44. Chapter 44
Chapter forty-four
Thanksgiving
— BACK HOME BY ANDY GRAMMER
“Fuck, I’m so nervous,” I say as I adjust the rings on my fingers.
“Why? It’s just Thanksgiving with the West family.”
“I know, but this time feels different,” I tell him as we get out of the car. The West house looks like it always does around this time of year—decorated as fuck. Tristan always helps his mom put decorations up, and he did the same with our new house this year, no matter how much I protested. He insisted, so I bought a bunch of decorations, and he and Vince spent all day decorating our house.
We moved in the second week of November, and unpacking has been insane—especially with how many books I have. Still, it’s been fun decorating our house together. Vince doesn't have the best eye for decor, but he tries his best. We’ve chosen every piece together, and it’s been the best time, creating our own little corner of the world for just us.
I’m excited to celebrate Thanksgiving at the West house. We put all holidays on hold because of Ralph and everything going on. We celebrated my birthday in February before all this happened, but we missed Liv, Tristan, Vince, and Teags' birthdays. And basically every other major holiday besides Halloween .
Vince knocks on the door while I hold the chocolate-covered strawberries we brought—
the only thing I know how to make.
Liv and Tristan are already here, but I’m not sure if Teags is, though. Her flight was supposed to get in around now, and she told us she was taking an Uber—even though I told her Vince and I could pick her up. Gregory isn't coming with her, so it should be a fairly nice night.
Teags moved to Arizona with her boyfriend a week after everything. It was sudden, and Tristan is still pissed at her, but Liv has declared tonight argument free, so they better behave.
Tabitha—Tristan’s mom—opens the door and immediately pulls me in for a hug.
“Bree! You beautiful girl. I’m so glad you’re here,” she says in my ear, and I have to stop the rush of emotions creeping into my body.
“Me too,” I say as I pull back. “This is Vince, my boyfriend.”
Vince holds out his hand to her, but she pulls him in for a hug too. “I know who he is. I watched your videos, Bree. You got yourself a handsome one.”
Vince blushes, and I stifle a laugh. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Oh please, none of that,” she laughs. “Call me Tabitha. We’re practically family.”
“Sounds good, Tabitha,” Vince says as he grabs my jacket from my shoulders and places it on a hanger.
She walks back into the kitchen, the house smelling like cranberries as Vince and I walk through it. Theo and Tristan are trying to get a fire going, and when Tristan spots Vince, he pulls him in for a hug.
It still weirds me out to see them interact, but over the past few months, they’ve gotten close. It probably has something to do with Liv and me. We practically forced them to be friends since they’re dating two sisters who are all but attached at the hip .
Regardless of how it happened, I’m glad the two most important men in my life like each other. While they’re talking, I head to where Liv is working in the kitchen.
She wraps me in a hug, the brown bow in my hair snagging on her wedding ring. “Shit, sorry!”
“It’s okay, sis. How are you? How’s the next book coming?”
She sighs as she turns around to mix the mac and cheese. “It’s okay. My next release is with my editor.”
“I’d believe you if your tone wasn't so strained. What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing. Starting is always the worst part. Sometimes it’s hard, and I can’t get the characters in my head to translate to the page. I feel like I know them really well, but when I type the words out onto the page, they become real people. It’s hard to explain, but I’ll get through it. The first thirty percent is always difficult.”
“I’m sure whoever they are, everyone will love them. You have a gift of writing characters who feel like real people. People will love them, and if you need anyone to read your manuscript, I’m always available.”
“Thanks, Bree. I might take you up on that.”
“Fucking finally, Liv! God, it’s only taken four books for you to let me read them early.”
She elbows my side as she continues to melt the cheese in the pot. “Isn’t this amazing?” she asks me as she looks around.
“Yeah, it is,” I agree. We never had holidays like this when we were younger. Now, thanks to the West family, we’ll never know what it’s like to be alone every holiday. It feels good having people to celebrate the little things with.
Liv and I spent our entire lives alone, only spending moments with one another since our parents didn't care for us. Now, that’s changed. Who knows, if Liv and Tristan never met, what would’ve happened, but there's not a doubt in my mind that we still would’ve ended up here. Life is funny in that way, and I smile as I take in another holiday surrounded by love and laughter.
“I never thought holidays could be like this,” I say as tears fill my eyes.
“You know, I always thought we missed out on a big part of our childhood by not having these moments with our own family.” Liv pauses to wipe a tear from her own eye. “But today just goes to show that you can still find that family when you're older. Life doesn't end when you grow up, even though we always think it does.”
“You’re right, Liv,” I say as I lean my head on her shoulder. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Now, Tristan was supposed to set the table, but he looks busy talking, so do you mind doing it? The plates and everything are sitting on the table. You just have to put them out.”
