11. Aiden
Aiden
“What is everyone thankful for this Thanksgiving?” Maggy asks. I’m sitting at the dining room table at my parents house between Bailey and Charly, my youngest sister.
Maddox groans, “This tradition is so lame.”
“I don’t know it could be fun,” Dallas says and I swear I see a small blush on Magnolia’s face. “I’m thankful for all the Bakers welcoming us into their family.”
The Millers moved into Bailey’s parents house when they sold it the summer after our senior year of high school. Dallas and Chloe quickly became best friends with the twins, and Momma and Pop gained best friends in Vivian and Phillip, their parents.
Pop shrugs, “That’s what we do. Family isn’t just about blood, it’s chosen. And you guys are our chosen family.”
“Maddox, I think you should go next.” Momma says with a raise of an eyebrow, challenging him to protest again.
“I’m thankful for all the beautiful people in this world.” Maddox smirks. He’s such a fucking playboy.
“Oh gross, Maddy.” Charlotte says at the same time Momma says, “Maddox Ryan Baker,” and swats him upside his head.
“I’m thankful you guys are home for a little while,” Charly pipes up. “It’s too quiet these days.”
“You’ll be on campus with us before you know it.
” Maddox says. Charlotte is planning on joining us at Alpine next year.
Some might think it’s weird that all four of us want to go to the same school, but my siblings are my best friends.
My parents raised us to be close, and we have always stayed that way.
Sure, we have fought at times, but what siblings don’t?
I told Bailey once that I didn’t like playing with my brother and sisters, and I think that’s the only lie I’ve ever told her.
Unless you count not telling her that I’m hopelessly in love with her, but that’s a topic for another day.
“That’s if I get it, Charly mutters.
“You’ll get in Char,” Chloe says. “You’re the smartest Baker sibling by a mile.”
“I’m really not,” Charly rolls her eyes.
“What are you really worried about Charly?” Momma says.
“I’m just worried I’m going to flunk out.
School has never come as naturally to me as it has everyone else.
I have to work really hard for the grades I get, and going to a school like Alpine where the expectations are so high is intimidating.
” She bows her head, and I hate seeing my sunshine sister like this.
She is normally all smiles, but right now she seems to be freaking out, and I don’t like it.
I wish I had known she was worried about this.
“If Alpine isn’t where you want to go, no one will be mad. You can apply anywhere, Charlotte,” Pop says. “We just want you kids to be happy.”
“I know. Thanks, Pop,” Charly waves a hand dismissively, “Ignore me, I’m being dramatic.”
“I’m grateful for the Bakers always giving me a place to spend the holidays, so I don’t have to spend them alone,” Bailey says, and I see Charly mouth thank you to her for taking the attention off of her.
“Bailey Girl, you say that every year. You know you’re always welcome here,” Pop says.
“We love having you here, Bee.” Maggy says.
I reach down and squeeze her thigh, “You’re right where you belong, Blue.” She graces me with the sweetest smile known to man.
“Thanks Bear. I love being here.” She pushes potatoes around on her plate, and I notice that her plate is still mostly full.
It’s so weird, Bailey normally loves Thanksgiving food.
Turkey is one of her favorite foods. She eats a turkey sandwich almost every day, and looks forward to the feast Momma and Charly prepare every year for Thanksgiving.
On top of not eating, Bailey has been really quiet, and sleeping more than normal since we got here on Monday for the holiday. I’ve tried to talk to her, but she won’t open up to me, and that drives me crazy. I can’t help her if she won’t talk to me.
Momma flops down on the couch next to me later that night. I lay my head on her shoulder. Call me a ‘momma’s boy’ all you want. It’s a fact about me I’m fairly proud of.
“How are classes going?” She asks. Momma and Pop know better than most what going to school at Alpine is like.
They met during law school when Pop was tutoring Momma in a class.
She was in her first year, he was in his third.
They hit it off right away, and never looked back.
Pop always tells us that the first time he saw Momma he knew she was the only woman for him, he just had to stop being her tutor first.
“They’re going well. Just have a few finals, then I’ll be ready for Christmas.” I pause for a moment and look Momma in the eye, debating on whether I should say something or not about how weird Blue has been acting since we got here.
Momma and Pop have developed a special bond with Blue over the last seventeen years.
She has become an essential part our family, and I know every person in my family loves her.
There are even jokes about how if Bailey and I stopped being friends they would all disown me and keep her.
I’d be offended by those comments if I didn’t get it.
Bailey is the most amazing person on the planet, I’d chose her over anyone else in the world, every single time.
“Spit it out, Aiden. You have your ‘I want to say something, but don’t know if I should,’ face on.
” Momma knows me better than just about anyone else in the world, “Is this about Bailey?” I nod, “I have already talked to her, she keeps telling me that she’s fine.
I don’t believe her, but you know her. She isn’t going to open up about whatever is bothering her until she’s ready. ”
“Fuck, Momma," I roll my eyes when she swats my arm, “Sorry, I can tell something is wrong. I just don’t know what, and that pisses me off. I just want to fix it for her.”
“Just give her space, Aiden. She’s clearly going through something right now.” She pins me with a look that tells me not to test her on this, “She’s your best friend, you can’t always fix things for her.”
“Knowing I can’t do it, doesn’t stop me from wanting to,” I lean my head back on the couch to stare at the ceiling. “But you’re right, she will come to someone when she’s ready. I can’t push her.”
“You’re a good friend, son,” Momma squeezes my knee before pushing off the couch and standing up, “I’m going to head to bed. She loves you, and knows that you’re there for her no matter what. I think you’ve proven that to her time and time again."