Chapter 25
Twenty-Five
Iris
Holiday-wedding madness begins on Tuesday afternoon, with the much-anticipated arrival of Mimi and Stan from Florida. The kids are out of their minds with excitement to see the couple who’ve become extra grandparents to them since Gage joined our family.
Our relationship with the parents of my future husband’s late wife is one of the true blessings in this strange widow life. And of course they come with Thanksgiving gifts for the kids, who are delighted to discover that’s a thing.
Mimi hugs me like we’ve known each other for decades rather than a year. “Oh, my sweet girl, I’ve been wanting to hug you for days now. I’m so very sorry about your dear friend’s loss.”
I immediately tear up at her kind condolences. “Thank you. It’s been a lot, to say the least. But I’m glad you’re here, and we can start shopping and cooking.”
“I have good news on that front.” Mimi is positively beaming with excitement. “With Gage’s blessing, Stan and I arranged everything, and dinner will be delivered on Thursday morning.”
“What? Oh my God. For real?”
“Yes, ma’am. I hope this comes as good news. We figured we could sacrifice some of the family recipes for this one year to make it easy on ourselves after a rough couple of weeks and with the wedding this weekend.”
I hug her tightly. “You figured absolutely right. Thank you so much. I really don’t have to do anything?”
“Not one thing, except it might be fun to make some pies with the kids.”
“Let’s do that. For sure.”
Eleanor and Carter arrive on Tuesday night, and the house is filled with the happy noise of kids playing, laughing and screaming the way they do when they’re excited.
On Wednesday, with the kids out of school for the holiday, we spend the day baking, making an absolute disastrous mess of the kitchen and decompressing from the strain of the last two weeks.
Everything is better when Mimi and Stan are here, and I enjoy catching up with Eleanor, who’s become such a great friend despite the circumstances that brought us together.
“I was so sorry to hear about your friend’s husband,” she says as we enjoy a late afternoon glass of wine before the Wild Widows meeting tonight. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and to hearing their updates. I especially want to know how the rest of Wynter and Adrian’s time away was.
“Thank you. It was a rough loss.”
“I’ll make myself scarce when your friends arrive.”
“Oh, please don’t. Despite what brought us together, we’re a good time had by all. I want you to meet them.”
“I’d love to.”
I’m so glad that Wynter and Adrian are the first to arrive. I immediately notice the new freckles on her nose from being in the sun, as well as the smile on her cute face, which is a huge relief. “How was the trip?” I ask as I hug them both and note they’re each carrying large tote bags.
“It was outstanding,” Adrian says. “Just what we needed.”
“I’m so glad you guys did that. Self-care for the win.” I gesture to the bags. “What’s all that?”
“We’ll tell you when the others arrive,” Wynter says with a mysterious smile.
“Hmmm. Why do I feel like something’s afoot?”
Wynter shrugs. “That’s just your suspicious nature working overtime.”
Eleanor laughs and then coughs, as if she’s trying to hide it.
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “You can’t not laugh when Wynter is around.”
I introduce her to them and then to Roni and Derek when they arrive, each of them holding a handle on a large cooler.
“What the hell is happening?”
“Stuff,” Roni says. “None of your business.”
Joy comes in with yet another huge bag and a cooler slung over her shoulder, followed by Kinsley bearing a bag and Naomi with an actual box.
“Someone better start talking right now,” I say with pretend outrage. Whatever they’re up to, I’m well aware that it’s all for me, and I’m incredibly moved.
“Where’s Gage?” Kinsley asks with a nervous glance toward the living room.
“So this was his doing, then, huh?”
“I can neither confirm nor deny any form of advance plotting,” Joy says.
“Don’t go all defense attorney on me, missy.”
“I represent neither side.”
The others laugh when I stick my tongue out at her.
Christy, Lexi, Brielle, Angela and Luke arrive next, bringing a whole host of new aromas that’re beginning to add up to one conclusion: Thanksgiving dinner.
“You guys…” I peek into the bag that Brielle deposits on the counter and see a huge pan of stuffing. “What’ve you done?”
“We took over Turkey Day, so you don’t have to do anything.”
“But Mimi said they ordered it.”
“I lied,” Mimi says with a giggle from the doorway to the garage where she, Stan and the four kids are waiting to join the party. They were supposed to be taking my kids and Carter out to dinner while we had our meeting.
“We drove around the block, Mom,” Tyler says with a peal of laughter that brings joy to my heart as he comes in to hug me.
The man who planned this surprise comes strolling into the kitchen, right out of the shower, and my heart skips a beat at the sight of him. I still love him, even when he plots behind my back.