“Yeah, I can do it.”
“And make sure to set a place for Tobias too. It’s tradition.”
I smile sadly to myself. “Of course.”
I’m halfway done setting the table when I feel a presence behind me. “Boo!”
I turn around, and my best friend's face meets mine. I grab her, squeezing her until she pushes me off. “I’m so glad you’re back. FaceTime doesn't cut it.”
“I know, I know. I’ll be here for a few days, but do you mind if I stay with you and Vince? I don't know if I can handle being here for an entire week.”
“That sounds perfect,” I say, noticing her red-rimmed eyes but opting not to ask her about it. She probably wouldn't tell me anyway or would make up an excuse as to why her eyes are puffy. Teags will tell me on her own time, just like she always does.
“Where’s mom?”
“Last I saw, she was trying to find the parade on the TV.”
“Thanks,” she says as she leaves the dining room.
“Now, you all know the drill,” Tabitha says as we all sit down for dinner. “One thing you’re thankful for.”
“Ugh, do I have to go first?” Teags complains.
“You’re still the youngest, so yes,” Theo tells her, and she flips him off.
“Teagen!” her mom chastises as we all laugh.
“Sorry, Mom.” She runs a hand through her hair. “I’m thankful for being here today.”
“Great. Now Theo.”
He sighs heavily before answering. “I’m thankful I only have a few more stops on Tobias’ old bucket list. I love traveling, but I’m getting tired.”
I forgot he was doing that. Tobias left them all letters after he passed, and Theo’s had Tobias’ bucket list that he never got to complete. Theo has been trying to do it for him, and he’s been all over the US. According to Tristan, he only has two or three stops left, and I think the last one is Vermont. The West family used to vacation in a small town up there, and since their dad died, they haven't been back.
It’s interesting how that’s the last stop on Tobias’ bucket list.
“That’s nice, darling.” Tabitha turns to me. “You’re up, Bree.”
“I’m thankful for the family surrounding this table. It’s been a hell of a year, and I’m glad I’m here to celebrate with you all. And sorry for swearing, Tabitha.”
She reaches her hand out, and I put mine in hers. “It’s okay, honey. I’m so glad you’re here too.”
A smile and a few tears fall from my face, but I rein my emotions in so Liv can talk.
“Livvy, girl, you’ re up.”
“I’m thankful I got to marry my best friend this year.” Liv turns to Tristan and leans into his body.
“I love you too, pretty girl. And we had the same answer, so Vince, it’s your turn,” Tristan tells him, and I see Vince run his hands over his pants. They’re probably clammy, and I think it’s funny how nervous he is.
He clears his throat before speaking. “I’m thankful I kept my promise to come back. After all, it led me here, and I can’t think of anywhere else I’d want to be.”
His eyes meet mine, and my cheeks flush. I love this man more and more every single day, and I’m so fucking glad we found one another. He’s been the best part of my life for so long, and in a weird, fucked up way, I’m thankful I met him all those years ago.
“Mom, what about you?” Theo asks.
“I’m thankful that all of us are here, and I hope that, wherever your father and Tobias are, they can see us. Actually, scratch that. I know they see us.” Emotions start to cloud her features. “Someday, we’ll all be together again, but until then, each sunset will remind us of them. Right, Liv?”
“Right,” Liv says, a few tears pouring from her eyes.
“Now, let’s eat before it gets cold,” Tabitha says, and for the rest of the night, we trade stories about our lives as we sit across the table from one another.
For so long, I thought I’d be alone. I thought I wasn't worthy of having people around me, but the people around this table changed that for me. I thought I was destined for meaningless relationships and never having control over my life.
But that’s not the case.
I have a family now, one that’s loud, rambunctious, a little broken, but at the end of the day, we’ll always be there, and that is all I could ever need .
Not a biological family, but a chosen one. Somewhere along the way, Liv and I found our family, and I’d take the same road again knowing it would lead us here—to the ones who chose us for who we are.
This is where we were meant to be. Every laugh, every smile, heals a tiny part of me, and soon, the cracks in my heart and mind will cease to exist.
It won’t be today, and it won’t be tomorrow, but sometime in the future, I’ll look back on this time and wish I could go back.
But I only look forward these days. And tomorrow, I’ll wake up next to Vince, and he’ll kiss me on the forehead and heal all the parts of me he didn't break in the first place.
I still get to read Liv’s books.
I still get to have lunch with Tristan, who’s officially my brother, and I call him that anytime I can because I’ve never had a brother before.
I still get to talk about books with Teags and have reading dates, even if over the phone.
I still get to love Vince how he deserves to be loved.
And I still get to love myself.
Because I survived. I’m alive. I’ve created the life I’ve always wanted, and nothing can take that away from me.