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“Good to see you again, sir. Can I take your jacket?”
Maddie
My sister and I were friendly toward one another, but with the age difference, along with the fact that she didn’t live anywhere near home—we weren’t the closest when I was a teenager. But I held some resentment towards her, because she did what I was afraid to do.
I never hated my parents. Like my sister said, we just had a different view on what our futures should look like. But I’m thankful for my sister and Dean, for taking me under their wing. Even after I shared their secret with our parents.
As soon as I let their little white lie come out of my mouth, I felt regret in an instant, but there was no turning back as far as my parents were concerned.
We left Seattle and went back home, where the tone was set immediately in the footprints of their plan for my future to go into seminary. They weren’t happy when I told them that I was going back to Seattle to spend the holiday with Kaley and Dean, but I told them as I was leaving for the airport.
I know, sneaky of me.
I worked my ass off and my parents saw that, but they weren’t aware that I had myself a plan. The day that the news came about my acceptance into the seminary school that my parents applied on my behalf for came in, I showed them the acceptance letter to three of the colleges that I applied for without their knowledge.
They were void of emotion. They said that I was following in the sinful path of my sister and that, like her, they would cut me off.
I didn’t need them though, and that was what was a shock to them.
I had the support of my sister and her boyfriend. I had the support of the same guidance counselor who helped Kaley. And I had the support of the few friends that I had confided in and their families.
The cycle was happening to my parents all over again, and I think that’s the straw that broke the camel's back.
I booked a one-way ticket to Seattle, packed up what little that I had and didn’t look back.
But my parents did.
* * *
I’m setting up the two additional table settings when Dean comes to my side.
“Are you okay?” he asks sincerely.
“Yeah, I think this might be a new chapter, a new beginning.” I look to him.
I admit that when I first met Dean, I crushed on him. But the crush turned into admiration for his dedication to playing football and to my sister. He’s now a confidant and part of my chosen family.
“Let me know if anything gets too much. Let’s code word if you need me to interject, yeah?”
I grin. “My code word is giblets.”
“That’s not funny.” He stands up straight and puts his hands on his hips. “I mean, it kinda is.” I hide my laughter.
“What’s so funny?” My mom comes up to the table, apprehensively asking.
“Oh, you’re going to need to sit down for this one.” I turn to her, fighting back the laughter that is begging to burst from my lips.
“Oh c’mon, we really don’t need to tell everyone about my screw up.” Dean begs.
“Oh, are we telling the story about the giblets?” Dean’s mom comes into the dining room and takes a seat beside my mom.
She places her hand on my mom’s forearm and smiles. “You’re going to love this.”
“Oh, are we telling stories?” Kaley bounces in the room with Denise.
Soon, everyone has left the living room and sits around the table.
Dean hides his face in his hands and attempts to leave the room, but Kaley grabs his arm and places her head on his shoulder.
As I start to tell the story, Dean interjects adding in his bits and once we are finished our back-and-forth versions of the story, everyone is laughing.
With the uncontrollable laughter and the warmth that is in this house right now, I feel that all is right. With gratitude, we are here, on Thanksgiving as a happy family.
And I couldn’t be more thankful for Kaley and Dean.
The lie that became the truth, brought our two families together.