“You and I need to talk, mister,” I say to him while the others gather around to enjoy the show.
“Did anyone bring popcorn?” Derek asks as he munches on one of the carrot sticks I put out with celery and ranch dip.
“I didn’t think of that!” Roni says. “Next time we plot with Gage against Iris, there needs to be popcorn.”
“I’ll make a note,” Joy says.
“Welcome to Friendsgiving.” Gage puts his arm around me and kisses the top of my head. “We thought you had enough on your plate—”
“Metaphor intended,” Wynter says.
Everyone laughs at her comment.
“That we decided to take Thanksgiving dinner off your to-do list,” Gage says.
I smile up at him. “You’re very pleased with yourself.”
“I am indeed. I smell a feast!”
“We came in hot,” Joy says. “Hotter than usual.”
“Thank you, guys. Thank you so very, very much.”
“We’re all incredibly thankful for you, Iris, never more so than in the last two weeks,” Roni says.
“Love you all.”
“Love you more,” Joy says.
As they begin loading platters of turkey and massive portions of side dishes onto my counter, I’m overcome with love for these incredible friends—and for the man I get to marry in three days.
Angela
It’s Black Friday, and I’m going out for dinner with Brad tonight with no kids in tow.
The excitement level is through the roof all day as I count down to a few hours alone with Brad with no one expecting anything from either of us.
Mostly, I’m looking forward to the time alone with him, which has me feeling guilty as hell.
How can I be excited about going out with a guy who isn’t Spencer?
I take a call from my sister Sam, surprised to hear from her after spending the day together yesterday at the White House. “Hey, what’s up?”
“That’s what I was calling to ask you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You were quiet yesterday. It had to be so hard getting through Thanksgiving without Spence, so I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“It was a great day, surrounded by all our favorite people. I’m fine.”
“You’d tell me if you weren’t, wouldn’t you?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“Come on, Ang. It’s me. Please tell me you’d come to me if you need anything.”
“You’re the busiest person any of us knows, Sam.”
Her deep sigh comes through the line loud and clear. “I am never too busy for you or your kids. Ever.”
“Thank you for the reminder. There is one thing I’ve been meaning to mention to you…”
“What?”
“I… Um… Well…”
“This oughta be good,” she says with a snort of laughter.
“There might be a new guy.”
“What? Since when? Who? Does Tracy know?”
I start to laugh and can’t stop. Once a detective, always a detective.
“Quit your laughing and start spilling the deets, woman.”
I decide to have a little fun with her, since fun has been in short supply around here lately. “It’s someone you know.”
“Do I need to come over there and beat this out of you?”
“As if you could.”
“I could so kick your ass, but I’d never do that to a single mom.”
“Whatever you say, killer.”
“Who’s the guy?”
“Brad Albright.”
“The paramedic whose wife was also killed by the fentanyl?”
I hold the phone away from my ear. “Must you screech?”
“I’m not screeching, but holy shitballs, Ang. How long has this been going on?”
“We’ve been friends since you introduced us. We’re going out by ourselves for the first time tonight.”
“This is huge. He’s a great guy, and he totally gets what you’ve been through.”
“Yes, he does, and he has a lot of the same feelings about it that I do.”
“I love this for you. As I recall, he’s also very handsome.”
“I guess. I haven’t noticed.”
“Stop, you’re not that widowed.”
I laugh hard at how she says that. “Relax, will you? It’s just dinner. Don’t make it into a federal case.”
“Too late. Everything’s federal at the White House.”
I’ve forgotten how amazing it is to laugh at stupid shit. It’s been a minute since that happened as easily as it has lately. “Well played, FLOTUS.”
“It’s gotta be good for something. Most important question of all—does Tracy know about this?”
“Maybe?”
“No way! That’s so unfair. Why does she get to know things before me?”
“Because she babysits for me on the regular.”
“I would, too, if it means having the inside scoop.”
“That’s the only reason?”
“Well, of course I enjoy every second with my niece and nephews, too.”
“Of course.”
“I’d love to babysit for you any time so you can get your groove on with that sexy firefighter.”
“Too soon, Sam. Much too soon.”
“Talk to me in a few weeks, when the tension is all tense and stuff.”
“I’m ending this call—and this sisterhood.”
“As if you could ever get rid of me.”
“I’d like to right now.”
“All kidding aside, have the best time, call me tomorrow and tell me everything. Take notes so you don’t forget any of the good stuff.”
“Bye, Sam.” I’m cracking up as I hit the red button to get rid of her.
I’m sure she’s already calling Tracy to get more information.