Page 157 of Steps

“How are you doing, Lisa?” Varen asks, sincere.

Mom lingers on him for a moment before sayingdryly, “Fine.”Yikes. She doesn’t even ask him the question in return.

Motioning to the kitchen, she says, “Everything’sready. We should eat.”

“Um, want help setting the table or to bring thefood out?” I offer.

“That’s all right, Alison and I got it.” Sheambles into the kitchen.

Alison flashes me an apologetic look and a kindtouch on my arm before following her.

Daniel lingers behind with us. “Let’s, uh, headinto the dining room.”

“Did she really say it was okay?” I ask, now surethis is his idea.

He sighs. “I begged her to put it aside for today,considering it’s our first Thanksgiving since joining families.”

“Dad…” Varen rubs his forehead. “Great. This isgoing to be a fantastic evening.”

“Maybe she’ll soften up by the end of the night.”He passes a hopeful glance between us. “I know she wants you in her life. Shemay not support you two dating, but she won’t turn her back on you, Toya.”

My shoulders sag. “But she did for two months. Shedidn’t even answer my calls.”

Varen touches my back to comfort me.

Daniel notices and blinks away, stilluncomfortable with our relationship.

He clears his throat. “Look, one step at a time.We could all use that.” He gestures to the dining room. “Come on. Let’s try toenjoy Thanksgiving.” He moseys ahead of us.

Varen rubs my arm. “Here we go.”

We enter and sit across from Alison. My mom bringsout the last casserole dish with mashed potatoes, then she and Daniel settle atopposite ends of the table.

They’ve opted for ham instead of turkey since wearen’t really a fan of it.

The beginning of dinner stays mostly quiet untilAlison cracks the ice. “Gabe and I are thinking about a trip to Rome beforestarting Grad school next year.”

Mom beams at her. “That sounds like a good idea,Ali. It’s nice to treat yourselves after studying and working so hard.”

“True.” Daniel picks up his wineglass. “As long asGabe’s footing the bill, I’m all for it,” he jokes before taking a sip.

We all chuckle.

“Dad,” Alison whines playfully.

Splaying his hand, he says on a laugh, “Hey, I’mjust saying, Rome isn’t cheap.”

Mom and I glimpse each other, and her smilewavers. She lowers her eyes back to her plate.

Daniel keeps the conversation going. “Maybe wecould do something together before then as a family?”

“Yeah,” Alison pipes up. “We should. Could we goback to Scotland? I miss Papa and Nan.”

He shrugs. “We could.” Then he looks at my mom.“What do you think, love?”

She drinks some of her red wine before answering.“I’ll have to think about it.” She eyes Varen and me.

“I don’t have to go,” Varen says. “If it makes youuncomfortable, I’ll stay so Toya can go with you.”

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