Page 120 of Verses

“Okay, if you’re gonna make me do this…” Looking down at his plate, he picked up a piece of Phil’s beloved creation. “Well, the deep-fried turkey really sealed in those juices. It had an almost buttery taste to it. It is one of the best pieces of turkey I’ve ever eaten.”

I stole a glance at Phil who stayed quiet and kept a neutral expression—but I could see in his eyes something that looked like justification.

Picking up a piece of my mother’s turkey, Wolf continued, “On the other hand, the roasted turkey also has a really good flavor, but the juiciness was different.”

I almost spat out,It was drier!I wanted my mother to drop this stupidity—but if I’d shouted anything, it would have simply prolonged the agony.

Wolf, trying to be a diplomat, finished, “They were both good—just different.”

“Yes, but you decided to talk about my turkey last, so mine must be better.”

Jesus. Wolf was getting the full enjoyment of my mother’s circus, complete with her mental gymnastics and games. He said, “I didn’t say that.”

Phil had evidently had enough. “So are you sayingminewas better?”

“I didn’t say that either. They both have good qualities and I can see why a person would like either one. I liked them both for different reasons.”

Derek’s voice cut through before my mother and Phil could begin bickering. “Then that means dad wins overall, because I chose his turkey.”

“Goddammit, Derek, why do you always side with your dad? I’m the one who suffered through ten long, painful hours of labor to bring—”

“Mom! You make better mashed potatoes than dad. Can’t you be—”

“They’re theonlymashed potatoes here.”

“Yeah. And everything you make is delicious: mashed potatoes, your stuffing, the gravy. Dad didn’t make gravy. You can keep making gravy.”

“You guys are impossible.”

As the argument ramped up, both Ashley and Phil joined in—and I would have liked nothing better than to disappear. As loudly as I could, I said, “Anybody want to take a walk?” But I didn’t think anyone heard me.

Except Wolf. “I would love to.”

Both of us stood and walked toward the front door—and I was almost shocked that no one paid us any attention.

Almost.

After we stepped outside, the door muffling their voices, I closed my eyes for a few seconds, shaking my head. “I’m really sorry you had to deal with that—and I wish I could tell you that what you just witnessed was unusual…but it wasn’t.” As we walked toward the sidewalk, I felt even more grateful that Wolf was here. “They’ll probably have five or six more fights like that before the end of the day.”

As we started stepping down the block, Wolf said, “Well, I can understand why you weren’t in a big hurry to visit.”

“Yeah. I’m glad you got to meet them ,and I’m glad I got to be here so that my mom can’t hold it against me and say I never visit…but let’s come up with an escape plan.”

Wolf gave me a sly grin as we continued walking down the street. “All right. I’m game.”

“Okay. So we go back, eat some dessert, help mom with the dishes—but we’ll leave before playing games, because those always lead to fights too. Do you know if the weather’ll be turning shitty today or even tomorrow?”

“No. The forecast is clear.”

“Damn.”

“I could make something up.”

Raising my eyebrows, I glanced over at him. “Like what?”

“Hmm.” We walked in silence for a few seconds as he ruminated. “At some point, I could say Marv texted me…saying maybe there’s a water leak at the bar and he needs my help to clean it up. Maybe he’s too cheap to pay the plumber today.”

“Would you be comfortable saying that?”

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