by Gayle Roper
Jo came to his rescue. "Easy, boys. If Uncle Dane says that's enough, then that's enough. Tell him thank you and let him rest." She shooed the boys toward the family room and the collection of grandkid toys Mom and Dad had amassed for just such days.
Dane stood and looked at the knees of his jeans. "It's a wonder they aren't worn through."
"Have a drink." Jo held a glass of sparkling cider to him. "You earned it."
He downed the bubbly stuff, enjoying the sting on his throat. Yelling Yee-hah! over and over made a man thirsty.
"She's nice." Jo took the empty glass when he held it out. "I like her."
"Who? Can I have another glass?"
Jo looked exasperated. "Kelli. Who else?"
"Oh, right. Yes, she is." He grabbed the full glass she held in her hand.
"Hey, that's mine."
"I just gave your kids horsey rides. Consider this your thank you." He grinned at her and wandered into the family room where all the appetizers had disappeared.
He sank onto a folding chair beside Sherrie's new husband Marcus. Not Marc. Marcus. Full name. Always. Dane wanted to ask if his middle name was Aurelius, but he was afraid the kid wouldn't get it. He was an engineer.
He'd only been watching the game ten minutes when Mom walked between the men and the screen and clapped her hands. "It's time."
Marcus looked a little confused, but the rest of the guys, including Dane, leaped to their feet. Dad turned off the TV. Derwin spread a huge sheet over the carpet. Dane and Tom grabbed the collapsible table and set it up in the middle of the room. Mom shook a tablecloth over it. The sisters descended with kid-friendly plates and silver, Kelli following with kid-sized glasses. Folding chairs, several with booster seats, lined the table.
Dane heard Kelli's phone play her sister's tune. Kelli paused, half the glasses still in her hands.
Dane reached for the glasses. "I've got them."
Kelli nodded, handed them over, and pulled her phone from her pocket. She stepped to the entry hall, the quietest place available.
Dane put the rest of the glasses at the indicated spots, then went to check on Kelli. He hadn't heard the last conversation with Nance, but he knew it had upset Kelli. He didn't want the same thing to happen again.
She was sitting on the bottom tread of the stairs that led to the second floor, Mitzi beside her. She was absently petting the dog as she listened to her sister. When she saw him, she gave a wan smile.
He picked up Mitzi, gave her a quick head rub, and set her on the floor.
"Go find the kids." He pointed toward the family room. "Go."
Mitzi gave a little bark and trotted off obediently.
Dane sat, gently bumping Kelli's shoulder with his. She leaned into him as if drawing strength from him.
"So, Nance, you filled the big pot with water and then added the bird? When water covered the bird, you knew how much oil to add. Uh-huh. Well, if that's what they showed on YouTube, it must be the right thing to do."
"Where do they have the cook station set up?" he asked quietly. He didn't want them to burn their house down like so many did each year trying to fry turkeys.
Kelli nodded and hit speaker. "Where did J.D. put the fire and the pot?"
"In the driveway," Nance answered, and Dane could hear the slur in her voice, not the soft cadence of the South that he so enjoyed in Kelli's speech, but the uncontrolled slur of too much to drink.
"How far from the house?" he asked.
"Who's that?" Suspicion laced Nance's voice. "You're with a guy?" Her voice turned sly. "You are. You're with a guy! Way to go, Kel!"
Kelli gave him an apologetic smile. "Let's stick to the topic, okay, Nance? How far from the house is the fire going to be?"
Nance's personality switch flipped with a speed that made Dane dizzy. "Are you telling me how to do this? What made you an expert in frying turkeys?"
"I don't know how to do it. That's why I'm asking the questions."
"You are such a know-it-all!"
Kelli took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Sorry."
Dane bumped Kelli's shoulder again. "You don't need to apologize."
Kelli shrugged. "It usually defuses things."
But not today. "If I want your opinion, I'll ask for it! Just shut up and listen for a change!"
"I'm s—"
"Just shut up!"
"Dear God, I can't do this," Kelli whispered, and Dane didn't blame her. Talking to Nance was like being caught in a verbal strobe. Friendly, angry, friendly, angry.
