Chapter 16 – Kat
SIXTEEN
KAT
I squirm uneasily on the creaky front porch of Tanner’s childhood home, the scent of roasted turkey wafting out the door and teasing my senses. Nervousness tightens my chest at the thought of facing his family after being invited so last-minute. Despite Tanner’s reassurance, I feel like an imposing idiot. I quickly wipe my hands on my sweater, hoping it will conceal any stains from my disastrous attempt at making green bean casserole. Trusting that Tanner’s mom has the dessert covered, I take a deep breath and timidly knock on the door, wondering if I am intruding on their cherished family holiday.
The door swings open to reveal Tanner, smiling ear to ear.
“You made it!” he says as he reaches to grab the casserole dish from my hands.
He is dressed in dark-wash jeans and a cable-knit maroon sweater. Weirdly enough, it is almost the exact same shade as my sweater.
He steps to the side to allow me through the door. With his lips a mere whisper from my ear, he says, “Mine is better. ”
“You’re an idiot,” I say with a laugh.
“Got you to smile, didn’t it?” He winks before backing away, his bare feet padding against the floor.
As I step into the kitchen, my eyes are immediately drawn to the dazzling sight before me. The pristine white marble countertops glisten and shimmer under the brilliant sunlight pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. My gaze then travels to the carefully crafted Spanish tile backsplash, each tile a work of art in its own right, their hues adding a burst of vibrance to the space.
Finally, I lay my sights upon the showstopper of the room—the beautiful cabinets. Painted in a striking shade of cobalt blue, they add a touch of boldness and character to the vast expanse of this grand kitchen. It’s a sight that leaves me speechless, my senses overwhelmed by the luxuriousness and elegance of it all.
“Mom, this is Kat,” Tanner says as he sets my casserole dish on the counter amongst the other dishes.
“Your home is beautiful,” I say in awe.
“I like you already!” Mrs. Adler’s eyes sparkle with delight as she pulls me into a hug without warning. I catch a glimpse of Tanner mouthing “ Sorry ” as I gaze over her shoulder.
The instant affection is foreign, yes, but not bad. I kind of like it.
She releases me from her embrace but holds my arms with a grin as she looks me over from head to toe. “You are gorgeous! Isn’t she gorgeous?”
“The most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen,” Tanner responds, an awkwardness in his voice that I can’t quite place, but his response seems to satisfy his mom’s lingering interest and she finally releases me.
A crash rings out from over by the stove.
“If you dropped the sweet potatoes, Larry, I swear to God, I will…” Mrs. Adler bustles across the kitchen without another word. As she approaches the stove, which is now coated in what looks like gravy, her expression goes from irritated to furious. “Just go.” She waves Larry away and begins cleaning up the stove.
“Sorry about that,” Tanner says.
“It’s okay…she’s nice.”
“Too nice, sometimes. Don’t worry, though, she can be just as mean when pushed.” He laughs, nodding toward the stove as he presses his hand to the small of my back once more, gently pushing me toward the family room off the side of the kitchen.
With careful steps, we descend from the warm and inviting kitchen into the spacious room where Tanner’s brothers and father are huddled around a large television mounted high on the wall. The TV gleams with vivid colors, its sharp edges casting shadows on the smooth white surface of the fireplace just below it. Flanking the fireplace on both sides are tall built-in bookshelves, lined with rows upon rows of books and trinkets.
Tanner clears his throat, but only his dad peers over at us.
“Hey, Tanner!” He barely looks at us before returning his attention to the game. After a brief delay, he does a double take, notices me, and approaches us. “I apologize. It’s lovely to meet you,” Mr. Adler says as he extends his hand. “I’m Tanner’s father, Larry.”
“It’s lovely to meet you. Your home is beautiful.” I smile awkwardly.
Larry looks around as if seeing the space for the first time. “By golly, it is! Elaine, you’ve decorated our home beautifully.”
“Sucking up to me right now isn’t going to save the cup of gravy you spilled everywhere!” Mrs. Adler yells from the kitchen, but not an ounce of anger lingers in her words.
Larry simply laughs before turning back to us, then peering at the TV. “Please, join us,” he says idly, slinking back over to the two young men sitting on the large sectional.
I look to Tanner and he just shrugs. I move further into the room and allow my gaze to rove over the bookcases. In the center of the one to the left of the television, I notice a black and white picture that looks to be a drawing of Tanner’s parents.
It’s stunning.
Tanner joins me and says quietly, “I drew that for their twentieth wedding anniversary a couple of years ago.”
