new place was close enough to Hearthstone to walk.
Which we did, each and every morning on our way into work.
Sharing the general manager job with Zandra was, well, pretty much like that trial period.
Manny had combined general manager duties with bar manager, and Zandra and I had our hands in pretty much everything at Hearthstone.
Now that Manny had finally retired from management, limiting his role to ownership, we only heard from him about once a week when he came in for lunch and a surprise inspection. I loved those visits, because we could usually sneak in a game of backgammon.
And thanks to Zandra conspiring with Chef Alice, Hearthstone now had chicken nuggets on the menu. Manny had no idea they were gluten free.
Once Zandra had the pumpkin pies in the oven, I handed over Daisy.
The newest addition to our family had arrived in October.
We’d heard from Dixie Haines about a litter of month-old kittens in someone’s barn, and I’d surprised Z with a trip out to see them.
We instantly fell in love with this little black-and-white, short-furred beauty.
I mean, when it’s love, what else can you do? You just have to go with it.
Chloe was less thrilled about her new sister.
Where Chloe was a prickly diva, Daisy was a bundle of energy and snuggles.
We’d been keeping them separate most of the time to give Chloe her space.
I’d never had cats before, so I didn’t know if that would change, but I sensed Chloe was warming up to Daisy. Some things were inevitable.
After I cleaned up the kitchen and we checked on the pies, I sat on the couch with Zandra and Daisy. Chloe leaped up on the cushion on my other side.
“Callum?” Zandra said softly.
“Mmhmm?”
“I think this is what perfect looks like.”
I glanced around our tiny, eclectic living room.
We’d picked out the furniture together, mostly from resale shops around Hart County.
The mantle above the fireplace held my football-player gnome and a collection of framed photos of family and friends.
There was one of Zandra and Jessa in a prominent spot, and another of me and Z at the fall festival with me in full turnout gear.
Now that had been a good day.
But there was room for more, too. More memories and more people in our lives.
“You’re right, baby. This is exactly what perfect looks like. I’m thankful.”
“Me too. So thankful for you.” She groaned. “Except, less thankful for having to attend two Thanksgiving dinners today. Think my mom will notice if we skip?”
I shot her a grin. “If we don’t show up, your mom will call search and rescue.”
“Ugh. Truth.”
Connor showed up about an hour later. He was our cat sitter for the next few hours. “Where’s Daisy?” he asked, instead of actually saying hello.
“Napping.”
He pouted. “Can I wake her up so she’ll play?”
“You can play with Chloe.”
Connor winced. “Sure, if I want to get shredded like a horror movie.”
We heard Zandra giggling from the kitchen. She must’ve heard every word. “We saved you a pumpkin cinnamon roll, Connor!” she called out.
“I would’ve done it for kitten time alone,” he replied, “but I appreciate that.”
Connor was going to cat-sit while we were at the Alvarez Thanksgiving. His girlfriend planned to swing by to help him—and for kitten time, naturally—before Darius and the woman he was dating took over kitty watch for the rest of the afternoon. No idea what I would’ve done without those guys.
As we drove to Zandra’s parents’ place, my truck was filled with the scent of pumpkin spice and pastry crust. A light snow had fallen, draping the evergreens along the road with a soft layer of white.
I pulled up next to Jimmy’s battered old Chevy, with its many Grateful Dead bumper stickers, and then grabbed one of the pies from the backseat.
But before we went inside, I stopped Zandra and pulled her in. “You’re gorgeous today, Sunflower.” Her hair was down, and she’d worn a cozy red sweater dress that I couldn’t wait to slide off of her later.
“So are you.” Her pink lips twisted. “Just wish you’d worn your ball cap.”
“Your mom would hate that.”
The twist of her mouth grew more devious. “I know.”
But maybe we were both wrong. Because Eliza answered the door with a careful smile and not a single criticism.
Just thanked us for the pie and waved us to join them in the kitchen, where Rosie and Jimmy were stirring up jalapeno cornbread and Manny was wiping the table with Javi at backgammon.
“Callum!” Manny said. “Get over here so I can beat you next.”
Zandra helped her mom for a while in the kitchen. Later, when I went to offer my cooking services, I found my girlfriend sporting a sunny expression. “Having a good time?” I asked under my breath.
“With the help of wine, yes.” Zandra pecked my lips. “I actually am.”
Her mom waved at me from across the kitchen. “Callum, take the tamales to the table. They’re in the top oven. Then tell Javi it’s time for him to carve the turkey.”
“Yes, Eliza. I’m on it.”
