Chapter Ten #2
I find Dad in the living room by the fireplace, deep in conversation with Connor Walsh.
Connor and his wife Dana are pack, and I’ve known them my whole life.
Connor grew up with my dad. They played football together in high school.
Connor is a big, barrel-chested guy with a booming laugh and a beard that’s gone mostly gray.
Dana is petite and quick-witted, the kind of woman who can tease you with a smile so warm you don’t realize she’s gotten the better of you until later.
Their kids, Thomas, six, and Lilly, eight, are chasing each other around the couch while my dad pretends to scold them but is clearly enjoying the chaos.
Both my parents are dying for grandkids.
Jack is leaning against the dining room doorway, nursing a beer. He nods at me when I walk up. “Happy Thanksgiving, bro.”
“Same to you.” I smile.
“Everything good with you and Kara?” His gaze is intent.
My face warms. “Yeah, why do you ask?”
“She didn’t look too happy when she walked in.” He chuckles. “Is she busting your balls about not proposing to her yet?”
“No.” My smile feels stiff. “We’re doing great.” The very thought of proposing to Kara right now gives me a stomach ache.
He holds up one hand. “Okay, never mind. It’s none of my business.”
“You need to get a girlfriend so I can pick on you for a change.”
He sighs. “I’m working on it.”
The doorbell rings and my pulse jumps. I head for the door before anyone else can. I tell myself I’m hurrying to the door for Jude’s sake, but the truth is, I feel oddly needy myself. Even though I just saw Jude at home earlier today, I’m craving his company. I think Kara really has me rattled.
Jude is standing on the porch in a dark jacket, white shirt, and jeans. His blond hair is neatly combed and he’s freshly shaved. He’s holding a bottle of red wine, his smile tentative. “Against my better judgement, I’m here.”
“Oh, stop.” I open the door wider. “Get in here. It’s freezing.”
He steps inside, his blue eyes scan the entryway. There’s a coatrack overflowing with jackets, family photos lining the hallway. He flinches as the sound of kids shrieking comes from the living room.
“Are there wild animals loose?” he jokes, rubbing the back of his neck.
“That’s Connor and Dana’s kids. I think I told you about them.”
“Oh, yeah, you did.” He smiles nervously. “Smells incredible in here.”
“It’ll taste even better than it smells. My mom is a fantastic cook.” I squeeze his shoulder, and his muscles are like corded rope beneath my palm. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
Mom appears from the kitchen, as if sensing Jude’s arrival, wiping her hands on her apron. She takes one look at Jude and her face breaks into a wide smile.
“You must be Jude.” She hugs him warmly and he, thankfully, just goes with it. “I’m so happy you could join us today.”
Jude straightens, his smile almost shy. “Thank you for having me, Mrs. Martinez.”
Mom laughs. “Oh, honey, call me Viv. Mrs. Martinez makes me sound like sparkling cider or something.”
He laughs and holds out the wine he brought. “I hope you like this brand.”
Mom smirks. “If it’s red wine, Marco and I will enjoy it.” She takes the bottle and examines the label approvingly. “Oh, this is the good stuff. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to.” He grimaces. “I appreciate the invitation, especially since you don’t even know me.”
“Oh, please.” Mom smacks his arm. “You don’t have to thank me. Anyone spending Thanksgiving alone while I have a kitchen full of food? Not on my watch.”
He drops his gaze. “Well, I appreciate it all the same.”
She smiles, her sharp eyes missing nothing. “You just relax and make yourself at home. Marco,” she calls out. “Can you get Jude a refreshment?”
“Yes, dear.” My dad appears from the living room, extending his hand. “Jude. Nice to meet you. Liam can’t say enough good things about you.” Dad is a tiny bit shorter than Jude. He’s stocky and broad through the shoulders, with salt-and-pepper hair and deep-set brown eyes that don’t miss much.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate the invitation.”
“Call me Marco.” Dad claps him once on the shoulder.
Jack is next, pulling Jude into a half-hug that clearly catches him off guard. “Good to see you when nothing’s on fire,” Jack says, grinning.
Jude recovers quickly. “Oh, yeah.” He laughs awkwardly. “It’s a nice change.”
“Did Mom interrogate you yet?” Jack asks.
Mom frowns. “No. He just got here. And I don’t interrogate. I show interest.”
Jude laughs again, but this time it’s genuine, and I feel something loosen in my chest. He’s nervous, obviously, but he’s trying. That matters more than he knows. My parents respond better to someone who’s shy than they ever will to someone who’s overly confident.
Kara appears suddenly, moving to me, slipping her arm through mine. “Hey, Jude. Welcome and happy Thanksgiving.” Her smile is pleasant, her tone surprisingly friendly. Nothing outwardly cold. You’d never know she’d been bitching in the car about him being invited.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Kara.” Jude smiles at her.