“You drew that?!”
My shock must show on my face, because his brows shoot up in surprise.
“Lack of faith, tsk tsk.” He laughs before continuing, “I love to draw. It’s actually a big reason I was drawn to architecture.”
“Do architects draw a lot?”
“Not as much as they once did. Technology has kind of shifted things, but I like to.”
I nod in understanding. His love for drawing isn’t all that different from my love of photography…I just hope that I can find success in it in the same way that he’s found a way to shape his love of drawing into a career path.
“Dinner is ready!” Mrs. Adler calls from the kitchen .
Larry clicks the TV off within seconds, earning a groan from the young men next to him.
“No complaining,” Larry says sternly.
Tanner’s brothers, Thomas and Theo, could not be more different. I can tell they’re brothers, but each of them seems to have leaned toward one parent more than the other, while Tanner seems to be an equal mix of his parents, with his father’s height, nose, and blasé attitude and his mother’s beautiful green eyes and full lips.
As I step through the doorway into the spacious dining room, my mouth drops open in awe. The long wooden table spans the length of the room, its surface adorned with an incredible array of Thanksgiving dishes. Each dish is a work of art, lovingly prepared and arranged with precision and care. The rich, savory scent of roasted turkey fills the air, accompanied by the sweet scent of freshly baked pies. My stomach growls in anticipation as I take in the feast fit for a king, a testament to the love this family shares.
My eyes linger on the far end of the table where the desserts are laid out, a perfectly prepared cheesecake sitting amidst the otherwise traditional holiday desserts.
I chuckle, pulling Tanner’s attention in my direction.
“Cheesecake,” I say.
“Cheesecake.” He grins down at me with a quirk of his brow.
We settle into our seats on one side of the table and his brothers find seats on the other. His parents sit at the opposite ends of the table.
Tanner’s brothers eagerly pile their plates high with Thanksgiving delicacies, barely concealing their impatience for the meal to begin. Their elbows jostle and forks clink against plates as they dig in with ravenous excitement, oblivious to the traditional rules of etiquette.
Tanner appears to take their lead and reaches for a massive scoop of mashed potatoes. He turns to me and asks, “Mashed potatoes?”
I nod, and he plops the scoop onto my plate before loading his own up with the same absurd amount of the fluffy side dish. We go through the same routine as he scans the table for different offerings—turkey, sweet potatoes, my own green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and more. Every time he reaches for a spoon or spear, he looks at me to ask if I would like something.
Before I know it, my plate is piled high with more food than I know what to do with. So I do what any sane person would do—I dig in.
“These green beans are fantastic!” Tanner’s dad, Larry, declares from the end of the table. Elaine informs him that I made them, causing him to turn to me with adoration. “You’re an incredible cook, Kat.”
“It was just the recipe from the can.”
“Nonsense—you made it your own. It’s delicious.”
I glance at Tanner, who simply smiles at me with a shrug before digging back into his meal.
Dinner passes in a whirlwind of conversation. I learn that Tanner’s brothers are fifteen and eighteen and that the older of the two—Thomas—is in his senior year of high school. He heckles me for a bit about where I went to high school, but overall the Adlers are the picture of kindness. Elaine continuously asks me questions about my life, and not a single one of them feels insincere. She asks if I’d be willing to take photos for her company picnic over the summer, and I’m giddy with delight at the prospect of another job to add to my portfolio.
As we transition into dessert, Tanner makes no attempts to hide his enthusiasm for his precious cheesecake. He piles almost half the pie onto his plate with delight before turning to me and asking if I’d like some.
When dinner comes to an end, I find myself oddly disappointed at the realization that it’s over. Tanner’s family are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Leaving isn’t something I expected would sadden me, so when Tanner’s eyes meet mine, I know with certainty that he can tell what’s plaguing me.
“Don’t for a second think that my mom is going to let her claws out of you any time soon.”
He poses it as a warning, but I know what it is. Reassurance.
“Thank you.”
“If you keep saying that, I may think you’re malfunctioning.” He laughs. “Seriously, Kat. I’m glad you could come. If nothing else, you gave my parents someone to dote on that isn’t me.”
I roll my eyes before he pulls me into a hug and whispers, “Call Elijah. I know you said he’s busy, but I also know you want to talk to him and you shouldn’t be made to feel like you can’t.” He squeezes me tightly before letting go.
I nod. “I will.”
“And drive safe.”
“I will.”
“And— ”
“Tanner, shut up,” I laugh.
He simply salutes me as I slip into my car before disappearing into the house.