Page 93 of Mother Parker
“I don’t know. He said he had plans,” Wyatt answered.
“Plans? What kind of plans? He’s not even from here,” Ash said, looking from Wyatt to Parker to me.
I shrugged in response.
Most of them knew Dare Patterson as a teammate, a retired Navy SEAL. I knew him as the newest blackberry farmer and the sexiest bear on this island.
“How the hell should I know? I’m not his father,” Wyatt snapped.
“Wyatt! Manners,” Autumn scolded as she sat beside him.
“I’m sorry,” he said and looked at Halmeoni.
He pursed his lips and reached out a hand.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Enough with the introductions. Can we eat already?” Ash asked, eyeing all the Thanksgiving food adorning the table.
There was freshly made cornbread, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, and sweet potatoes. Mountains and mountains of sweet potatoes.
“Halmeoni brought some food too. Should I bring some plates?” Autumn asked.
“No need,” Halmeoni said, already opening up the boxes and putting them around the table wherever there was space. “Don’t feel like you have to eat, but it your loss if you don’t.”
A roar of laughter passed through the table.
“The battered slices are kkaenip jeon, pan-fried leaves with beef stuffing, then there’s galbi-jjim—braised short ribs—and toran-guk, that’s taro soup—"
“It’s really good, guys,” Parker said beside me with a positive, uncustomary smile and looked at Halmeoni. “Hwan made it the other day, but I’m sure yours will be much better.”
I threw daggers at him, but he shrugged me off.
“Jerk!” I hissed.
He laughed and leaned into my ear. “Maybe later.”
It took all my resolve not to burst out laughing, so I tried to stuff my mouth with food instead. I helped myself to a couple kkaenip jeon, a ladle of the taro soup, and some sweet potatoes while Wyatt started carving the turkey.
Soon all the plates were full of a strange combination of American and Korean cuisine thatreallydidn’t go together. Not that anyone was complaining. Even Biscuit had a bowl of turkey and short ribs after Ash took pity on the diabetic dog with the strict diet.
“Save some space for pumpkin pie. I slaved for hours making it,” Autumn said.
“Ooh, boy. I hope all y’all’s acting skills are top-notch,” Camden said on the other side of Parker, and the whole table laughed at Autumn’s expense.
“Is that how you repay me after everything I’ve done for you, you little…doo-doo,” she retaliated, casting a quick glance at Halmeoni.
“What are you? Five?” Camden stuck his tongue at her.
“Stop it, you two,” Parker snapped at both of them before he turned and addressed my grandma.
I had to admit. I quite liked everyone treating her like royalty, and I was sure she enjoyed it too.
“I’m sorry about them. I thought I had a word, but…”
I raised an eyebrow, trying not to stare too hard at the man that had spent so much time on my bed that the memory foam had started taking his shape.
Where was the grouch that pissed people off every morning? What had he done to him, and how did I get him back?
