Page 72 of Close to Heaven

“Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Happy Thanksgiving,” Carolyn trilled. Then she smiled at Carl and sailed out the door.

Avery stared at her dad, a thousand questions flooding her brain.

“You’re early,” he said.

“I thought I was late.”

“Hmm.”

“Carolyn seems nice,” she ventured as she took off her shoes and coat.

“She is.”

“How long have you known her?”

“She moved in two or three years ago. I don’t remember exactly when.”

She didn’t want to overtax her dad’s brain, but she couldn’t resist a few more questions.

“Do you…like her?”

“Of course I like her. The woman brought me a pie!”

Avery laughed.

“How often do you see her?”

He shrugged. “Every once in a while, she stops by with food. I’m not sure why.”

Avery smiled. Her dad was a handsome man, but he’d always been oblivious to it. He claimed he didn’t understand what her mom had seen in him, but Avery understood perfectly well. She was glad that Carolyn seemed to care about him, whatever their relationship was.

“Okay. Well, I guess I’ll get started cooking.”

Carl followed her into the kitchen and sat down at the table, which was covered with pieces from a new puzzle.

“What are you making?” Carl asked as he picked up a puzzle piece.

She winced. “Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Oh, right,” he said distractedly.

She turned away so he couldn’t see the tears that pricked her eyes. She should have been used to this by now, but it was still heartbreaking every time. She made a mental note to stop by Carolyn’s house sometime soon and talk to her about Carl. She wasn’t sure if Carolyn was aware of his condition, but it would be nice to have someone else checking in on him too.

Thankfully, the rest of their visit went smoothly. Carl seemed content to work on his puzzle while she prepared the meal. When they sat down to eat, they chatted mostly about the weather and inconsequential topics. She got the impression that this was all her dad needed today, so she refrained from asking him about his health.

After dinner, she brought out Carolyn’s pie and dished them each a slice with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

“How come you took such a small piece?” asked Carl.

“The Sawyers invited me over for dessert later, so I’m saving room,” she explained.

“The Sawyers, huh?”

Had he forgotten who they were?

“Or one Sawyer in particular?”

Carl smirked at her, and she laughed, relieved that he hadn’t forgotten after all.

“Dad!”

“What? I want my daughter to find a good man. No law against that.”

She’d told him she’d broken up with Trevor, and he hadn’t seemed surprised. She didn’t mind him advocating for the Sawyer brothers (Jax, in particular) if it meant he remembered.

“All done?” she asked, pointing to his plate.

“Actually, I think I’ll take another slice. That Carolyn sure knows how to bake!”

A while later, Carl claimed he needed a nap and suggested she leave. This time, she didn’t argue, because he seemed especially tired after all the food.

If she were being honest, there was another reason too. A certain hunky man she knew had promised her dessert, and even though she was full, she wouldn’t turn him down.

She hugged Carl goodbye, reminded him about the leftovers, and left. The closer she got to Sawyer’s Ridge, the more anxious she became. She was anxious to see Jax and his siblings, but in very different ways. When she pulled into the resort, she inhaled deeply, attempting to calm herself.

I wonder if this is how actors feel on their way to an audition? She’d never acted a day in her life, but now she’d have to. Somehow she had to face Dakota and Cody and pretend like nothing had changed, when, in fact, everything had.