Chapter Sixteen
FLORA
––––––––
THE SMELL OF cinnamon wakes me. I stretch under the soft covers, feeling for Thorn. My hands come up empty against the cool sheets.
Pulling on my pajamas, I pad across the room and hit up the bathroom to brush my teeth.
We came back to my suite late last night. I was happy seeing Dani passed out on the sofa and Thorn could spend the night.
The cheerful sounds of laughter and chatter float through the door as I open it. The sight brings a rush of warmth.
The table is laden with a festive breakfast spread—fluffy flapjacks, platters of fresh fruit, and cinnamon rolls topped with icing. But it’s not the food that makes my heart swell. It’s my family gathered together. Thorn’s words about Dani not being alone have never been more apparent. Even the Quylt sisters sit at the table.
“Look who finally decided to join us.” My sister slaps my rear end as she passes behind me with a stack of plates. “I thought you were going to sleep until Christmas Day.”
“You should have woken me.”
She pivots and grins at me. “I’m sure you needed the sleep after a night with this guy.” Her head nods at Thorn, who slowly strolls around her, clearly hearing her, and scoops me in his arms. “Good morning.” He leans down covering my mouth with him.
This is the morning I looked forward to.
Whistles break us apart.
“Are you hungry?” He keeps his arms tight around me.
“For you.”
His throaty growls tickles my insides in all the right places. “Let’s get through breakfast first.”
“Promises,” I tease.
He takes my hand, and we sit in two empty seats between my aunts. Wilma and Faye sit across from us between my sister and Theo. I’m surprised to see him here, but I don’t say anything.
I smile at him. “Morning Theo.”
“Mornin’.”
Dani walks past him without handing him a plate. Wilma slides hers in front of him and holds out her hand to Dani for a second one, which she generously offers.
“Say goodbye mornin’ to your uncle.” Peggy-Ann points at the cell phone on the table, highlighting the speakerphone icon.
I lean closer. “Good morning, Uncle Elmer.”
“Mornin’ darlin’.” His gravelly tone hasn’t changed. “It’s nice to hear your voice.”
“It’s nice to hear your voice.”
“If I could have shifted work, I would’ve been there,” my uncle says while my aunt shakes her head.
“Baby, you’re so good at caring for your family.” She’s lying through her teeth. He’s lying through his teeth. They have the strangest relationship that seems to work for them.
“I can’t believe it’s the last day.” Faye unfolds a napkin and sets it on her lap. “This weekend has been delightfully entertaining.”
“You’re welcome.” Theo slides a spatula into the pancakes and lifts a heap onto his plate. “I thrive on a great performance.”
Dani snorts. “After Thorn and Flora’s performance the last two days, I hope you’re ready to settle for second.”
“You ladies set a high bar.” Theo kisses the back of Faye’s hand. “Hopefully, I shine bright enough to win your heart.”
Faye blushes. “You’ve shone plenty bright.”
“Gag.” Daniel sits beside Wilma.
Thorn’s hand finds mine under the table, and he squeezes. I smile at him, enjoying the family banter and him here with me.
“I think y’all did a wonderful job.” My aunt Rita unscrews a flask and pours a splash of some alcohol into her coffee mug. “Let’s be thankful it’s not a baking contest, and your grandmother isn’t around to make her famous Jell-O salad.”
A collective exchange of horrified sounds erupts around the table, at least from my family.
“What?” Thorn asks, scooping a spoonful of fruit onto his plate, which I’ve now lost my appetite for.
“It was the first and last time we had your grandmother’s Jell-O salad.” Peggy-Ann shakes a can of whipped cream and sprays a mountain on her flapjacks.
“It went wrong so fast.” Aunt Rita shudders. “In so many different ways.”
“Some of us are still out of the loop.” Thorn tosses a handful of blueberries in his mouth.
I bite my tongue, knowing he’s gonna lose his appetite for fruit after this story.
“It was so gross,” my sister squeals, stomping. “I’m still not over it.”
“I’m not over it.” I shake my head.
“Details,” Thorn demands, and my family roars into laughter that just a look from each other contributes to another bout of hysteria.
Tears stream down my face. “She accidentally used—tuna.” My words crack, and everyone bursts.
My aunt Peggy-Ann dabs under her eyes with a napkin, trying to manage control. “We were all sittin’ around the table”—she starts off good—“and she proudly presents her Jell-O fruit salad excited to share her new holiday creation.”
“It was a creation, all right,” my uncle murmurs, adding, “It looked so delicious until I took that first bite.
Dani gasps. “I remember the big spoonful, Uncle Elmer. As soon as it hit your mouth, your eyes widen like a possum in headlights.”
I point at my sister. “Yes! And he chewed slowly, like maybe it would magically turn into something delicious.”
