Chapter 12
My mom’s Thanksgiving meal was just as frantic and chaotic as always.
The café tables were all drawn together to form one long dining table, and mountains of food were laid out on top of it.
As well as me, my friends, and my family, Norma was there along with some of the café staff and their families.
There were also a few of our loyal regulars, like Norma’s not-so-secret crush, Frank.
Her cheeks turned a shade of bright red I thought was only reserved for cars when he came in through the front doors.
She’d been in love with him for as long as I could remember, but Frank, of course, had no clue.
My mom intentionally sat them next to each other.
I wasn’t sure why she thought one lunch would make a difference.
Frank and Norma saw each other every day, and nothing had happened yet.
My mom sat next to my dad, and I was on his other side.
I had been anxious about what my friends would think of Rapid Bay and equally unsure how my father would react to seeing my home life.
But having him here with us felt surprisingly natural.
He seemed more relaxed and content than I’d ever seen him, and I felt a little sad we’d missed his presence all these years.
When it was time to go around the table and say what we were thankful for, Mom invited Matthew to go first.
“Family,” he said, smiling nervously at my mom and me.
The word caused a lump to form in my throat, and I returned his smile.
I found I couldn’t hold his gaze for very long though.
Our relationship had come such a long way since the first day when I’d stormed out of his office and told him I wanted nothing to do with him.
Back then, I never could have pictured him sitting between me and my mom at Thanksgiving lunch.
Now it felt like he was here to stay, but a small part of me was also aware he’d come into my life so quickly, and he could leave just as fast. I didn’t want to go through that. And I didn’t want my mom to experience it for a second time.
“Agreed,” my mom said, also returning Matthew’s smile. Their eyes locked for several long seconds before she quickly glanced away to continue. “I’m especially thankful to have my daughter home and all of you here with us today.”
“Well, I’m thankful to be here,” I said. I wasn’t sure what else to say. I was too distracted by the way my mom and dad kept smiling at each other. But eventually, I managed to turn to Cress, who was sitting beside me.
“What about you, Cress?”
“Friends,” she replied, grinning at Anna and me. “Both new and old.”
“Oh,” Anna said, a look of mock surprise on her face. “I thought you’d be thankful for a future filled with many pleasures. I know I am.”
“Anna,” Cress hissed, but Norma burst out laughing from the other side of the table.
“I second that,” she chuckled.
The rest of the table looked on in confusion as Cress’s cheeks grew pinker by the second. Most people around the table seemed to be waiting for an explanation, but luckily my mom started speaking before Anna could tell everyone about Norma’s prediction for Cress’s love life.
“How about you, Frank?” she asked. “What are you thankful for.”
“I’m thankful you guys have the best coffee in town,” he said with a soft smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without it.”
“You say that every year,” Norma gently chided him.
“Well, it’s true!” he replied
Once everyone had their turn, it was finally time to get stuck into the feast my mom had prepared.
As I piled food onto my plate, I began to regret having such a large breakfast. An amateur mistake.
My mom’s Thanksgiving food was so good I wanted to try a bit of everything.
I just hoped I didn’t get full too fast.
“How was the beach, girls?” my mom asked.
“It was beautiful,” Cress replied. “I just wish the weather was nice enough so we could swim while we’re here.”
“At least it’s not as cold as it is back in Weybridge,” Anna said. “I think it’s going to snow there early this year.”
I repressed a shudder at the thought. I couldn’t remember the last time it had snowed in Rapid Bay, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle winter in Weybridge if it was cold enough to be a regular occurrence there.
“You’ll both have to come back in the summer,” Mom said. “It’s wonderful.”
“Yeah, we’d really like that,” Cress replied. “Does it snow here in Rapid Bay?”
“Rarely,” Mom said. “It never really gets quite cold enough.”
“Still too cold for my old bones in winter,” Frank said. “I’m beginning to wonder if I need to move further south.”
Norma gasped and her fork clattered to her plate. “What do you mean?”
Frank returned her shocked stare with a shrug.
“I’m just saying I’ve considered it. My holiday in Florida a few weeks back sure was convincing.”
“You’ve been thinking about moving away?”
All eyes at the table were on Norma. Her face had paled, and her hands grasped the arms of her chair tightly. Frank seemed oblivious to the alarm in her voice. He also didn’t seem to notice how the entire table was watching, waiting for his response.