“Thanks.” She turns to Mom. “Viv, is there anything else I can help with in the kitchen? The more you show me the more helpful I’ll be next year.”
“You could check the rolls in the oven, sweetheart,” Mom says, smiling affectionately at Kara. “In fact, I’d better get back in the kitchen too or we’ll never eat.”
“Lead the way.” Kara laughs happily. “Teach me all your secrets.”
“This way, future daughter-in-law.” Mom gives me a pointed look.
“Geez.” My face warms. “You’re so subtle, Mom.”
“Subtlety won’t get me grandchildren.” Mom smirks.
Kara laughs gaily, and they go off to the kitchen together, arms linked.
Jack chuckles. “Might be time to buy a ring, bro. Kara could get tired of waiting for you to pop the question.”
Dad sighs. “Your brother is right. It’s already been a year. Your Mom would be heartbroken if Kara got away.”
I’m not sure why my Mom’s pushy behavior is bugging me today.
She’s made those kinds of comments plenty of times.
It’s no secret Mom likes Kara and really hopes I marry her.
Up until recently, I’d have said that was a sure thing.
I’m hopeful Kara and I can get back on solid ground before it’s too late.
When there are too many hurt feelings and ugly things said, sometimes it’s hard to forgive and forget.
Sometimes it’s easier to cut the other person loose.
I’m not there yet with Kara, but things need to change.
I meet Jude’s enigmatic gaze. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to the Walsh’s,” I say, leading the way into the other room with Dad and Jack on our tail.
Connor shakes Jude’s hand warmly. “Welcome to the mountain, son,” he says, his grin broad beneath his gray beard. “You settling in okay?”
Jude grimaces. “I think I am. Seems like a great town.”
“It’s the best.” Connor slings an arm around Dana. “This one tried to get me to move to California once. I told her she was out of her mind.”
Dana rolls her eyes. “That was twenty years ago, Connor. Let it go.”
“Never.” He winks at Jude. “You from the South? I hear a little something in your voice.”
“Florida originally. Then Atlanta.” He smiles politely when my dad pushes a beer into his hand.
“Atlanta.” Connor whistles. “Big city boy. How are you handling the quiet up here?”
“I’m adjusting.” Jude takes a sip of his beer. “The quiet is actually one of the things I like most about this place.”
“Well, that and me.” I put my arm around Jude’s shoulders. “Bet you never had a better partner, right?”
Jude looks like he’s trying not to laugh as he shrugs off my arm. “You’re an okay partner.”
Connor chuckles. “You two make a good team. One of you is quiet and one of you is loud. That dynamic probably keeps the bad guys on their toes.”
Jude sighs. “If only it were that easy.”
My dad nods. “Ain’t that the truth.”
The Walsh kids suddenly barrel through the room, nearly knock Jude sideways. He sidesteps them with a disconcerted laugh.
“Sorry about that,” Dana says, snagging her son by the back of his shirt as he tries to rocket past. “Did you pilfer the candy dish, Thomas? Is that why you’re acting like a meth addict on speed? You better have left some candy for everyone else.”
Thomas looks guilty and she drags him off into the other room.
“Uh, oh.” Connor raises his brows. “Mom’s mad.”
Dad, Jack, and I all laugh, but Jude gets an uneasy look in his eyes, as if he’s remembering something painful. I recall what he said about his abusive parents, but when our eyes meet, he simply smiles.
When dinner is ready, we crowd around the dining table. Candles flicker in the center beside a low arrangement of pine branches and dried berries. The table is so loaded with food there’s barely room for plates or wine glasses.
Dad carves the turkey. Mom orchestrates the passing of dishes with the precision of a Marine sergeant. Jack piles his plate absurdly high, and Connor’s daughter tugs on Jude’s sleeve.
“Are you a real policeman like Liam?” Lilly asks, her eyes wide.
“I am,” he says, leaning down to her level. “Why do you ask?”
She considers his question. “You seem too quiet.”
“Do I?” Jude grimaces. “Well, I really am a policeman.”
“Do you have a gun?”
“Not on me.” He laughs gruffly. “I carry one at work.”
She nods, looking wise beyond her eight years. “Of course you’d need one. Because of the bad guys.”
Jude catches my eye across the table and the corner of his mouth twitches.
I grin back at him. Then Kara’s hand finds my knee under the table and my smile fades.
I wouldn’t usually mind if she grabbed my leg under the table, but it feels possessive today.
Almost scolding. As if she’s warning me not to be too warm and friendly to Jude.
Fuck that.
I move my leg away from her hand, and she gives me a funny look. “What’s wrong with you?” she asks.
“Nothing is wrong. Everything is great.” My face feels stiff as I smile at her.