Page 13 of Shifted

"I’m not, and I’m avoiding Thanksgiving with the Jones. It'll just be me and Joely." He looked at me, confused. It was uncommon for me to skip out on such a holiday. But this year would be different and possibly more insufferable with the presence of Bella’s older brother.

"I love Bella and her family, and they are my family. But I just know I'll be overwhelmed.”

"You're welcome to come to my family's Thanksgiving. My mother loves children. "He smiled, looking at the frame of Joely on my desk, "I can lie and say you're my girlfriend; it would be a Thanksgiving miracle!” I laughed slightly, and he stood satisfied to have cheered me up slightly.

"I'm going to make a small turkey and sides for us. I won't rob Joely of the food, just of the people." He raised a brow. We both knew she’d be disinterested in all the food that is served on Thanksgiving. She’d prefer dino nuggets and mashed potatoes. But it didn’t matter. I'd give away the rest to someone who needs it and save leftovers.

"You know damn well she'd eat a pb&j and be happy. You're just doing this to prove some point. What is it? Is it to prove that you can do things on your own? I think that speaks for itself, Hope," I rolled my eyes in return. Of course, that wasn’t my point. I’ve known since the day I was born that I could do things on my own.

"The offer stands. I leave tonight. You two should spend the day with people, not in that dimly lit cave you live in." Thanksgiving would be a low-key and quiet day for Joely and me.

"Very kind of you. Thanks for letting me use you for a lie.” He saluted in agreement, but I knew he was slightly sad about my decline of invitation. But I’d rather not spend hours hearing passive-aggressive comments from his known conservative mother about my daughter being fatherless.

I have spent every Thanksgiving with the Jones family since I was seventeen years old. They always make the holiday fun and interesting. I hated blowing them off, but I needed Thanksgiving with just me and my girl—no stress or pressure from family.

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Rushing through the cold air that swarmed Boston, I felt like I was trying to win a gold medal. My apartment was just around the corner, so the walk with groceries wouldn't be too painful. But today wasn’t any ordinary day in the city. It was almost like hell.

Entering the store, I quickly grabbed one of the remaining carts. It was a wild idea to find a turkey the day before Thanksgiving, especially in a city. My best luck was ordering a Thanksgiving dinner from Boston Market and being depressed. But after narrowing down my list, I knew it was time to face the truth. It wasn't like I was trying to spring for some massive bird, just the tiniest one they had. I didn't even like turkey, but it was Thanksgiving.

I walked over to see the spread left, and there it was, the final turkey.

“Oh, thank god, there would've been loads of tears if I didn't have you." I reach for the bird, and then I hear a slight chuckle from behind.

"You haven't changed a bit, have you?" The voice pierced my ears as I turned to look at him, "You look like you're staring at a ghost, Hope?" Theo smirked at me, but on the inside, his joke felt almost like a reality.

"Maybe I am?" He scoffed at my words, causing me to smirk at the man.

"What's with the small, sad turkey?" Rolling my eyes at his insult to my turkey, I clutched it in my hands. My tiny turkey was better than nothing. But then he paused as he realized, “Hope you're seriously not coming tomorrow? I thought Bella was just bull-shitting me because you've never missed. So these are your other plans?" Pointing to the turkey, he spoke in frustration on behalf of my evident ditched plans.

"Look, I do have other plans, and I'm sorry-"

"Is this because I'm here? You can't gossip in front of me. Jeez, I’ll stay out of your way. Come on, Hope, it's ridiculous you're not eating a whole turkey by yourself?" He reached for the bird as I moved it in a different direction before he could steal it.

"Hey! This is my turkey!" Shouting slightly too loud, I scan the room around me to see others looking over.

"I can't let you celebrate this holiday alone like you used to." Shaking my head in disagreement, I quickly moved once more.

"I was never alone; I would go to the soup kitchens and see Sylvie, who'd serve me!" I argued, holding the cold plastic-wrapped turkey against my chest like a freak protecting it with my life.

"Look, don't not come because I'm there. Bella sounded sad. She claimed you were going to Vermont; clearly, you aren't." He looked slightly disappointed for me flaking on his sister. I didn’t want to hurt Bella, and hell, I didn’t want to slave over a turkey tomorrow, but it felt right.

"Theo, I'm not coming. I'm doing other things. At the end of the discussion, you can't make me come." With those words, a devilish grin spread across his face as he took a step closer and stood over me.

"Oh, you know I can." My stomach dropped at his words as he winked at me, and I wanted to chuck this turkey right at his face, "Come on, Hope, I made your favorite lemon meringue pie.” His finger played with a strand of my hair as he stared at the turkey.

"That's not really a Thanksgiving dinner food, Theo, and why? To get in my good graces? Apologize for disappearing from your family for years. You ghosted your sister; I mean, you suck," Maybe I was a little bit too honest, but I shouldn't care; he shoved family aside like they meant nothing to him. I placed the turkey in my cart, peering back up at him, "Goodbye, Theo." I pushed the cart away from him, and as I turned, his hand gripped the side and stopped it.

"Hope, I get it. I do suck, and I know that. Why do you think I'm here? My baby sister got engaged and is marrying one of my best friends. I missed so much of their time together, and I owed it to them to come." I couldn’t believe his words. After being a shit brother, now he wanted to make up for it? Suddenly, he could just waltz back in like he didn’t just ditch her.

"Don't tell Bella you saw me; I mean it." I move the cart and make my way towards the other aisles, ignoring his presence and filling the cart until I finally check out.

Exiting the store with my paper bags in hand, I moved quickly down the sidewalks. The streets were filled with people stressed from exiting the office, on a run, or like me rushing to get ready for the holiday. However, it would simply consist of Joely, me, and Charlie Brown.

The one good thing about my childhood that I can recall is Charlie Brown. My mother, Julie, would play it on the TV as she and my father, Hyram, would bicker over whether the chicken was at the right temperature or not. But it was always burned and never turkey. Thanksgiving was the only holiday where I didn't feel alone because I had the peanuts characters.

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