by Holly Rayner
Damn straight he is.
My heart filled with pride. “Thanks, Dawn. Now go sit down so I can serve everybody else.”
She smacked me on the back and moved on.
Once we all arranged ourselves around the table to eat, I tapped my glass with my knife. “It’s time to go around and say what we’re thankful for,” I said. “I’ll start.” I glanced over at Jalaal. “I’m thankful for all the wonderful things this past year has brought me, especially this handsome guy.”
He smiled, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity I saw often but had never gotten used to. It always made me melt inside.
Jalaal went next. “I’m thankful for my new family. I couldn’t have asked for better people to sit around a table with on Thanksgiving.”
“I’m thankful for turkey!” said Sam.
“I’m also thankful for turkey,” my dad said. “But I also want to say how thankful I am that there are good men looking after both of my daughters. Or letting my daughters look after them. I haven’t quite figured it out yet.”
We all laughed, and Dawn took the next opening. “I’m thankful for having the opportunity for all of us to get together like this,” she said. “I wish we could do it more often.” She turned to Jason and prodded him. “What are you thankful for, honey?”
He smiled. “I’m thankful for having a girlfriend whose sister knows how to cook.”
We all burst into cacophonous laughter—even Dawn. That was the thing about Jason; he was quiet, but he could come out with some barbed jokes when he felt like it. And Dawn always got all doe-eyed when he did, even if it was at her expense.
Like I said, I just didn’t understand how they’d gotten together, but somehow it worked.
I thought Jalaal might become more talkative over dinner, but it seemed his brief romantic interlude had been just that—brief. I was started to get a little worried, considering I had something on my mind as well.
“This is delicious, Sky!” Dawn declared. “I should never have doubted you. You sure know how to cook a turkey.”
“It’s not my first time,” I reminded her.
“I keep forgetting.” She winked. “I’ve just never been invited for Thanksgiving at your place before.”
I narrowed my eyes at her in mock frustration. “My old apartment could barely fit the three of us for a meal, never mind you and your ego.”
“Hey, his name’s Jason!” she retorted.
Jason laughed quietly beside her. “This is really good though, Skyler.” He grinned and raised his glass. “I think we should do a toast to our lovely host.”
Everyone else raised their glasses in the air. Even Sam, who barely knew what a toast was, thrust his cup of apple juice toward the middle of the table.
“To Skyler,” Dawn said, taking over for Jason. “A great cook, a good sister, and an amazing mom.”
“To Skyler!” everyone chorused.
I was thirsty from all the cooking, and I had drained my glass before I thought about the wording of her toast.
“Hey!” I said. “Just a good sister?”
Dawn cackled and reached for my glass. “Can I fill you up?”
“No. I can get it.” I went to grab my glass, but she was faster.
“Really, it’s okay. Red or white?”
I chuckled. “Neither. Just sparkling apple for me, please.”
She raised a brow but elected not to comment. I was glad. I couldn’t have her ruining my news.
We finished the main course in record time. Everyone chipped in to help clear the table and clean up a little before dessert, which I appreciated. Even Sam, who was normally the first to try to sneak off somewhere, got into the spirit of it.
I loved hanging out with my family like this—whipping jokes back and forth while we cleaned, exchanging tidbits of gossip as our stomachs settled. It was how I’d always wanted my Thanksgiving dinners to be.
Though Sam and I had done well for the couple dinners we’d been alone—when Dawn was traveling or Dad was busy—I’d always been a little sad that I would probably never be able to host a big family dinner.
Then, like a wish from a genie, I’d met Jalaal.
And he was still being awfully quiet.
“Is something wrong?” I asked as we brought small plates to the table for dessert.
“No. Why do you ask?”
I glared at him. “You’ve been quiet all day. I can tell something’s up.”
Jalaal grabbed the stack of plates from my hands and slipped them onto the table. Then he turned and wound his arms around my waist. I folded myself against him. I always craved his heat and the security I felt in his arms. And I knew the second they weren’t around me anymore, I’d miss them.
“You made a really delicious meal for us, Sky,” he murmured into my hair. “And your sister was right; you’re an amazing mother.”
“Thank you.” I tilted my head to look up at him. “Where are all these compliments coming from?”
He grinned down at me impishly. “They’re not coming from anywhere. You just deserve them.”
“Are you leaving me? Did you break something? Why are you buttering me up?”
Jalaal chuckled and released me, pushing me toward my chair. “Let’s have some dessert,” he said, dodging the question. “I’ve been looking forward to this pumpkin pie all day.”
Now thoroughly convinced he was up to something, I forgot that I was up to something, too. I watched him like a hawk as he brought over the pie and began serving it. Normally this would be the part where I watched everyone’s reactions to dessert, since I’d spent so long making it, but I felt like if I blinked I might miss whatever Jalaal was planning.
I ended up not having to wait much longer. After we all finished our pie and pushed the plates away, slouching back against our chairs in exhaustion, Jalaal stood up beside me.
“I have an announcement to make,” he said.
I sat up as straight as a pin, watching him intently.
He grinned down at me and then looked at my father. “Bill, Sam, you’re both very important to Skyler and I can’t imagine saying what I’m about to say without asking your opinions first. I would like to formally request your permission to marry her.”
Sam broke out into a huge, toothless grin. “I can’t wait for you to be my daddy!”
My dad was a little less enthusiastic, but only because I could tell he was trying very hard to be stoic. Still, the smile curling his lips was unmistakable.
“You’ve made my daughter very happy, Jalaal,” Dad said. “Hell, you’ve made all of us very happy. I would be honored to call you my son.”
Jalaal turned back to me, and I felt like a million-watt bulb had just been directed at my face. I could feel the thrum of my pulse in my neck.
Before he even had a chance to ask, I shot up and flung my arms around his neck. “Yes, yes, yes!”
The table erupted into cheers. My sister’s were by far the loudest. No surprises there.
I kissed Jalaal and held him tight. It was the best possible reason for him to have been acting weird all day. I didn’t know whether he thought he would spill the beans too early or if he was just nervous, but his behavior suddenly made so much more sense.
But the excitement wasn’t over yet.
I pulled back from Jalaal, tears in my eyes. “I have something to tell you, too,” I said.
“What’s that?” His dark eyes swallowed me.
I gulped, then turned back to address the rest of the table, specifically Sam.
“Hey, Sammy.”
He was still smiling like a maniac. I hoped what I had to say next would keep him smiling. Some kids didn’t react very well. But when had mine ever reacted poorly to anything?
“Yes, Mommy?”
“How would you feel about getting a little brother or sister?”
I didn’t get to hear his answer, but I assumed it was good from the loud clapping and cheers it was lost beneath. As for Jalaal, he swept me up in hi
s arms and twirled me around the room, laughing louder than I’d ever heard him laugh.
For a moment, lost in the noise and revelry, it was like we were back at that craps table in Vegas. Except now I was even luckier than ever before.
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