Page 59 of Hello Darling
She may be a tad more nervous than I thought.
Billy reaches across the table to grab a hot bun, and Stella smacks the back of his hand making him drop it. Yes, she definitely sees herself as the mother figure here. I make like I’m reaching for a hot bun to see what she’ll do, and with the reflexes of a vampire, she seizes my hand and pulls it under the table, squeezing it as she leans in to tell me that they have a little ritual before they eat. I don’t even try to surreptitiously reach for her thigh, that’s how much I love this hand-holding. That and the fact that her father is seated next to me.
“Instead of saying grace,” Joe addresses me and Lauren from the head of the table, “Cora liked us to go around the table and say what we’re thankful for before we eat, so if you don’t mind, we’ll do that before digging in.”
“Oh that’s great, that’s what we do too!” says Lauren.
“Keaton, why don’t you start.”
Keaton sighs. He doesn’t like to talk, but I’ve poked my head in when he’s teaching a class and he seems to love yelling at people to engage their core. “Okay. I’m thankful for all this food that we’ll supposedly get to eat eventually. I’m thankful for Dennis the new barber, because he’s upped my beard game this year.” His family hoots and applauds his beard. “And I really like my job, so that’s cool. Thanks guys.”
Billy barely even waits for Keaton to finish before launching into his soliloquy. “I’m thankful for by boy Chet, I’m so grateful to you Evan, for getting him a job.”
I nod and smile.
“I’m thankful for Mom, for bringing me into this awesome family, in this badass little town, and I’m super thankful that I finally got this deep V-cut here…” He lifts up his t-shirt to display his lower abs.
Martin whistles and Lauren applauds. “I think I need some pictures of you two for my girlfriends,” she says, pointing at Billy and Keaton.
I can tell that Stella is working hard to keep a smile on her face. She lets go of my hand and sits up straight in her chair. “I’m thankful for this wine, I’m thankful that Mom collected kitchen timers, because every dish turned out perfect today. I’m thankful for my family and this town and my cat’s health and my home and the gym and my new friend…” She looks over at me coyly. It feels better than the time Anthony Hopkins thanked me in his Olivier award acceptance speech.
I clear my throat—not because I’m choked-up by how much I like this girl sitting next to me, because I’m a pretentious actor and we do this to attract attention while pausing for effect…“I am very thankful that I’ve come to Port Gladstone and met this family and I’m thankful for my parents’ health and the good fortune I’ve had in my career, and my new friend…”
“I’m thankful for Cora and this beautiful family she gave me, and this house and this town and the gym, and my eyebrows, and Stella and Martin’s new friends, and I hope these other two dummies can make a nice new friend or two by next Thanksgiving.”
“Or twelve,” quips Billy.
Martin keeps his arm around his beaming girlfriend and says: “It’s great to be home, I’ve loved being in Bellingham but I can’t wait to get back here for good next year.”
Stella claps her hands together quietly, like a little girl. “Yay.”
“I’m thankful that Stella didn’t screw up this meal like she did last year…”
“Hey! That was your fault because you got me drunk while I was cooking!”
“And you don’t need any help today, obviously,” he smiles. “I’m thankful for all of you guys here at this table, but this year I’m especially thankful for this angel walking into my life and turning it upside-down and around and right-side up.”
“Wow. I got dizzy just listening to that sentence,” Lauren says. “I’m so thankful for this amazing meal you’ve made for us, Stella, and to Joe for inviting us to this wonderful house, and to Keaton for his beard and Billy for his abs, and Chet for being so cute and Evan Hunter for being so dreamy and for being here, which is insane, and most of all I’m thankful to Martin for being the best guy I’ve ever known and leading me to the opportunity to work with you all at the gym next year.”
Everyone looks at Stella for three awkward seconds, before Joe raises his glass and says “Cheers—let’s eat!”
Stella appears to be a bit gobsmacked as everyone passes around dishes and loads up their plates. Joe deftly changes the topic by asking me about the movie, and I oblige, but all I want to do is take Stella’s hand under the table again.
After polishing off another glass of wine and a turkey leg, Stella blurts out: “I’m sorry, can somebody please tell me what Lauren was talking about? Are you going to be working at the gym next year?”
Lauren gives Martin and Joe a look.
“Umm, well I guess it’s not official yet…”
Martin pipes up. “We’re planning to expand the business when I get back, you know that. But not just my sports psychology practice—Lauren is going to be our in-house health and wellness consultant, plus she can help you out with managing the expansion. We’re taking over the lease next door. I thought dad told you.”
Well, I guess this is the awkward family stuff that always comes up at holiday dinners.
Stella looks at her dad, her eyes pink-rimmed and watery, as they seem to be so often lately. Apparently it’s not allergies after all. “You’ve all been planning this? And you didn’t tell me? The manager?”
“Not planning, honey, it’s early stages—it came up in one big conversation we had once when we were all Skyping.”
She drops her fork. “You were all Skyping without me? When? I don’t understand why you wouldn’t mention it. It’s one thing for you guys to have an ongoing text conversation that doesn’t include me—I don’t need to hear about athlete’s foot and jock itch and how you make fun of me—”
