“Leah,” Grant nodded, “I’m looking forward to seeing my sweet Leah, but that’s all.” He paused. “Well, maybe Melissa…and Joey…and David a little bit, I guess.”
“What about your dad?” Hailey frowned.
“I prefer not to be there when he sees my mom walk in with your dad,” Grant shrugged. “I mean, can you imagine the conversation over dinner? What am I supposed to say? ‘So, Dad, how’s the home wrecker doing, or better yet, who’s she doing now? And, Mom, you’re looking so much younger these days…it’s like you’re back in high school again chasing after your high school sweetheart! And you, Jack, so I gotta ask, how awkward is it to spend Thanksgiving sitting across the table from your love interest’s current husband? And, Rachel, knocked-up and squandering your life away…how is that going for you? Wally, I see you’re reviving the eighties hair band look. Rock on, man! Oh, and I can’t forget you, Granny. I’m so thankful that you’re here to judge my dad with your eyes, condemn my mother for having the nerve to ever walk away from this town, and, most of all, I’m thankful you’re here to bring up my dead brother’s name every two seconds because there is nothing I like more than stories about how I’ll never measure up.’ I mean, let’s get real, Ike’s lucky he’s missing this Thanksgiving!”
Hailey frowned.
“It was a joke, Hailey,” Grant rolled his eyes as he flopped down next to her on the couch.
“Just not a particularly funny one,” Hailey sighed. “Trust me, I’m not looking forward to the awkwardness any more than you are, but we have no choice but to make the best of it.”
“I don’t plan to say much at all,” Grant admitted.
“I think that’s probably best,” Hailey agreed. “But I have serious, and founded, doubts about your ability to remain mum when forced into a social setting.”
There was a long pause as both sat imagining the day.
“At least Granny’s a good cook,” Hailey said, finally.
“Oh sure,” Grant mused. “She’ll be buzzing around her kitchen, announcing that she has made all of Ike’s favorites as though her beloved grandson is laid up in the living room watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and eagerly anticipating Granny’s pumpkin pie. He’s not here! He’s dead, people!”
“What are you so jealous of?” Hailey asked, standing, so that she towered over Grant as he sat on the sofa.
“I’m not jealous of my brother,” Grant rolled his eyes.
“You’re certainly jealous of how much they all loved him,” Hailey shrugged.
“I’m not jealous,” Grant insisted. “I don’t care that Granny doesn’t know the first thing about what I like to eat and what I don’t. I don’t care that every Thanksgiving I swear my dad is pretending his pride and joy opted to stay at West Point over the holiday, and that’s the only reason he’s not sitting at our table. I don’t care that my mother has a mini-meltdown every Thanksgiving because apparently it was St. Ike’s favorite holiday. Seriously, who prefers Thanksgiving over Christmas? I mean…honestly…come-on now! I don’t care that they all think of me as a disaster waiting to happen. I don’t care that every time I screw up, I can guarantee that one of them is going to remind me of all the reasons why Ike never would have done what I did.”
Hailey glanced down at her watch.
“Dang, Hails, what is your hurry?” Grant groaned.
“No,” Hailey scoffed, “it’s just that I’ve never known someone to rattle on so long about something they obviously care so little about.”
“I don’t care what they think,” Grant shook his head as Hailey tugged at his hand until he stood to his feet.
“Do you care what I think?” Hailey asked boldly.
Grant turned away, but Hailey gently tugged at his shoulder and turned him back around. She wrapped her arms around his waist. He stared off to the side of her face, refusing to make eye contact with her. “I think that you’re amazing. I think you’re special and different and challenging in a good way… and if other people can’t see that…it’s their loss.” Grant lowered his head, but Hailey lifted his chin. “I care so much about you, Grant,” she said, her voice oozing sympathy and sincerity.
“I know,” Grant said softly. “Just, for the life of me, I can’t figure out why.”
“I know that this Thanksgiving isn’t going to be the most traditional,” Hailey smiled up at him, urging him to look into her eyes, “but I’m pretty sure we can get through it together.”
Grant looked at her admiringly. “Last chance…we can skip the country before they send someone looking for us. You game?”
“No can do,” Hailey chuckled, “I don’t have a passport, and you know that.”
“Bummer,” Grant grinned. “Well, I’ve got to feed you, so I guess I’ll have to take you over and introduce you to the clan.”
“I reckon you will,” Hailey shrugged, and she stood on her tippy-toes to give Grant a quick peck on the lips.
As she started toward the door, Grant reached for her arm and spun her back toward him. “One for the road,” he laughed as they kissed again. “Okay,” he grinned, forcing himself to stop kissing her. He put his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s do this thing.”
“I’m ready if you are,” Hailey nodded with animated affirmation, and they started toward the door again.
“Maybe just one more,” Grant declared as he chased after Hailey’s lips.
“One more,” Hailey beamed as she threw her arms around Grant’s neck and kissed him as he lifted her feet off the ground.
Wally was standing outside in the yard, offering a bowl of water to a stray dog, when Grant and Hailey drove up. “What is he doing?” Grant muttered as he put the truck in park.
Hailey started to remind Grant that he had promised to be on his best behavior, but, before she could open her mouth, Wally was making his way toward the truck, waving eagerly.
“What’s up, Wally?” Grant smiled, shaking his hand.
“Thanksgiving with Eminem and G-Unit,” Wally exclaimed. “It’s like being at the MTV Awards.”
“What did he just call me?” Grant mumbled as he turned his head toward Hailey.
“Eminem and G-Unit…get it?” Wally laughed as he reached out his hand to Hailey. “Those are my pet names for Grant and Em.”
“I got it,” Hailey smiled. “I’m Hailey Nelson, by the way.”
“Or as I like to call her…Nelly,” Grant shrugged.