“Then he gagged.” My Aunt Peggy-Ann is unrestrained. “I thought he was going to spit it out!”
“Then Grandad took a bite!” Dani roars.
“The look on his face when he asked what was in it was priceless.” I can barely get the words out through my heaving gasps.
“And when Grandma said Jell-O and fruit, and he said it tasted fishy—” Dani can’t catch her breath through her uncontrollable laughter. “And—and—and—”
“This is one helluva a story,” Theo says dryly.
“—mama blamed his old man taste buds,” Rita finishes. “Papa winked, his voice low and teasing. And he looked at her dead and said, tuna can be an acquired taste, much like some... other things.”
Faye gasps. “Keep it clean, children.”
Aunt Peggy-Ann sighs. “That was our dirty folks.”
“Then Mama said she heard that some women like to keep things fishy, too!” Aunt Rita’s shrill shriek echoes off the walls.
Theo’s fork rattles. “Well, I’ve lost my appetite.”
“It’s all about how you season it, mama said to him.” Rita snorts through her fingers, and my family is done. We break away into a fit of laughter that lasts minutes before we regain control.
I dig the back of my hands into my eyes to clear the tears. I glance at Thorn. My first instinct is to apologize. Then I see his amused expression, and my heart melts. My family is wild, silly, and obnoxious, and he doesn’t care a bit. He never has. He accepts our flaws in a way I’ve never been able to do. I glance around the table at my family, whom I’ve often felt embarrassed by. They’re the ones I tried my hardest to avoid in public. In this moment, I recognize that my judgments have held me back from embracing the things I can’t change while also preventing me from appreciating the unique aspects of my life that truly matter. I wasn’t only running from what I assumed had been Thorn’s betrayal but from a family who loved me unconditionally—a family I turned a blind eye to.
“Whew.” Peggy-Ann blows out a deep breath.
“Don’t finish it,” Rita warns.
There’s a long quiet as we all exchange looks, silently daring each other to finish the story.
“Then your old man said he preferred his unseasoned and fresh.” Uncle Elmer’s throaty guffaw is unapologetic, and we ensue in laughing chaos.
“I’m never going to look at Jell-O or fruit the same again,” Theo chimes in.
“I’ll make you a big bowl for Christmas dinner,” Dani promises.
“Y’all aren’t ruining my Christmas dinner.” Theo shovels a forkful of food into his mouth and loudly crunches.
After breakfast, Thorn heads to his room for a quick shower before the last day of signatures and lunch. Theo hangs back, and I’m unsure why until he corners me.
“Listen, I want to apologize for my part in keeping you and Thorn apart.” He crosses his arms defensively, and his tone conveys irritation. “I get it. I messed up.” He shifts his weight uncomfortably.”
“Real smooth.” My sister stands behind him, arms crossed over her chest similarly. “You’re doing a great terrible job.”
“Shut up,” he growls over his shoulder, then forces a smile back at me. “I realize now how selfish and reckless my actions were.”
“Do you? Or did Thorn put you up to this?”
I glare at my sister.
“I didn’t consider how much it would hurt either of you. I was being an idiot.”
Dani’s expression hardens. “An idiot? That’s putting it mildly.”
He turns to her. “I’m sorry I hurt you, too.”
She swings her hands to her hips—her defense mechanism. “You did nothing of the sort.”
I know Dani was hurt, but it’s me who owes her the apology.
Theo swallows hard. “I genuinely regret my actions and hope you and my brother can move past the secrets and have the future both of you dreamed of.”
My sister coughs at the same time she says, “bullshit.”
“I believe you,” I say.
“You do?” My sister sounds surprised.
“Yes, I do. We were young and just trying to figure things out.” I smile at Theo. “We didn’t know nearly as much as we thought. We made so many mistakes—big ones—acting on impulse, never really considering how our choices would ripple out.”
My sister’s posture relaxes.
“We didn’t see the consequences of our actions until it was too late. If you’re looking for my forgiveness, I forgive you.” I hug Theo.
“Eww. Gross,” Dani mutters under her breath.
I hug her next. “I’m so sorry I left you here alone.” I feel her tense body ease under my embrace. “I’m sorry a guy got into my head so deep that I didn’t think about the consequences of leaving you.”
“I was fine,” she says, but I know her better than that.
“I’m sorry.”
“If you’re so sorry, then move back.”
I lean away from my sister and grip her hands. “About that. I have a plan.”
“You’re not taking the job?”
“Yes, I’m taking the job, but not without sealing the deal with Thorn first.” I step aside to look at Theo. “If you’re sorry for what happened, let’s see if your actions speak louder than your apology.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I want to marry your brother before I leave.”