Page 28 of Crash

“Mama!” Addison screams, much to Alex’s delight.

“I’m always outnumbered at home,” JD says, reaching over and tickling Addison. “It’s the best.

“Sorry, Luke,” Troy says, smiling at the scene. “It’s been a messed-up day.” The baby he’s holding starts to cry. He hands her to me, then starts to make a bottle.

“Hey, guys,” Sandy, says as she walks back into the kitchen, Tracy, Alex, and Vivi behind her. “We’re about ready to eat. Everything okay?” she asks, looking at Troy.

“Everything’s great, Sandy,” Tracy says. “We’re only trying to find a urologist to take my brother to so he can get a vasectomy before he slithers out of town. Just your typical Thanksgiving for my family.” Her eyes fill with tears, which she angrily wipes away. “You all don’t know how lucky you are. Sandy, you have a mother and sister who adore you. Every time you get irritated because you or Jake have to work at the bakery, I think about what I’d do to even have a mother to annoy me. The Clarks were so perfect until I came along and messed everything up. And now my brother is fucking everything up.” Troy puts a hand on her shoulder which she angrily pushes away. “Your mother was right about me, Troy. What the hell do I know about family other than how to mess it all up?” She pushes Troy out of the way and runs out of the room while everybody stands, stunned.

“I’ll go talk to her,” Troy says as he hands Vivi the bottle of formula.

“Um, why don’t we all have drinks and appetizers until Troy and Tracy come back,” my father suggests.

He leads the way, and everyone follows. Vivi walks towards me, the bottle in her hand. She doesn’t say a word, but she takes the baby from me and follows the family to the buffet table.

I keep my eyes on her as I inhale the appetizers Mom made. For a shrew who doesn’t want a family, she’s good with the baby. Alex takes a seat right next to Vivi, and Addison reaches over to examine the baby.

“Baby!” Addison says right before she starts babbling. Alex bounces the Addison on her knees while Vivian feeds Rosie.

Once Rosie is sound asleep on her shoulder, our eyes catch, her clear brown eyes on my green ones. For once, there’s no animosity there, just uncertainty. She breaks the gaze before I have time to analyze it further. She looks over my shoulder, and I turn around to see Troy holding hands with Tracy. Her cheeks are red, and she refuses to look at anyone.

“Excuse me,” she says, her voice small and her head hanging. “I want to apologize for the scene I made earlier.” She sniffs and rubs her nose with a tissue.

“No need to apologize,” my father says, throwing an arm across her shoulders. “We’re a family. We will help you, and Tracy, what your brother does is not a reflection on you. He’s an adult who makes his own choices. Let’s have dinner.”

CHAPTER 12

VIVI

My stomach growls at the sight of the food spread out on the table, having missed most of the appetizers since I was feeding the baby. Despite the fancy table setting, the Clarks’ Thanksgiving is very informal. Everyone serves themselves at the buffet and takes a seat at the table

The scene with Tracy is forgotten as everyone laughs and talks at once. Luke and his mom help the kids, and I grab a plate. Just as I begin to examine the buffet spread out before me, the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it,” Mr. Clark says. “Maybe it’s John and he got away from Terry’s brother and his family.”

“As long as he left them at home,” Jake says. Sandy giggles at him, but he’s not smiling at her. “You giggle, but if one of her nephews even looks at you, they’re going to meet my fist.”

“He didn’t know I was engaged to you,” she says.

I tune out the conversation and focus on the feast in front of me. My stomach growls again, and I’m thankful for the loud chatter drowning out the sounds of my hunger. I hit the jackpot when I find my favorite part of the turkey; the wing. I put it on my plate along with a few pieces of turkey breast and sides.

By the time I fill my plate and walk back to my chair, Mr. Clark comes back with a long-legged blonde woman following behind him.

“There he is, my dear,” he says, gesturing for her to step inside the dining room. I know immediately who she is here for. She looks just like the girls he surrounded himself with at Jake and Sandy’s wedding.

I see Luke’s eyes bug out of his head when he notices he has a guest, but he quickly wipes his mouth and stands from his chair.

“Zoey,” he says, “I wasn’t expecting you.” When she runs over and hugs herself to him, he seems taken aback by the gesture, and his arms hang awkwardly at his side.

“I just thought I’d surprise you.” She pats the tip of his nose with her index finger before planting a chaste kiss, leaving her red lipstick, on his lips.

“Oh. Well, ah,” he stammers. His eyes find mine, and I don’t miss the color on his cheeks. “Everyone, this is Zoey.”

“I’m Luke’s girlfriend,” she announces before seating herself. I drop my wing back on my plate, completely losing my appetite.

“Oh, really?” Jake says, amused.

“Well, we’re not labeling anything,” Luke says while looking directly at me. I break the stare and look down at my plate. He sits down and Zoey grabs his arm.

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