Page 100 of Little Do You Know

“It’s Thanksgiving. Let’s not do this now,” Mom interrupts, and even though I want to get up to leave, I stay rooted in my seat, doing my best to ignore Vera next to me.

Happy fucking Thanksgiving.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Thalia

“I’M PROUD OF you,” Bash says, kissing the back of my hand he’s holding. “Thanks again for coming with me. I know it’s not easy, but I appreciate it.”

“Of course, Mimi deserves to try your pie,” I say, securing the container in my other hand. I needed a break from all the questions about Vera. Grandma and Mom wanted to hear everything, but I wasn’t sure what family-friendly version to tell.

Mimi is flipping through a photo album when we step into her room. Her face lights up at the sight of Sebastian. “Mark!”

Bash leans down to hug her. “Hi, Mimi, I made your pie recipe. We brought you a piece.”

“You brought a girl home?” She beams, standing to come up to me, taking my face in her hands to get a good look at me. “You’re beautiful.”

“Thanks, Mimi.” I smile warmly at her. “I’m Thalia, thanks for having me.” I’ve done some reading on Alzheimer’s, and it’s easier on Mimi to live in her reality than to try to pull her into mine.

“It’s lovely to meet you,” she says, patting my cheek. “You remind me of someone, but I can’t remember who?” Her eyes grow cloudy in confusion, and I offer her the pie.

“It’s okay. Do you want pumpkin pie? It’s delicious,” I say as Bash smiles appreciatively at me.

“I would love some pie! Did you know that’s Mark and Alexander’s favorite?”

~

I can’t sleep. I’m curled up in one of my dad’s armchairs in his study with a mug of hot chocolate.

I know I got the guy and I should be the bigger person here, but Vera was out of line. If it weren’t Thanksgiving with my family here, I would have punched her.

Grandma told me after everyone left that she was rooting for me to hit her and then Grandpa scolded her.

I was relieved when Bash asked me to go with him to visit Mimi, and it was a good break getting out of the house. There were too many questions being asked.

I can’t really make sense of my brain at the moment. It’s just a bunch of thoughts that are all jumbled and crowded together that don’t make sense.

I hear quiet footsteps, turning just in time as Mom pulls the cord on one of the lamps in the study, illuminating the room.

“Couldn’t sleep?” she asks, sliding into the chair opposite of me.

“Nope.”

“A lot happened today. Are you okay?”

I shrug, taking a small sip of my cocoa. “I guess. I don’t know.”

“Is Bash doing okay with everything?” She’s watching me closely. Mom definitely knows there’s something wrong.

“What do you mean?” I ask carefully. I disagree with him hiding the severity of Mimi’s condition, but all I can do is support him.

“How is Mirabelle?” I make a face because it’s weird hearing Mimi called something other than, well…Mimi. “I saw both of your faces when Anna brought her up earlier. She’s not doing well, is she?” Mom presumes sadly, and I hesitate.

“She has good and bad days. I don’t know. Sebastian seems to be okay, but he doesn’t say much about it. I know Bash is afraid.”

Mom sighs, shaking her head. “I don’t blame Sebastian for being afraid. It’s a very scary thing, especially after everything he’s been through with Alexander dying,” she acknowledges quietly. “I hope he knows that we’re here for him if he needs anything.”

“I think he knows. He’s just really stubborn about doing everything himself.” I lean my head against the side of the chair. “Bash was so nervous. He changed his clothes three times because he wanted to impress you guys, and you should have seen the mess he made making that pie. I think every single dish in that kitchen was dirty.”

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