“Grant, it’s time to get in the car,” Nora pled as she fought with a roll of stubborn Saran wrap. “At this point, I don’t care what you wear…just, at least, put a shirt on and run a comb through your hair, so I don’t have to endure the wrath of my mother.”
Jack gathered a load to take to the car as Jessica and Emily walked in comparing their nails, which Jessica had painted with fresh French tips. They were both dressed in festive, fall colors…Jessica in a long-sleeved, crimson-colored top that tastefully hugged every curve of her body and Emily in a more modest burgundy cardigan worn over a white oxford button-down.
“Oh, girls, look at you!” Nora said, admiring the three girls as they stood before her. “Let’s go outside and get a picture!”
“Grant, don’t you want to be in the picture?” Hailey asked.
Emily glanced over at the table and turned her nose up. “Why are you not dressed yet?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Grant said, standing. “Maybe because I’m the only person who seems to realize that this day could not possibly turn out well.”
“Grant, for crying out loud, Son, it’s Thanksgiving!” Nora protested.
“Which is a national holiday, not an alternate reality,” Grant grumbled.
“Put a smile on your face and go get dressed,” Nora insisted.
“Or you could just wipe that overly-perky, fake smile off your face, and we could lament the fact that you ever thought it was an acceptable idea for your husband and your boyfriend to spend this holiday together.”
“Grant!” Hailey exclaimed, scoldingly.
“I think we’ll just go wait in the car,” Emily nodded as she grabbed Jessica’s hand and made haste toward the front door.
“You might not want to go in there just yet, Dad!” Jessica exclaimed as they passed Jack in the doorway.
“You know,” Nora exhaled, “I used to be mortified by the things that came out of your mouth, but, at this point, I’m not even remotely shocked…and that makes me sad.”
“Do you want to know what makes me sad?” Grant shrugged.
“What I want is for you to go put your clothes on and make the best of this day,” Nora gulped.
“Well, anything to make you happy,” Grant stormed off.
“If you really want to make me happy, you’ll do it with a smile…even a fake one,” Nora called after him.
Hailey turned to Nora. “Why don’t you and Dad and the girls go on ahead?” she offered. “Grant and I will be on in my truck after he gets ready.”
Nora embraced Hailey appreciatively. “Thank you, Sweetheart,” she sighed. “I hate to leave you to deal with his moodiness, but I will never hear the end of it from Granny if I’m late.”
“I can handle him,” Hailey nodded confidently.
Nora let out a sigh as she loaded Jack down with dishes. “It’s not that I’m not nervous about everything that this day holds, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit I am a little excited too. Being able to spend this holiday with my mother and my children…who knows how many more opportunities like this I will get?”
“Don’t stress out over Grant,” Jack insisted as he and Nora carried the last of the load to the car. “We knew he was going to be this way today.”
“Worrying about Grant is a constant stressor I have lived with for eighteen years,” Nora sighed. “Grant I can handle. The idea of you and Randy in the same house…sitting at the same dinner table…well, I think the implications of that are really just now hitting me.”
When Grant walked out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but a blue towel tied around his waist, Hailey was leaned up against the wall, her arms crossed, waiting for him.
Grant smiled at her, his blond hair wet and spiky.
“Today is a day set aside to remind us of all the blessings we have in our lives,” she said, following him into his room.
“And I am thankful for you,” Grant grinned, leaning down and kissing her lips.
Hailey could taste the minty-freshness of his toothpaste and feel the dampness of his hair against her face. “I’m thankful for you too,” she laughed, “and I’m a little nervous about meeting your family, so please cheer up because I need you to help me get through the day.”
“Okay, well, I’m getting dressed; you going or staying?” Grant winked.
“Going!” Hailey gasped. “Gosh!” she slapped him.
Grant laughed as she slammed the door behind her.
Hailey was sitting on the couch when Grant appeared less than ten minutes later. “Will you roll up my sleeves for me?” he asked, thrusting the arm of his hunter-green button-down at her.
As Hailey rolled the sleeves of his shirt, she breathed in the soft scent of his cologne. His hair was styled; his silver watch was prominent on his wrist; his shirt was neatly tucked into his dark-wash, blue jeans and his brown belt matched his brown boots.
Why all of that couldn’t have been done an hour earlier, Hailey didn’t know. “I’m the girl; aren’t you supposed to be sitting around, yelling for me to hurry?” she grinned, wrinkling her nose at him.
“I dare you to run off with me for the afternoon and spend Thanksgiving making me a very thankful man,” Grant challenged.
“While that certainly sounds tempting,” Hailey admitted, “your entire family is waiting for us.”
“Oh joy,” Grant smiled sarcastically.
“I know you’re looking forward to seeing them,” Hailey scoffed.