“Thank you, dear.”
My jaw dropped, and I turned my astonished expression on Zandra. “Dear?” I whispered. “Your mom loves me.”
“Don’t get carried away.”
“Too late.” Before I went to grab the glass dish of tamales, I wrapped an arm around Zandra and tipped her back for a thorough kiss. Rosie hooted and cheered, while Eliza sighed and tried to ignore us.
When I put Zandra upright again, she was laughing, and I hoped somebody was snapping a picture. Because this was one for the mantle.
Thanksgiving number two was at Dane and Grace’s house. We were the last to arrive, and I held the second pumpkin pie over my head to keep it safe as we navigated through Stella and the kids running underfoot.
“Uncle Callum!” Maisie and Ollie both shouted. Ollie trailed after me. “Cal, can we play football?”
“Later, bud. After dinner.” As soon as we got inside, I announced, ”We’re here. Party can officially begin.”
“Thank goodness,” Ashford deadpanned. “Zandra, please tell me he ate enough at your parents’ house that he’s too full for stuffing.”
My girlfriend shook her head. “I can’t help you there. He’s already had a slice of pie and a piece of tres leches cake, and he still claims to be hungry.”
I patted my stomach as I set the dessert we brought on the kitchen counter. “As soon as I heard about two Thanksgivings, I started training for this.”
While Emma roped Zandra into finishing up the table decorations, I went to give Grace a hug. She was making pan gravy just the way our mom used to do it.
I stuck my pinky into the pan and tasted it. “Needs more fresh pepper.”
She swatted my arm. “Go find somebody else to bother.”
Grinning, I scooted out of the kitchen. We’d had a nice time with Zandra’s family, especially listening to Rosie and Jimmy bicker over wedding plans.
But this would be the capstone of the day for me.
Being with my siblings, blood or otherwise.
Teller and Ayla weren’t here, but I had no doubt they’d call in at some point for a video call.
So we could all be together. Noise and laughter and chaos. Every bit of it.
Together. That word meant something very different this holiday than last year. And not just because of my incredible girlfriend who I loved more than anything.
There was someone else I had to wish a Happy Thanksgiving.
Finding a quiet corner, I took out my phone and sent off a text to Grayden.
We’d talked a few times here and there since that first conversation.
About simple stuff, not the past or anything heavy.
Grayden had mentioned a couple times in passing that he hoped to see us again soon, but he, Grace and I hadn’t made any plans yet.
Because there was one O’Neal sibling who still refused to speak to him.
I’d finally told Ashford about Grayden coming home to Silver Ridge years ago, and how I’d turned him away. But that hadn’t made any difference. Ashford had actually thanked me. Because he still didn’t think our big brother had a place in our lives. Especially in Maisie’s life.
It sucked. But on a day like today, I just wanted to make sure Grayden knew I was thinking of him.
He didn’t write back a quick response to my text, not that I expected one. Grayden had said something about Thanksgiving plans with friends. So I hoped he was enjoying a good meal too.
“There you are.” Zandra had just turned the corner. “We’re about to eat. Food’s on the table.”
I squeezed her hips through that sexy sweater dress, dipping to kiss her neck. “Damn. No time to sneak off for a quickie in the bathroom?”
“How can you even think of sex after all the food we’ve eaten? And we’re about to eat more.”
“Always hungry for you, baby.”
Zandra snorted. “Come on. We can burn off the calories later. Assuming we’re not in a food coma.”
We sat around the table. Passing dishes and filling our plates and carrying on different conversations. Piper was sitting across from us, and I passed her the green beans.
“You good, Piper?” We hadn’t had a chance to catch up today, and she seemed distracted. Barely smiling at all, which wasn’t like her. “Everything okay?”
She glanced over at Ollie sitting with Maisie at the other end of the table. “Just some stuff with Danny,” she replied under her breath.
Her ex-husband. Ollie’s dad. An asshole if there ever was one.
Zandra touched my wrist, probably seeing the way I’d just frowned.
Then the doorbell rang. I lifted my chin and said to my sister, “Expecting anyone else?”
Grace shrugged, hands full as she ladled gravy to Maisie’s plate. “Can you get it, Cal? You’re the closest.”
My lips brushed against Zandra’s temple as I set my napkin down and jumped up. Covered the few strides to take me to the front door.
But when I opened it and saw who stood outside, my whole body jolted with shock.
He looked older. More than just the years could account for. His hair was longer, and his beard was thicker. But I would know my big brother anywhere.
“Grayden?”