11. Lucy
11
LUCY
The crisp November air nips at my cheeks as I step outside, taking a moment to breathe in the coolness of fall. It smells like leaves, faint traces of wood smoke, and the first whispers of the holiday season. Miles and Finn are arguing good-naturedly about whether Thanksgiving dinner should include green bean casserole or candied yams, a debate I’ve been gleefully stoking for the past fifteen minutes. Joel stands at the edge of the porch, watching them with a faint smile that softens his otherwise serious face. The sight of him, relaxed and unguarded, makes my heart flip.
I shift my focus back to my phone, swiping to dial my mom’s number. She’s been hinting at a holiday visit since I first told her I’d moved back to Everwood, but she hasn’t made anything official. If I’m going to get her here, I need to nail down the details.
"Lucy!" Her voice is bright and familiar when she answers. "I was just about to call you."
"Oh, sure," I tease, grinning. "That’s why you haven’t picked up the last three times I called?"
"Well, you know how busy I am with my job and all my friends," she quips. "There’s coffee to sip and houses to sell. A lady can only manage so much."
I laugh. My mom has always had a knack for playful banter, a trait I’d like to think I inherited. "Well, I’m calling about Thanksgiving. Any chance you’re free to spend it with me in Everwood? Aiden will be here too, and Joel and the boys are joining. It’ll be cozy and chaotic, just how you like it."
She hums thoughtfully, though I can already hear the gears turning in her head. "That does sound tempting."
"Tempting enough to book a plane ticket?" I prompt.
"Actually," she says, "I was thinking about surprising you by coming down anyway. There’s nothing keeping me here that I can’t rearrange, and I’d love to see you, Aiden, and catch up with Joel. It’s been years since I’ve seen him, and I’ve always had such a soft spot for that boy. And those sweet boys you keep talking about, I’d love to meet them."
My heart warms at the thought of having her here. "You’d really come all this way from Houston?"
"Of course. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen my two favorite children."
"Your only children," I point out dryly.
"Exactly," she says, chuckling. "I’ll book a flight today."
We spend a few more minutes finalizing her arrival details before hanging up. When I turn back to the porch, Joel’s watching me with curiosity.
"Good news?" he asks.
"Great news," I say, grinning. "My mom’s coming for Thanksgiving. She’s flying in on Tuesday morning. She will flying out of Houston on Monday with a layover in San Francisco, so I’ll pick her up from the Arcata airport on Tuesday. She wants to stay at an air B&B in Eureka for a couple nights so she can catch up with an old friend. She’s going to arrange for Aiden to pick her up on Thanksgiving morning then I told her she could stay here the rest of her trip. I hope that’s OK."
"Another Harper in town? I’ll brace myself," Joel teases, but there’s warmth in his tone. "The boys will love having her here. They’ve been asking if your family’s coming."
I feel a flicker of something unnameable. Something that feels suspiciously like contentment as I imagine all of us crowded around the table, sharing stories and food. This, I think, is what holidays are meant to feel like.
The Tuesday before Thanksgiving dawns gray and chilly, the kind of morning where even my best cup of coffee feels like it needs one of those fancy cup warmers. I throw on a sweater and jeans, grab my coat, and head out the door with enough time to make the drive to Arcata without rushing.
When I finally spot my mom weaving through the small crowd at baggage claim, I wave enthusiastically. She looks the same as always: put together and effortlessly stylish, her scarf tied in a way that looks casual but probably took her five tries to perfect.
"Lucy!" she exclaims, pulling me into a tight hug. "You look wonderful, sweetheart. Everwood must be treating you well."
"It is," I say as we pull apart. "And you look fantastic, as usual. Being a Realtor really agrees with you."
"Well, what can I say? The freedom it offers suits me," she replies with a wink.
I grab her suitcase and we head toward the car. As we drive back toward Everwood, the conversation flows easily, a mix of updates and inside jokes that make the miles melt away. By the time we reach Old Town Eureka, we’re both ready to stretch our legs and indulge in some window shopping.
The cobblestone streets are lined with charming shops and boutiques, each one a kaleidoscope of holiday decorations. Strings of white lights twinkle overhead, and the air smells faintly of cinnamon and cloves. My mom and I meander through the stores, pausing to admire handmade jewelry, quirky home goods, and one-of-a-kind art pieces.
"This place is adorable," she says as we step into a cozy bookstore. "You must bring Joel and the boys here. They’d love it."
"I already have," I admit. "Miles picked out a book on astronomy, and Finn found one about dinosaurs. Joel…well, he’s a little harder to shop for, but I think he secretly liked it too."
She smiles knowingly. "Speaking of Joel, are we going to pretend there’s nothing going on between you two?"
I nearly drop the book I’m holding. "What? There’s nothing going on. We’re just…friends."
"Lucy," she says, giving me a pointed look. "I’ve known you your whole life. You can’t fool me."
I open my mouth to argue, but the words catch in my throat. The truth is, I’m not sure what’s happening between Joel and me. There’s something there, undeniably, but it’s tangled up in complications I’m not ready to untangle yet.
"We’re figuring things out," I admit finally. "It’s complicated."
"Love usually is," she says simply, and the wisdom in her voice makes my chest ache.
We spend the rest of the afternoon browsing and chatting, our conversation shifting to lighter topics. My mom tells me about the new man she’s dating, a retired architect named Dennis who’s apparently a fantastic cook. I’m happy for her—she deserves someone who makes her smile the way she does when she talks about him.
As the sun begins to set, casting a warm orange glow over the town, I drive her to the bed and breakfast where she’ll be staying. It’s a charming place with a white picket fence and a front porch that looks like it belongs in a Hallmark movie.
"Thank you for today, sweetheart," she says as we hug goodbye. "I can’t wait to see everyone on Thursday, especially Joel. I’ll have to remind him how much trouble Aiden used to get into when he way around."
I laugh. "I’m sure he’ll love that. Sleep well, Mom."
As I watch her walk inside, I feel a strange mix of emotions: joy, nostalgia, and something like hope. Thanksgiving hasn’t even started yet, but already, it feels good.
Thanksgiving morning arrives with the smell of coffee brewing and the sound of laughter filtering through the house. Aiden is leaving around noon to pick Mom up from the bed and breakfast, giving me time to wrangle the boys and help Joel with last-minute preparations.
As they drive back to the house, Mom’s voice fills the car. "So, Aiden, how’s work treating you these days? You still running circles around those poor assistant district attorneys?"
"Something like that," Aiden replies, smirking. "You know me, always keeping them on their toes."
"And how are you handling Lucy living with Joel?" she asks, her tone casual but edged with curiosity.
Aiden stiffens slightly, gripping the steering wheel. "Honestly, Mom? I’m not sure how I feel about it. Joel’s a good guy, but it’s…problematic. Lucy’s my little sister. The last thing I want is for her to get hurt."
"You think Joel would hurt her?" she asks, her brow arching.
"Not intentionally, but he’s been through a lot. After Lina died he had a really tough time. I don’t know if he’s ready to get involved. And Lucy… well, she’s not exactly subtle about her feelings. I’m worried they’ll dive into something they’re not ready for."
Mom chuckles softly. "Oh, Aiden. You sound just like your father. Always so protective."
"Can you blame me?" Aiden says. "She’s the only sister I’ve got."
"And she’s stronger than you give her credit for," Mom counters. "Lucy’s got a good head on her shoulders. And Joel… well, I’ve always thought highly of him. If something’s meant to happen, it will. You just need to trust her."
Aiden sighs but doesn’t argue, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "We’ll see."