Page 22 of When He Saved Me
She didn’t say anything more. Just stayed on the line, letting me breathe while I willed the ache in my chest to subside.
“I love you, Carmen. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
I heard a sniffle on the line. “I love you too, you big idiot. Now go in there before you turn me into a puddle of goo and fuck up my makeup.”
I chuckled at her sass, knowing it was her way of trying to lighten the mood. “All right, I’m going. Thanks, CiCi.”
“You got this, sweets. Text me later.”
CHAPTER12
JAMIE
I stoodin our formal dining room, surveying the place settings and taking a moment to collect my thoughts. I had been moving almost nonstop since Aunt Cathy arrived around ten a.m. She’d immediately gotten to work in the kitchen, employing me as her sous chef and dishwasher as she prepared the Thanksgiving meal for our family. Mom had insisted on helping and had peeled potatoes and carrots while sitting on a stool in the kitchen, chatting as we worked. Around noon, my Uncle Bill arrived with my cousins Cody and Ashley in tow. Uncle Bill and Cody had commandeered the TV, turning it to football, while Ashley had coaxed Mom into sitting with her on the couch under the guise of asking her advice on what to wear to the winter formal at her school. At fourteen, Ashley was mature for her age and had recognized that Mom needed to take a break. I was grateful for all of them.
At some point, Mom had fallen asleep, and Ashley pulled a blanket over her, sitting next to her and scrolling social media on her phone. Overcome by the sight of my mom looking so pale and vulnerable on the large, overstuffed couch, I’d needed to take a minute to pull myself together. I’d headed to the dining room under the pretense of setting the table, and with that task accomplished, I found myself staring at the table, lost in memories of past Thanksgivings.
I remembered that last year my dad was still with us, and our house had been nearly bursting with both sides of our family in attendance. Warmth and laughter had been plentiful. I thought of the years Asher had joined us, first as my friend and then as my boyfriend. Some years Aunt Cathy’s family had joined us, and others, they’d been with Uncle Bill’s side. But no matter how big or small the gathering, our house had always been filled with love.
What would next Thanksgiving look like? Would Mom still be with us? Or would I be the last remaining person in my family, an extra place setting added at Aunt Cathy’s table or tagging along at a friend’s gathering?
God, what a melancholy thought. It wasn’t like me to let this type of thought occupy space in my mind, but I supposed I was only human. I let out a shaky breath, my head turning sharply at the sound of the doorbell ringing through the house.
“I got it!” I hollered back toward the kitchen as I hurried to open the door.
“Finn! You’re here!” My grin stretched wide across my face, chasing away the sad thoughts from moments ago.
“Um, yeah. I hope it’s still okay?” He was adorably shy, standing on my front step dressed in dark jeans with his jacket open to a sweater the color of fresh blueberries.
“Yeah, of course! Come in!” I held the door open wide and gestured for him to enter. He stepped past me into the entryway and shrugged off his jacket. At The Daily Grind, he was usually dressed in well-worn jeans and a T-shirt, so I took a moment to admire the way his sweater molded to his shoulders and his slim-fit jeans hugged his ass. I didn’t think there was anything he wouldn’t look hot in, but I sure as shit enjoyed this look on him.
I hung his jacket in the closet behind the door and led him back toward the kitchen, where Aunt Cathy was pulling rolls from the oven. “Oh good, Jamie. Can you pull that basket down from the cabinet for the rolls? I can’t reach it.” I crossed to the cabinet she indicated, pulled the basket down, and handed it to her. “Thanks, honey. Oh, who’s this?” she asked, finally catching sight of Finn, looking awkward, standing just inside the doorway.
“This is my friend, Finn.” I gestured back to her. “This is my Aunt Cathy.”
“Hello,” Finn said with a little wave.
Looking past her into the living area, I could see all heads turned toward us, eyeing Finn with open curiosity. I hadn’t mentioned I’d invited him because I hadn’t actually thought he’d show up, so I was sure they were confused about this mysterious visitor.
I grabbed his hand, delighted he didn’t immediately pull it back, and led him into the living room to make introductions. Mom had woken from her catnap at the commotion and was eyeing me with a little smirk. “Hey, everyone, this is Finn. He’s a…friend.”
Mom looked pointedly at our hands still clasped together but didn’t comment. I made the introductions and was saved from further explanation by Aunt Cathy’s announcement that dinner was ready.
We made our way into the dining room, each of us taking a serving dish from the kitchen while Ashley added a place setting to the table next to mine. After saying grace, we dug in, passing dishes around the table, loading our plates with turkey, potatoes, gravy, green beans, and rolls. Conversation flowed around us, my family making efforts to include Finn without being overly pushy. I soaked it all in, savoring the feeling of being surrounded by those I cared about most.
After dinner, we all worked as a team to clear the dishes, insisting that Aunt Cathy relax on the couch with Mom after working so hard to make dinner. With six of us working in the kitchen, it didn’t take too long before we were finished. Cody and Ashley headed down to the basement to play pool while Uncle Bill dozed on the couch in front of a football game on TV.
I hung the dishtowel I was holding on the oven handle and turned to Finn, holding out my hand for him to take. He eyed it for a moment before returning my gaze, those piercing blue eyes unreadable as he ever so cautiously reached out and laid his palm against mine.
I wrapped his hand in mine and pulled him closer. I wanted to hug him, to pull him all the way into me and wrap him up in my arms, but I didn’t think he was ready for that. Instead, I turned, tugging him down the hall toward my bedroom.
Mom had always been one for recording every moment and milestone with photos, and many of these lined the hallway in mismatched frames. While many of my friends’ houses growing up had been decorated by professionals, ours had been filled with the things that had caught Mom’s eye. The result was a mix of style and decor, all reflecting my mother’s vibrant warmth. I loved that the frames didn’t match and there was a mix of artwork and photographs and posters adorning our walls. It was comfortable.
Finn took it all in, eyes wide as he studied the pictures as we passed. There were pictures of me in my soccer uniform in second grade with popsicle juice staining my face and jersey. A family photo in front of the Christmas tree when I was nine. That had been our last Christmas with Dad. There was one of me looking terrified while holding an infant Cody and another a couple of years later of me holding Ashley, looking a little more confident. There was Asher and me at prom and another with the swim team the year our relay won State. Milestones, big and small, were captured, moments that made up the fabric of my life.
I started pulling Finn into my room, but his feet were rooted to the spot, his eyes locked on the picture of Asher and me dressed up for prom. We had chosen matching tuxes but with different colored bow ties that complemented each other. It was cheesy as hell, but we hadn’t cared. We’d just wanted to have a little fun with it. In the picture, we stood side by side, hands clasped together, dopey grins plastered across our faces as we looked at each other.
“Who’s this?” Finn asked.
