Chapter 19

Haley

My body is so boneless, I have no clue how I’m supposed to get through Thanksgiving dinner with his family. The next two hours go by in a blur, and before I know it, we’re pulling into a long driveway.

I have a flashback to the first time I met his parents. How on earth can a single turn into a driveway feel this good, this solid, this safe and perfect? Warmth spreads through my chest, followed quickly by panic.

“What if they don’t want me here?” I ask quietly. It’s too late to turn back now.

“Haley.” Cole’s warning is clear. He’d never put me in a position like that.

I slump in my seat. My stomach twists. “What if they hate me now?”

“They have no reason to hate you for anything.” His big hand falls to my thigh, and he gives it a squeeze. “Trust me.”

I’d hate me if I were them. I ditched Cole and didn’t look back. Guilt grips my heart, squeezing it to a pulp. I feel vulnerable and terrible. I reach up to snag my thong from the mirror. Cole catches my hand and shakes his head. “I told you they stay where they are.”

“Please?” I beg.

He shakes his head again. “I like them hanging there.”

“Well, I like being completely dressed before I see your mom.” Who may or may not want to beat me to death with her wooden spoon. Dread consumes me. Why did I agree to come here? It’s too soon for this. Burying my head in my hands, I try to reel in my emotions that are escaping their bottle.

“Hey.” Cole’s tone softens. “Look at me, baby.”

I do and don’t like his expression. “I feel sick.”

“I’ll never ever put you in the line of fire. Not even with my family. They love you, Hales.” He grabs my hand and kisses it.

Tears fill my eyes, making Cole all blurry. “I wasted so much time, didn’t I?”

“You took what you needed.” He taps my nose and shoots me a smile. “Now, be my good girl and let me bring you home to your family.”

His words barely process in my warped brain before he’s opening the door for me. I’m still in panic mode. Shit. I… I can’t… “Cole.”

“I gotchu.” He grabs my hand and pulls me out. “Come on, Angel.”

The outside of the house is exactly like I remember it. It’s as if these past five years didn’t exist. I’m right back to the first time I came here for turkey and Miss Ellie’s famous apple pie. Cole laces his fingers with mine and we climb the porch steps. There’s a big wreath on the red door that has a ribbon on it covered with sunflowers.

Cole squeezes my hand before opening the front door. Warm air, pumpkin, and something inexplicably wonderful hits my nose. “Mama, we’re home!”

Two dogs barrel towards us, tails wagging and tongues out. I let go of Cole so I can pet them. “Pete and Zeb?”

“Zeb passed. This is one of his bastard children,” Cole says, giving the dogs a good head rub.

“Ohhhh!” The sound of Miss Ellie’s voice startles my heart. She rushes towards us, wiping her hands off on her apron.

“Hey, Mama.” Cole hugs her tight and they rock back and forth, which is totally an Ellie thing. I’ve never seen anyone hug the way she does.

Then she looks over at me and my stomach drops. Ellie’s face falls. She lets go of her son and calmly walks towards me. It takes all my strength to not cower or back up until my ass hits the door.

Or better yet, turn and sprint the hell out of there before she can reach me.

“Haley.” She says it with so much warmth, it’s like stepping into sunshine after living in a cold cave. Miss Ellie brings me into a big hug that seeps into my bones. “I knew you’d come back to us.” She hug-rocks me too and when I wrap my arms around her, it’s like I’m falling apart and staying together at the same time. “Ohhh let me look at you.” She pulls away to cup my face. “You get prettier and prettier.” She taps my nose. “You keeping my boy in line?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I swipe the tears from my eyes.

“He treating you like a gentleman should?”

My smile goes a mile wide. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Guess what?” She turns to him. “You’re the last ones in.”

Cole looks up at the ceiling. “Damnit.” He must read my mind because he looks over and explains, “Last ones in have to help with dishes.”

Miss Ellie hooks her arm with mine and starts walking. “Come on. I need help in the kitchen, and I bet you could use a break from my son. He talks too much.”

“What? No, I don’t.”

“See what I mean?” Ellie laughs.

“Now I know you’re done cooking,” Cole argues while we walk away from him. “What’s she gotta help you with?”

“My wine won’t drink itself,” she calls out.

We enter her kitchen, where there’s enough food to feed the entire state. My gaze lands on a platter. “Are those—”

“My deep-fried stuffing balls? Yes.” She grabs a little plate that’s next to the large tray piled high with them. “I made extra just for you, because I know how much you loved them last time you were here.”

And just like that, I’m home.

···

Dinner is a blast. Crowded around this massive table that stretches from the kitchen to the living room, half of us sit in folded chairs, while the rest get wooden ones. My plate is full. And my heart is too.

I can’t believe they welcomed me back into their family so easily. Then again, this is how I think Cole’s family is. Everyone is family. Everyone is welcome.

As Cole’s dad, Bryan, carves a massive turkey, giving his wife props for cooking such an amazing feast, the front door squeaks open, and the dogs immediately go running.

Ellie stands up, her eyes warm even with the look of shock on her face as her youngest comes into the house. “Reid!”

“Ayyyy.” Trey leans back in his chair. “Glad you made it.”

Reid pets the dogs and tries to push past them to join us at the table. “Move, dogs.” They don’t. Tails wagging, they both fight to get head pats from him. “Come on, give me space.”

“Good to have you home, son.” Bryan glances at Ellie for a moment and they share a look. I have no clue if it’s relief or concern.

“Sorry I’m late. Traffic was terrible.”

Ellie gives him an enormous hug. “Cole, go get another chair from the basement for your brother.”

Cole hops ups and does what he’s told. My heart does a weird flip floppy thing as I watch the family interact—picking on each other, passing food, laughing, while Reid makes his way around the table to say hi to everyone. I have a feeling Reid doesn’t come home nearly as often as the others do. I wonder why?

“Here ya go.” Cole pops the creaky metal folding chair open and puts it next to me. “You get the honors of sitting by my girl.”

Reid takes a seat. “I’m Reid.” He holds his hand out for me to shake.

Guess he doesn’t remember me. Not that I expected him to. “Haley.”

His eyes widen. “Wait. Haley, Haley?”

“Yeah. Haley, Haley.” Cole gives him a look.

Reid’s exhaustion shows even when he tosses me a big smile. “It’s been a while.”

“Yeah. It has.” I’m not sure what else to say.

“Guess what?” Cole leans forward to look at his baby brother. “You’re on dish duty.”

Reid’s shoulders slump. “Damn. I forgot about that.”

“We’ll help,” I say, because honestly, Reid looks like he could fall face-first onto his dinner plate from exhaustion. “Won’t we, Cole?”

“What? No way.”

I smack his arm.

“Okay, fine.” Cole places a roll on my plate. “You’re lucky she’s sweet, bro. I’d have made you suffer.”

Reid scoops a huge pile of green bean casserole onto his plate. “I owe you one, Haley.”

“So, boys,” Bryan says. “Who’s got some good news for us?”

The brothers and their significant others take turns sharing great things going on in their lives, but I notice neither Reid nor Cole look like they plan to say a word. In fact, when it’s Cole’s turn, he just sits back and shrugs. “Same ole, same ole.”

Reid nods. “Same ole, same ole.”

What? No. “What about your big—”

Cole flicks me a warning look that has me shutting up immediately.

“Your big what?” Ellie presses.

“Nothing,” he says, playing it off like he has no clue what I’m talking about.

I can’t believe him. Why isn’t he telling his family about his big design getting accepted for the Marine Life project?