“I haven’t made any plans,” he said calmly as he lifted his fork to take a bite of turkey. “I just think it would be nice to be somewhere warmer.”
“Warmer? But it’s plenty warm here,” Norma protested.
“Maybe for now, but I’m not getting any younger, and my arthritis always plays up in the winter. I think year-round sunshine would do me good.”
“So, what? You’re just going to leave me…uh, I mean, us?” Norma seemed to be freaking out, and I had a feeling Anna’s comment earlier about Frank potentially moving on had gotten to her.
Frank lowered his fork to the table. He was looking at Norma, a hint of concern now on his face. “Like I said, I’m not going anywhere yet.”
“Yet,” she repeated. “Yet. So now we just have to sit and wait with this dark cloud hanging over our heads…”
Frank opened his mouth to respond, but Norma cut him off before he had a chance.
“You can’t leave me. You just can’t.”
“Norma…” He tried to console her, but she was too worked up.
“Damn it, Frank, can’t you see I’m in love with you?” she gasped.
The whole table remained still and silent, and neither Frank nor Norma seemed to notice there was anyone else in the room. I couldn’t believe she’d finally laid her feelings for him bare like that. Given Frank’s blank and completely shocked expression, it was a surprise to him too.
Norma looked ready to storm off, but Frank reached out and grabbed her hands.
“Norma, darlin’, can’t you tell I’ve been in love with you since the day I met you?” he replied.
“What?” She sounded breathless, and she kept opening and closing her mouth as she struggled to form a response. It must have been the first time in her life she’d been close to speechless.
Frank slowly stood from his chair, still holding Norma’s hands. “The coffee isn’t the only reason I come here every day. Norma, I love you.”
“Oh, you fool,” she said. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t know whether you’d feel the same way.”
“Well, now you do. Frank, I love you too.”
A second later they stepped into each other’s arms and kissed.
The table erupted with cheers and whistles, but the two of them still barely noticed us as they lost themselves in a kiss years in the making.
It was impossible not to be overwhelmed with joy at the sight of the pair finally together.
I turned to look at my mom, and she winked at me as she clapped along.
“Wow, I guess you were right about your mom’s turkey,” Cress murmured to me.
“Yeah, looks like it’s struck its magic again,” I agreed.
“If that’s how powerful it is, I need seconds,” Anna said, reaching out to grab the turkey platter and slide it closer to her plate.
Norma and Frank eventually pulled themselves apart and laughed when they finally realized the whole room was watching and applauding them.
They nervously took their seats and focused on their meals, but as we all continued eating, I noticed they were sitting a little closer to each other, and I suspected they were holding hands under the table.
Once it looked like everyone had finished, my mom stood up. “Right, I think it’s time for dessert,” she announced. “Could you give me a hand, Iz?”
“Sure.” I stood up and went to follow her to the kitchen, but when I looked at my mom, her eyes were focused on something behind me.
“Uh, Isobel,” she said. “Look.”
She nodded past me, and I glanced over my shoulder to look out the window. Through the glass, I could see Nina. She was standing on the sidewalk, looking into the café.
The blood drained from my skin at the sight of her.
She looked nervous and instinctively glanced away when my eyes met hers, but then she turned back to meet my gaze and slowly raised a hand to wave.
The last time I’d seen her at the café, she had waltzed in with my ex-boyfriend on her arm and her head held high.
Today was different. She was alone, and her expression was much gentler.
There was no sign she was looking for a confrontation similar to last time, but I got the sense she was here to talk.
Maybe Mom’s crazy turkey magic hadn’t run its course yet.
“I’ll just be a minute, Mom,” I said before I slowly walked outside to meet Nina.
“You’re home,” she said as I stepped onto the sidewalk. She was still standing in the same spot, but now she was facing the entrance to the café. I stayed close to the door, a few feet away from her with my arms folded.
Nina had always been so sure of herself and confident to the point where it often came across as patronizing.
But as I looked at her now, I could see none of that conviction.
Her head was hung low, and her shoulders were slumped, like something heavy was weighing them down.
She scuffed one shoe against the concrete as she waited for my response.
“Yeah,” I replied. “I couldn’t miss Thanksgiving.”