Page 24 of Crash

“What’s going on with you two? You’ve been sniping at each other all day.” Sandy looks from me to my brother.

Neither of us is willing to tell her the reason for our rift, so we both stay quiet

“So, Dee, what’s for dessert?” I ask, attempting to change the subject. Luckily, it works.

“A little bit of everything. After dinner I’m going to set up the dessert table. I’ve been baking for days.” We clink our glasses together, hers filled with water and mine filled with enough rum to tame my annoyance. “And don’t forget, you’re invited to my mother’s for dessert too. Well, she says it’s for dessert, but she’ll try to feed you a full meal.”

Yeah, that’s not going to happen. I take a large sip and loudly crunch on the ice in my drink.

“I’m meeting a friend later for a movie. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it.” I finish my drink and turn my back on her, busying myself with stirring my chicken.

“Okay,” Sandy says, sounding disappointed. “You can always bring your friend.”

“Yeah, maybe,” I say. The only friend I’ll be spending the night with is Netflix.

“I’ll take one of those drinks, Luke,” Jake says to me. I ignore him and focus on the food I have on the stove. Instead of taking the hint and going to watch football with Dad, he walks over and fixes his own drink with my special rum, given to me by his mother-in-law. I bite my tongue to refrain from pointing out his hypocrisy.

“You know, you’re acting like a child,” he says, standing shoulder to shoulder with me. “And you’re being selfish. Our parents raised you to have empathy.”

“If you think that’s what I’m mad about, you’re delusional. You went behind my back. You’d shit a brick if I did that to you, and you know it.”

Our father walks into the kitchen before Jake has a chance to respond to my accusation.

“Why am I out there watching football by myself?” He pours himself a drink with my rum. “Anyone heard from Troy? They’re late. And so are JD and Alex.” Dad walks over and puts his arm across Sandy’s shoulder. “Where are those girly drinks you usually make? I wouldn’t mind one.” He picks up Sandy’s clear drink and smells it. “What the hell is this? Water?” Dad sets it down with more force than necessary. “Listen, Clarks, we are not about to have some lame-ass Thanksgiving. We’ve come too far as a family. Sandy, make the drinks. Jake and Luke, get your asses out here and watch football with me. That’s an order.”

“Yes, sir!” Sandy says, jumping off her stool. “I’ve been going back and forth with Tash. She’s trying to convince me to go shopping with her tonight, but you’re right, father-in-law. I haven’t been doing my part.”

That comment from Sandy gets Jake away from me. His brows furrow as he walks over to her. He reaches over her head and grabs the bottle of tequila she was reaching for.

“Tonight?” He plants a kiss on the side of her neck. “Are you sure that’s a good idea, baby? You know Tash is going to be drinking. Can’t you two shop online?”

I roll my eyes so hard, I end up snorting into my rum and coke. He gives me an angry look, and I fight the urge to give him the finger.

“It’s not the same as going to the store together. It’s about the experience. Don’t you know anything, Jacob? I think it’s a great idea, Sandy,” I say, only to piss off my brother. If I had a woman, I wouldn’t’ want her going shopping tonight with all the lunatics looking for a good deal.

“See? Luke gets it,” Sandy says while she smiles at me.

I give my brother my best smug smile while he shoots daggers at me with his eyes. He starts to approach me, probably to punch me in the arm, but I’m saved when Troy and his family walk through the door.

“About time, Son,” the creator says.

Tristan runs right to Jake, not caring that he was talking privately with Sandy. Emma is crying and runs right to my mother. I grab Travis from Tracy and notice that Troy is carrying an infant car seat with an actual infant in it.

“What the hell? Sandy, add extra tequila and make one for Troy,” Dad says, rubbing his hands on his face.

“Grandma Lil,” Emma says, tears streaming down her face, “can I stay here until he leaves? He says he can take me back, but I don’t want to go.” She wraps her arms around my mother’s waist and buries her face in my mom’s stomach. Mom looks up at Troy and Tracy, concern written all over her face.

Tracy takes a seat and puts both hands over her face.

“Who says, sweetheart?” Mom asks since she’s not getting answers from the adults.

“My real dad.”

“What did we say about that? Troy is your real dad. Emma, you know you can stay here for as long as you want. No one is going to take you away,” Mom says gently, stroking Emma’s red locks.

“My biological dad.” She sniffs.

“Will someone tell us what the hell is going on?” Jake finally says. The baby in the car seat starts to cry and Troy takes out a tiny little human wearing a pink coat.

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