"Well, I can't do it either," Nance spat.
Kelli rubbed her temple as if she had a headache. "I wasn't talking to y—"
"What?" Nance was yelling now. "Then who were you talking to? God? You said dear God."
Kelli didn't answer.
"You were praying! You were praying while you were talking to me on the phone!" Every outraged word vibrated through the entry hall and into the rest of the house.
Mom came out of the kitchen to see what the screaming was about. "Is everything okay?"
Kelli turned scarlet and flicked off the speaker. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Cavanaugh."
"Are you apologizing for me?" Nance's screech was audible even with the speaker turned off. "Don't you dare apologize for me!"
With what Dane thought was remarkable forbearance, Kelli said, "Goodbye, Nance," and turned her phone off.
Mom looked at Dane in question.
"It's okay, Mom." Dane stood and reached a hand to Kelli. Mom looked unconvinced, but she headed back to the kitchen.
Dane pulled Kelli to her feet and kept pulling until she was in his arms. He could feel her shaking. "Personally I think praying is good any time, day or night."
Kelli gave a little sound that was half sob and half laugh. She started to pull away, and he released her.
He studied her pale face. "You okay?"
"I'm fine—or I will be in a few minutes."
"If that conversation was typical, you were wise to move here."
Kelli shrugged. "She's my sister."
He thought of his sisters, wonderful women all, steadfast and with hearts for the Lord. They were easy to love. His admiration for the little blonde standing in front of him soared.
Kelli slid her phone into her pocket. "I refuse to talk to Nance again today."
Though he doubted she'd ignore Nance if she called again, he said, "Sounds like a plan. Now let's go eat."
They walked into the room to find parents filling children's plates, cutting meat, and in Weston's case, mopping up spilled milk. Eventually all the children were served and their meals prayed over. Within five minutes they were finished and off to play.
"Our turn." Dad pulled out Mom's chair and seated her at the dining room table. He leaned over and kissed her on the top of the head. She glanced up at him and smiled.
"Love you," she whispered.
"Love you back." With a grin he walked to the opposite end of the table and took his seat.
From the little Dane had observed of Kelli's family, he doubted such affection was part of her life. She had watched Mom and Dad with a little smile and a lot of yearning.
Dad said grace, and food made the rounds. When things calmed down a little, Dad said, "Well, all, I'm looking forward to hearing what you are thankful for this year. Me, I'm thankful for my lovely wife and all of you. And I'm thankful my job is stable and I'm privileged to serve as an elder at church."
The family tradition of going around the table and vocalizing what you're thankful for had been going on as long as Dane could remember. He knew Hannah had prepped Derwin for it the first time he came to Thanksgiving, and Jo had warned Tom. When the younger girls brought their guys home, he suspected they'd done the same, though since he wasn't living at home then, he wasn't sure. What he was certain of was that he'd forgotten to tell Kelli.
But she didn't blink an eye when it was her turn. "I'm thankful for my new teaching job in Seaside, and I'm thankful for the invitation to share today w
ith all of you."
After dinner and the cleanup, Dane bumped into his father in the hall.
"Nice girl," Dad said. "Very nice."
Dane nodded. "She is."
"How long have you been dating?"
"Oh, we're not dating. I just met her yesterday."
"Really?"
"I delivered a package to her." Misdelivered, but that was a story for another time.
"So she's not your girlfriend?"
"Well, she's a girl and she's a friend, but no, she's not my girlfriend. I just felt bad for her, alone on the weekend with Lean Cuisine for her dinner." He shrugged. "Nothing there."
Even as he said it, he wondered if he was being truthful.
Chapter Eleven
Nothing there.
Kelli pushed the door to the hall powder room shut as quietly as she could. She'd started to leave the room when she heard Dane and his father talking. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop on their conversation, wished she hadn't overheard it, but she had.
Nothing there.
She rested her forehead against the door. Not that she hadn't heard it before. Her father's words echoed through her heart, the callous words said in his soft Southern accent.
