Page 73 of The History in Us

Thanksgiving did not turn out like I thought it would. Levi was in the hospital and I brought him a dinner wrapped in foil. We ate together, balancing on the tiny tray slipped over his bed.

“I guess you’re sorry you came with me,” I muttered between a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

“Actually, I’m not sorry.”

My fork lowered slowly as I looked up at him. He continued.

“You know I wouldn’t have come with you if I didn’t want to.” He shrugged. “I guess I decided it was time to stop fighting. My father’s gone, so is the house I grew up in. None of it matters.” He paused. “Well, it matters, but I can’t change the past. And you were right.”

“I was?” I cut him off and he laughed.

“I hadn’t thought about spending time with family on a holiday, but once you asked, I realized how pathetic it sounded that AJ and I wouldn’t be with anyone important. It seemed like a good idea to come with you. Here.” He shrugged again, acting noncommittal to anything he’d said, but I had a million questions. Was it my family, or just the thought of family? Did he wish to spend time with me, or just spend time with people? Was I important to him?

“You called Tricia and Leon,” I stated, as we hadn’t discussed the fact he contacted them once he agreed to return to Elk Rapids.

“I thought maybe I could see them. I never imagined they’d throw me a party. I didn’t dream I’d spend the night in their home, or that they’d be the ones watching AJ for me.” Tricia stepped in like the mother hen she could be and took over caring for AJ while I traveled from her house to the hospital to keep Levi company.

“You get to go home tomorrow,” I said too cheerfully. “You never got to see your brother Caleb.”

Levi looked off toward the end of the bed.

“I called him, too. He couldn’t make the time to see me.”

“Levi,” I whispered, not wanting to believe his words to be true.

“It’s fine,” he exhaled. “I mean it, it’s been so long, and Caleb and I are estranged.”

“But you could always call him again and explain…” My eyes drifted down to the hollow blanket next to his left leg.

“I don’t need his pity. There’s nothing he could do for me. My family is AJ now. That’s all I need.”

I steadied my fork as I lowered it completely to the tray, suddenly having lost my appetite.

“You aren’t hungry?” He had devoured Ethan Scott’s famous stuffing. Shaking my head, I pushed my plate toward Levi, allowing him to eat the rest of my dinner and chew up my soul.