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“Not crazy, just different.” Emily parked the car and smacked a kiss to Arien’s cheek. “And you’ll come to love us for it.”
Supercharged after indulging herself with not one, but three venti quad-shot lattes while she was in Jackson, Arien bounded through the door. She could see everyone, including her stepbrothers, at the kitchen table, plates piled high with Thanksgiving leftovers.
“Arien, sweetie, are you going to eat?” Jennifer called out. “We’re doing hot turkey sandwiches with gravy and all the fixings.”
“Yeah, okay.” Shopping bags weighing heavy on her arm, she lugged them toward the stairs. “Give me five minutes.”
After spending the day with Emily, and determining she was pretty normal, as long as she overlooked the fact that at seventeen her cousin was engaged to not one man, but two, Arien decided to take an impartial point of view. She didn’t see herself as a judgmental person, and refused to associate with those who were. Maybe she didn’t understand their ways, and perhaps she never would, but nevertheless, they were her family and at least deserved respect.
Arien sailed into the kitchen, and taking her seat between her stepbrothers, began filling her plate. “Smells even better than it did yesterday.”
“Yeah, well after today I don’t want to see turkey again until next year.” Kellan shoveled a spoonful of mashed potatoes in his mouth. “Grilling us some T-bones for dinner tomorrow.”
“It’s a tad chilly for a barbecue, don’t you think?” Arien chuckled with a shake of her head.
“Maybe where you come from, girly, but you ain’t in Kansas anymore.” A jab. She knew it. Dismissing her, he engaged his father. “Speaking of steaks, when’s Lenny coming? It’s time to fill the freezer for winter.”
“I’ll give him a call in the morning.”
“Who’s Lenny?” she asked, but Kellan ignored her.
Tanner put his fork down. “The butcher.”
“…we call ’em Dinner.”
“You’re gonna hurt a cow?” Just the thought made her want to cry.
“Nah.” Kellan smirked, his nostrils flaring. “I’ll be quick about it. Won’t feel a thing.”
Arien pushed her plate away. “I’m not hungry anymore.”
“Chrissakes.” Throwing down his napkin, Kellan abruptly stood. “Where the fuck do you think steak comes from?”
She blanched.
He was angry, and Arien knew it wasn’t over a cow.
“Pretty sure she knows, Kel.”
At least Tanner didn’t hate her.
“I will not have you usin’ that language at the dinner table,” Matthew admonished his son. “Now apologize.”
“Sorry.” And he stalked off.
“Did you have a nice day with Emily, sweetie?” Her mom looked rather uncomfortable after the outburst.
“I did.” It was her turn now. “We talked a lot, and um…well, I just want to say I’m sorry for what I said last night.”
“C’mere.” Her stepfather stood. She stepped into his arms and he hugged her. “I’m sorry, Arien. Hope you know that.”
“I know.”
“I’ll always be lookin’ out for you.” Taking a step back, Matthew brushed the hair from her eyes. “You got Kellan’s feathers all ruffled, but that just goes to show you he cares.”
And somehow she’d made a mess of things with him. She had to fix it.
Arien peeked out her bedroom door. His light was off, but the embers in the fire cast a warm glow. He was still awake. Arien tiptoed across the hall. Kellan lay there, his arm behind his head, staring up at the ceiling.