"Y'all think you're so holy, girl, but y'all are nothin'! Nothin'! You hear me?"
Nothing there.
What had she expected? That Dane would think she was special? Or smart? Or worthy? She was so ordinary and had such a tattered background. Why would a wonderful guy like him be interested in someone like her? She was just his pity date. Poor lonely Lean Cuisine Kelli.
She met her eyes in the mirror. It was good she'd heard him. At least she now knew where she stood. And she was having a very nice day with very nice people. Too bad she wanted to curl in a ball and cry.
When she was sure Dane and his father had gone back to football, she slipped out of the powder room and into the kitchen. It would be safe with the women.
But such a haven was not to be. She found everyone bundling up for a walk on the beach. Parents helped little people search for misplaced mittens and hats. Adults draped themselves in scarves and gloves. Louisa was stuffed into a carry pack on her father's back.
"I don't think moving the Army of the Potomac was this complicated," Mr. Cavanaugh announced as Weston insisted on wearing his Minions hoodie over his puffy jacket.
Jo carried a bundle of coats from a back room, and Kelli grabbed hers off the top and slipped it on with a soft, "Thanks."
She watched the chaos and noted not one adult shouted or smacked or called a child stupid. Finally everyone was ready and they erupted onto the sidewalk, the kids running as if the beach wouldn't be there unless they reached it immediately.
"Don't you dare cross the street before we get there," Hannah ordered the troops, and they all quivered on the curb until the adults caught up.
On the beach, the wind was crisp, the sky as blue as Dane's eyes, and the waves gentle. Atlantic City glimmered across the inlet, the towering casinos glamorous in the distance.
"Catch, Uncle Dane!" Win lobbed a football, and the game was on. Kelli considered begging off, but somehow, she landed on a team and found herself facing off against Tom.
"Unfair!" Tom yelled. "How can I tackle Kelli her first time here?"
"I'll tackle her! Look out, Aunt Kelli!" A girl about seven dressed in purple from hat to heels rushed Kelli and grabbed her around the waist. Kelli grabbed back and spun, swinging the child in a circle. The girl whooped in delight, and soon Kelli had a line of kids who had forgotten all about the game in favor of a good twirl. They all called her Aunt Kelli.
If only.
Nothing there.
She glanced at Dane and found him watching her with a slight smile. He gave a little nod, and a warm glow fell over her at his approval. She returned the nod even as she told herself she was pathetic.
Nothing there.
When Weston fell asleep making a snow angel in the sand, Hannah ordered everyone home. They returned in the falling darkness with considerably less energy than they'd had coming.
Kelli's phone vibrated in her pocket. She ignored it. It had barely stopped bzzing when it started again. With a sigh she fished it out.
James. She stopped walking, and Dane stopped with her. The others continued on with only Mrs. Cavanaugh looking back with a worried expression. Kelli forced a smile and waved as she hit talk.
"Hey, buddy. How are you?"
"Aunt Kelli!" His voice was high and excited, and Kelli could hear strange noises in the background. "The fire trucks is here! And the amblance and the cops!"
Kelli looked at Dane, her stomach in free fall. She hit speaker. "James, is everyone all right? Are you hurt?"
"I'm okay. I'm going to be a fireman when I grow up! I'm going to drive the truck."
"Sounds great. Where's your mom?"
"She went in the amblance with J.D."
Dane frowned. "Who's J.D.?"
"Nance's latest boyfriend. He was the one frying the turkey. James, is your mom okay?" Please, dear God, let Nance be okay!
"She's okay. She's mad though. She's mad at J.D. and Marius. She said they burned the house down."
There were scuffling noises, and James yelled, "That's mine! Y'all give it back!"
"Aunt Kelli?" It was Marius. "Back off, James! Stop hitting me!"
"Marius, what happened?"
"It wasn't me. That dumb J.D. put too much oil in the pot. When he added the turkey, the oil overflowed. It spit a lot too, and the spits burned J.D."
"I thought they measured."
"They did, but they marked where the water came with the turkey still in the pot. When they dumped the water and added the oil, they filled it to the line of where the water was with the turkey in it, only the turkey wasn't in the oil yet."
