Chapter 5 #2
“Yeah exactly.”
“What was he supposed to do when he responded to a call and found you kicking a car while onlookers videoed the whole thing?”
“Haven’t we had this conversation?” Keaton checked, holding his finger to his chin. “About ten times.”
“Probably.”
They shuffled a few feet ahead when the line moved.
“Can we just eat Thanksgiving lunch and talk about something different?” Keaton proposed.
“Sure, if you promise you won’t start anything with Rainey while we’re here.”
“I’m not that stupid, Noel. I realize we are in public, and pretty much the whole town is here,” Keaton said while looking around.
At least ten people walked by and said hello while Keaton and Noel shuffled forward. Some knew about Keaton’s struggles, but others didn’t; although in a small town, it didn’t take long to get relabeled.
“We were in public when you pushed Rainey on Halloween night while the kids trick-or-treated,” Noel reminded her brother.
“That’s because he told me I needed to go home when I was simply trying to spend a fun evening with my daughter.”
“Do you remember why he said you should go home?” Noel asked, impressed that her brother kept the conversation to a low volume this long. She already decided that if she thought anyone nearby could hear she would change the subject.
“Rainey accused me of being drunk.”
“You were drunk,” Noel reminded him. “Are you drunk now?”
“No,” he insisted.
“But you have been drinking.”
“What makes you think I’ve been drinking?” he questioned with raised brows.
Noel peered into her brother’s green eyes, a little darker than hers. “Did you brush your teeth with alcohol this morning?” she asked harshly.
Keaton took a step back. “Is it that obvious?” he asked.
“It always is,” she sighed.
“I only had a couple beers,” he replied, brushing it off.
“Yeah, and it’s only noon.”
“It’s Thanksgiving; I’m celebrating,” he reasoned with a snicker.
Noel searched for the silver lining. Thankfully Keaton’s speech wasn’t slurred, and more importantly he showed up for the community meal to spend some time with his daughter, nephew, and her on the holiday.
“I am glad you are here,” Noel acknowledged as she tried to let go of the other thoughts.
When they reached the first table, each grabbed two plates, utensils, and napkins.
From there they slid the trays down the line, piling on turkey, ham, sweet potato fluff, stuffing, cornbread, rolls, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, deviled eggs, and lots of baked macaroni and cheese for the kids.
Noel glanced at the dessert table surrounded by smiling faces and laughter, and it made her heart happy to see that so many people enjoyed the treats she, Mrs. Madelyn, and the kids prepared.
“It looks like your sweets are a hit as always,” Keaton noted.
“I’m so glad,” Noel replied. “Do you see anything you want before it all disappears?” she asked.
“I see a lot of things I want,” Keaton replied, “but I only have two hands,” he pointed out while carefully balancing the overflowing plates.
“Noel,” a lady, who Noel recognized but didn’t know by name, called out from across the table, “I can’t wait to try this apple pie; it looks delicious!”
Others at the table bombarded Noel with generous comments and questions about the pies and fudge. She patiently responded to everyone, and then she and Keaton found a few empty seats at the end of a table on the side of the canopy where the kids played.
“Laney, Levi,” Keaton hollered, the tone of his voice causing several groups in the area to halt their conversations because of the interruption.
Noel noticed a few awkward glances, some prolonged stares, and gossipy whispers, but after a few moments everyone seemed to turn their attention back to their meals and conversations.
“We need beverages,” Noel realized out loud.
The kids hurried over still wearing their Santa hats to Noel’s surprise. She feared they would be lost by now.
“You guys come with me so we can get drinks for all of us,” Keaton encouraged them as he motioned toward the beverage station.
Noel loved seeing her brother interact with the kids and knew he wasn’t drunk because he hadn’t been short with them every time they spoke. As they walked away, each of them grabbed one of his hands, and Noel fixated on the sight that was cute enough for a picture frame.
After bringing back drinks, Levi and Laney ate most everything Noel expected and left the rest for her and Keaton.
The conversations went smoothly with lots of laughter, and for a while Noel felt like they were a normal family again.
They chatted with the people who sat nearby and even shared some things they were thankful for this year.
Levi and Laney said playing police and tag, and Noel and Keaton mentioned family and friends.
Even though Keaton was a different person from the man Noel knew up until last year, he was her only adult family member left other than distant relatives, and she prayed that her brother found his way back one day soon.