Page 112 of Perfect Chemistry

“Kai just shared his secret technique for tenderizing turkey,” Katie’s dad quipped, and I thought Katie was going to piss herself.

“Shit, shit, shit!” Andie started hollering. “I’m going to piss myself!”

Jonas moved to help Andie to the bathroom, but sprung into action a little too quickly and slid across the kitchen floor, now greased over with turkey drippings. It looked like a skit from a comedy show. His legs were moving left to right and his arms flailed wildly before he slammed into the island, nearly taking the turkey down a third time.

We got to work cleaning the mess that was now the kitchen, not saying a word about the Turkey hitting the floor to our mothers. They probably figured it out though, because there were only so many ways to get turkey drippings on so many people and surfaces. Katie took Val and Andie upstairs to change and clean themselves up while Bradley and Jonas helped me salvage the punted bird.

By the time the girls returned, we had already started serving the kids. Everyone circled through the kitchen, filling a plate with whichever items they liked best. There were two trays of stuffing, one with cranberries and one without. Various vegetables, potatoes, and finally a gravy that my mother managed to salvage up from the little dressing not spilled on the floor. Once everyone was sitting around the tables, I could see Katie physically relax beside me.

It struck me that this wasn’t just our first Thanksgiving. This was her first for another reason. It didn’t really click until that moment. Katie said she had not had Thanksgiving dinner with her family since leaving high school. I reached over and rubbed her lower back as we ate and laughed with our families.

By three o’clock most of the food had been demolished. Cleaning up the dishes and little leftovers remaining, I was thankful Katie insisted on disposable plates and cutlery. The dishwasher was full, and I really wouldn’t want to stand washing all of the used plates and forks after eating. Just as I was about to take the trash out, Katie gave me a wink and mouthed ‘I told you so.’ I rolled my eyes going out the door, which only made her laugh.

Amy and Bradley were the first to leave, as they had plans to visit their families for a later dinner. Katie hugged them and thanked them for coming, and Amy promised to host New Year’s if we were interested. Katie just cackled looking over at me, “Kai said he loves ALL of the holidays. I can’t wait!” I felt my face heat up which only made Amy and Katie laugh harder.

My brother pulled me into a hug before he left, whispering, “I’m happy for you both, bro.” I’m guessing everyone whispered similar things to each of us, because Katie and I couldn’t help but look at each other whenever we heard well wishes. Those who knew us, knew what it took to get to this point in our lives. Their happiness for us meant a lot more than I realized it would.

Jonas came up behind me and asked if we could watch the kids for a bit while he and Andie ran out for a bun. I didn’t understand what the fuck he was talking about. I looked over to see Andie red faced and laughing with Katie. “What are you talking about?” I asked.

Andie and Katie both looked at me like I was a moron. “Her water just broke, Kai,” Katie whispered so the kids wouldn’t hear.

“OH SHIT!” I yelled in surprise, looking at Andie in shock.

“Be quiet!!” The three of them shushed me immediately.

“We’ve got the kids. Go. Let me know if you need anything,” Katie reassured Andie as Jonas helped her out the door.

“Where are they going?” Avery asked, as the door closed.

Katie knelt down in front of Avery and whispered in her ear. Avery’s eyes became as big as saucers and brimmed with tears. I thought she was going to throw a tantrum, but instead she smiled and hugged Katie. “He’s coming today?!?” She whispered loudly.

“We’re going to have a big sleepover tonight, and then tomorrow we’ll take you and Aiden to meet him. Deal?” Katie offered.

Avery nodded enthusiastically and took Katie’s hand to go find blankets and pillows. An hour later, everyone was gone except for Val and Lacy and the three kids. We made a huge blanket fort for the kids in the living room with sofa cushions and sheets draped over the chairs. Once the kids were down for the night, Val and Lacy took the guest room. Katie said she would run by Andie and Jonas’s place to grab Andie’s ‘baby bag’, and meet them at the hospital.

“I’m not sure what I was expecting today, but this was not it,” I said quietly as we pulled into the hospital parking lot.

Katie held my hand and laughed, “Babe, you gave a whole new meaning to The Turkey Bowl.”

“Shut up! We are never discussing this again!” I huffed, failing to be angry as she laughed uncontrollably in her seat.

“This was the best Thanksgiving ever! Thank you,” she whispered and leaned over to kiss my cheek as I parked in the labor and delivery lot.

Chapter 41

Katie’s POV

I found myself wandering around the drugstore carrying a basket full of junk I didn’t need. I didn’t need the body wash, but I threw it into the basket after the first lap. I didn’t need the new mascara either, but it was thrown in there too.. I didn’t need the fifteen other things I was carrying around. I just came here to buy tampons, and ended up staring at pregnancy tests. Not really.

My period should have started yesterday. The thought of being pregnant, however, was stuck in my head. What if this was just a false alarm? What if I was getting my hopes up for nothing? I could start bleeding right now, and then what?

I’d start crying like a crazy lady.

I shook my head and grabbed what I knew I came for. When I got home, Kai was still out with Bradley, Jonas, their two boys, and Xavier at some little league meet and greet. He had been messaging me all day with various updates on what they were doing. It was so much more information than I ever wanted to know about kid’s baseball. I mistakenly thought the term little league applied to all kids’ baseball teams below high school. That is not the case, as Bradley and Kai had explained before they left.

There was T-ball, Minor League, and Little League. In order to play the Minors, the kids had to play one season of T-ball. As the hourly updates continued from Kai, I gathered there were not enough T-ball coaches for kids to play the required one season, so Kai and Bradley had volunteered to coach a team together. An hour later, he apologized because they were going to be late getting back. Apparently, they were busy meeting their newly established team of tiny tikes.

The thought suddenly struck me: one day our kids would be signing up for T-ball. Our kids. I didn’t want to think about it, and went out to my workshop in the backyard. I kept a small clipboard by the door to write my start and stop times so that I could log how long it took to work a project. I had been working on recreating the intricate wood overlays for two mantels in the 4th Street house.

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