"That's an easy mistake to make." Kelli shook her head. She'd known catastrophe awaited. She'd known!
"It's a dumb mistake. J.D.'s an idiot. I keep asking myself where Mom finds these loser guys."
Kelli didn't comment, though she wondered the same thing. "So what happened next?"
"We put the oil in the pot to that line. I thought it'd never get hot, but finally it started bubbling, and J.D. added the turkey. I don't think he dried it after he measured it with water or maybe he only dried the outside. I don't know. I do know the oil spit like crazy. And it overflowed, and the fire started, and the garage is gone!"
"But y'all aren't hurt?"
"Nah. We're fine, but we won't be having a turkey today." He sounded philosophical about it. "And Pop-pop won't be driving anywhere for a while. His car's a mess, but at least it didn't explode."
Kelli's heart started to slow. She didn't care about the garage or the car. It was the people she feared for, and they were all fine. "Where was Pop-pop all this time?"
Marius snorted. "Sleeping off last night's drunk. He said we shouldn't wake him until it was time to eat."
Kelli squeezed her eyes shut. So typical.
"Get Pop-pop to take you out to eat, and Marius?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm so glad y'all are fine. You know I pray for you every day."
"Didn't do much good today, did it?" The hard edge to his voice made Kelli's heart ache.
"What do you mean? Maybe it's why none of you were hurt and it's only the garage that's gone."
If you could feel skepticism, Kelli felt it vibrating through the phone. She sighed. "Put James back on, please. Oh, and I love you."
Marius responded with a grunt.
If anything, James's piping voice was more excited than before. "The fireman is going to let me sit in his truck! Bye!"
Kelli stood in the middle of the Cavanaughs' front walk and wondered how she had gotten there. She didn't remember walking. She held out her hand. "Look. I'm shaking. My heart's pounding, and I'm afraid I'm going to hyperventilate."
Dane studied her. "You feel guilty because you weren't there."
She nodded.
"What difference would
you have made? Would Nance or J.D. have listened to you? Would they have welcomed your advice or help?"
She put a hand over her aching heart. "No, they'd have ignored me or mocked me."
He slung an arm around her shoulders and led her toward the house. "Then let's go enjoy the chaos here. It's more fun to be ignored by people who are laughing instead of yelling, not that anyone's ignoring you here. You're a hit."
She was actually smiling by the time they opened the red door.
Within minutes of their entering the house, hot chocolate and turkey sandwiches appeared as if by magic. Kelli felt she was living a magazine article titled How to Have the Perfect Holiday.
She glanced at Dane seated next to her at the table. Nothing there. Well, an almost perfect holiday.
After the dishes were done and the food put away, people began collecting kids and leaving. Dane went to retrieve their coats from the bedroom, and as she waited, Kelli found herself hugged multiple times, both by adults and kids.
Lord, this is my dream!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Dane came down the front hall in his leather bomber jacket, her coat in his hand. He held it for her, and she slid into it. The magic day was almost over.
"My purse!" She tried to remember where she'd put it in the chaos of their arrival. She knew Jo hadn't taken it to the bedroom with the coats. She mentally retraced those arrival moments and remembered—the desk in the corner of the kitchen when she'd followed Mrs. Cavanaugh.
"Be right back." She hurried to the kitchen, and there it was, right where she had left it on top of a pile of magazines. She grabbed it and hurried back to Dane, only to come to an abrupt halt when she saw him and his mother talking very seriously. She stepped back into the kitchen, out of sight of the front door but not out of hearing.
"Your father says you said there was nothing going on between you two."
She didn't hear all Dane said because Sherrie and Marcus chose that moment to leave, emerging from the coat bedroom in a rush, but she heard, "…all alone…felt bad…."
Her blood chilled at the reminder of what she had already figured out: pity date.
Mrs. Cavanaugh's voice carried clearly. "I'm very sorry about that, Dane. She's lovely. But she has that family. If you get involved with her, you will be involved with them. Think carefully about that."
