Page 53 of Question Everything

She followed his solid form into the bright light of the busy kitchen. She directed him to an empty space on the counter and he put down the desserts.

“Mia,” Sibby said, “can you help us with the potatoes? They should be ready for mashing.”

“Yes. I’ll just check that Millie doesn’t need help with Daisy…”

“I can do that,” Kyle interjected. “Don’t worry about the baby. I can take over inside.”

Maeve locked eyes with him and knew that he was on to her. She understood that he was smart enough to know that if left alone with her daughter, there was a good chance she’d try to make a run for it, despite what she’d just said about waiting for the DNA results. But the truth wasn’t all she saw in his steely gaze. There was possessiveness, desire, and love there as well. It made her knees weak and her heart race faster.

Maybe I should let him help me get away and find Finn. Besides, I love Kyle, that’s real and true. I don’t want to leave him.

She blinked first, nodded her agreement, and took the ricer out of the drawer which she knew housed the larger utensils. This kitchen was familiar now, this family one she wished she could call her own. After all they had done for her, the least she could do was whip up a large batch of mashed potatoes. That was one side dish she did not need her memory to know how to prepare.

By three o’clock that afternoon,the dining room table was set with the Walsh’s best china, crystal wine glasses, and silverware. Candles were lit and placed down the center of the table, alternating with pretty seashells from the beach outside the windows, giving the room a warm glow. Sibby had brought alongsome of the boys’ Thanksgiving crafts from school and they were used as cheerful decorations, scattered on the sideboard and hung from the curtain rods -- colorful turkeys, an overflowing cornucopia, and a variety of somber looking Pilgrims helped mark the day.

The true centerpiece was the enormous cooked turkey, deeply browned and resting on a heavy ceramic platter, brought out to be carved by Kyle’s dad right after they all offered at least one thing that they were thankful for this year. When it was Kyle’s turn, he simply said, “I’m grateful for the accident that brought Mia to me.” She took note that he still called her by the name that would be familiar to his family and could feel her eyes well up with tears, which threatened to spill out onto the tablecloth. She mouthed, “thank you,” and when it was her time to speak, she stammered out, “all of you,” before succumbing to the emotion that she felt deep inside.

Kyle, who was sitting next to her, grabbed her hand underneath the table and squeezed it hard, as if to let her know that he was not going to ever let her go. Maeve wished that she could accept what he was offering. She wanted to stay here with him, with his family, forever and always. If only she could.

By the time they’d completed the turn around the table, the boys were clamoring for the toasted marshmallows that sat on top of the sweet potato casserole.

“Turkey and green beans first, then you can have two marshmallows each.”

Squirming in their seats, the boys waited patiently to be served, then made fast work of their dinner so that they could have the coveted treat.

“Slow down! It took me three days to cook this meal. I’ll be damned if you’re going to choke on it,” Sibby said. She turned to her husband. “Geoff, please, a little help here.”

Maeve smiled as she watched Geoff work some magic and devise a quick game to distract his sons. For as unfamiliar as she was with today’s holiday and its traditions, she felt a warm rush of recognition that Finn was somewhere nearby, and that she would soon see him again.

She just never could have guessed that it would be so much sooner than she could have expected.

CHAPTER 30

Sitting on the living room couch in the glow of the blazing fireplace, Maeve began to make a list in her mind of everything she could pack into her smallest duffle bag. She’d need warm clothing for both her and Daisy, but that was bulky. Maybe she could take the bare minimum and buy more once she reached her destination.But how would that work,she argued with herself.Daisy went through multiple outfits a day. Something was always getting wet or stained. No, she’d have to pack Daisy’s things and leave her own behind. That could work…

“A penny for your thoughts,” Kyle whispered in her ear.

She had allowed herself one last moment of comfort in the strength of his arms. They were cuddled close together in one corner of the couch; the house was finally growing quiet after a long day full of way too much food. She knew that when they went to bed in a short while, she would wait just until she knew he was deeply asleep before sneaking out to grab Daisy and make their way to this mysterious Port Hope where she was to meet Finn. She only hoped that her brother had gone on ahead of her. If it had truly been him on the driveway the other night,there was always a chance that he was somewhere much closer than the safe house location.

“I’m not really thinking of much,” she lied. “I was just considering going into the kitchen to get another piece of pumpkin pie. I’ve never had it before but now I only want to figure out how to make it. It’s delicious.”

“It is good. I’m pretty sure my mother would be delighted to share all the steps. She loves it when someone asks for an old family recipe. That one comes from several generations ago. I remember my grandmother making it. But I guess you can trace your family tree back further than me, huh?”

“No, not really. My family was originally from a small village in Ireland. I only visited there once, when I was a little girl. Finn’s been back a few times but once my parents moved us to London, they didn’t look back. I don’t think they have fond memories of ‘the troubles’ and all that went with it.”

“I hate to admit that I’m not so familiar with modern Irish history. I just know that it was a terrible time to be living there.”

“That it was. But I was raised almost entirely in London. I was only five years old when we arrived there.”

“Right. It’s interesting. This country is only about two hundred and fifty years old, so I think of anything European as ancient in comparison.”

“Don’t get me wrong. There’s great beauty in the old architecture and the winding cobblestoned streets near where I had my shop. But there’s no greater destination than the USA. I mean, this is where everyone I knew aspired to live someday.”

Maeve settled back against him once more and thought about how he might feel in the morning when she was gone. She could imagine him waking up to her side of the bed empty, him going into the room where Daisy had been staying and realizing that she had cleaned out most of her daughter’s things. It made her sad and more than ever she wished that she had another option.

“Are you ready for bed?” he asked her, the implication clear between them.

“Yes,” she whispered, shifting her body around to look in his eyes. “With you, always.”

---