Page 89 of Four Weekends and a Funeral

Despite Dev’s variable cooking time, the turkey is perfection, and I see the wisdom in Crock-Pot Thanksgiving when every bite hits my tongue at the optimal temperature.

“This food is absolutely delicious. I can’t thank you enough for letting me crash your Thanksgiving.”

“It’s not crashing if you’re invited.” Adam nudges me with his shoulder.

I try my best to stop the goofy smile curving up my lips. “All the same, I’m grateful to be here. It’s been a while since I had a family Thanksgiving like this.”

A warm, maternal smile spreads across June’s face. “You’re always welcome, Alison.” She sucks in air through her nostrils like she’s harnessing the extra oxygen to suppress whatever emotion is bubbling up under her lungs. “It looks like we’ve moved into the gratitude portion of the evening.”

Otis sits up straighter, apparently too young to be embarrassed by expressions of familial love. “I wanna go first.”

“Try again,” Dev corrects him rotely.

“Can I go first, please?” Otis asks, and we all nod back at him. “I’m thankful for my fort. For Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Dada”—he counts off each name on his fingers—“Grandma Nance and Grandpa Tom, Uncle Adam, Al…” He looks at me, now apparently just listing people he sees.

“Alison,” Adam finishes for him.

“And Pikachu balloon…” His voice trails off like he might continue counting gratitudes indefinitely, but when he starts in on his green beans again, we collectively realize he’s satisfied with his list.

“Okay then,” June picks up. “I’m grateful to have my happy healthy family here today. I know it wasn’t under the best circumstances and this hasn’t been the easiest few weeks, but I’ve loved seeing a little more of my brother lately.” She wipes her eye with her pink sleeve. “And that you won’t look like Bigfoot in the pictures I send Mom from today. Which means I’m most grateful for Alison, since that was clearly for your benefit.”

“Oh, yeah. You look good, man.” Dev combs his fingers through his own beard. “Refreshed. And did you get a haircut?”

“He’s trying to impress Alison,” June says by way of explanation. “So now we’re all treated to his cute widdle face.”

“It’s just a beard trim, guys.” Adam’s cheeks are crimson.

“Well, I’m thankful for the family and our health and…” Dev trails off, mentally rifling. “You took all the good ones, hon.”

June gives him a satisfied nod.

“I guess I’ll go next,” Adam starts. “I’m grateful that we could all be together today. Family, health…” He waves his hand like yada yada. “I’m grateful for friendship, even when it…” His eyes cloud with emotion, and he tries to clear it away with a cough. “But I’m grateful I got to spend this time with you, Alison. When I first saw you last month, a part of me knew we’d be here right now.”

I make a sound I’ve never heard come out of my mouth before. I think I guffaw.

“What?” he asks, tripping over the laugh in his throat.

“That is some serious revisionist history.”

He shakes his head and reveals a new smile to me, his nervous but excited smile. “No, it’s not. I knew. I knew from the moment I saw you.”

“How did you know?” My voice is incredulous but my face is all dumb, happy grin.

“Because I was asleep—in this walking, talking, waking coma. And now I’m awake. You woke me up.”

Something warm and wonderful curls beneath my ribs, and I want to kiss him, hold him, and cry into his neck all at once. But we’re still sitting at the Thanksgiving table with his family, so I settle for rubbing his shoulder blade as the happy tears build behind my eyes.

Once we’ve finished eating and cleared the table, Dev gets swallowed up by the floral-printed pillows on the couch, watching whatever football content is still playing. Adam reads a story to Otis while June has me blind taste-testing wines from the Wine of the Month Club Arabella’s mom gifted her. I learn I have no idea what expensive tastes like, but I’m slightly buzzed by the end of it, which is a perk of the game.

After Otis is tucked in bed, June sends us home with more food than will fit in my fridge and pretends not to hear Adam when he objects to the second container of turkey. They wave us off, and Adam guides me by the hand down the front steps.

The glow from the multicolored twinkle lights dances across his features, and I’m overwhelmed with a sense of rightness. This is what it will be like, I think, this is what being in love with him will be like.

23

Denise Richards Was a Scientist

In the two weeks after Thanksgiving, Adam only manages one overnight visit. I offered to drive up to Duluth, but between his catching up on hours before the winter slowdown and my covering Patty’s duties until Daniella hires a replacement (or maybe my replacement since I still haven’t given her an answer on the position), nothing seems to line up until the annual Lewis family Cookie Party.

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