Page 37 of Worth the Risk

Happy Thanksgiving, Emi.

I smile at my phone, it’s nice to know that someone was thinking of me on this day. Well someone who wasn’t Rosie at least who had already texted me this morning offering to come save me even in spite of the three hour drive both ways she’d have to endure. I spent last Thanksgiving with the Rivera’s who welcomed both Garrett and I with open arms.

Me

Happy Thanksgiving, Liam.

I decide to attach a picture of all my ingredients displayed on the counter.

Me

Time to get to work.

Liam

You cook?

Me

Don’t sound so surprised!

Me

I can cook, I mean I’m no chef but I’ve been cooking for myself for years now.

My grandma taught me to cook, she wasn’t a chef either but she knew how to make a good variety of food. It came in handy after her and my grandfather passed away and I was left with a mother who wasn’t anywhere to be found some nights.

Liam

Lol, not surprised, I just didn’t know this about you.

Liam

Gotta go. Mom hates when we’re on our phones during the holiday. Have a good day!

The last text causes an aching at my chest, I rub my hand over my heart like that might make it go away. I wonder for a moment what it would be like to have a mom so excited to spend time with her children she didn’t want the distraction of phones for one day. I let myself daydream for sixty seconds then shake away the thoughts and get to cooking. Wallowing in pity doesn’t change my situation so I just have to work with what I have. One day I’ll have my own family and create my own traditions, hopefully anyways. It does unfortunately seem like I attract a lot of bad men in my life from John to James.

It’s almost noon before my mom wakes up. Groaning as she enters the living room that she keeps the blinds closed for a reason before she shuffles over and closes them blocking out the natural sunlight and leaving us in the dim lighting of her dying bulbs.

“Arthur is coming over soon.” My mom looks over to me in the kitchen from her spot on the couch. I stare at her, unable to believe what I’m hearing.

“Mom.” My voice is stern, crossing my arms over my chest. Her old boyfriend is terrible. They met in rehab, which you wouldn’t think is the worst thing but that’s a time you’re supposed to focus on yourself. To get yourself better. Instead, she poured herself into this man, when they both got out they were drinking three days later.

“He’s different, Emilia. He’s changed and we’re back together so I want him here.” There is no way in hell this man has changed but it’s a losing argument so I keep my mouth shut, returning my attention to the apple pie. I place an egg wash over the pie before popping it in the oven.

An hour later Arthur arrives, surprisingly he seems sober, maybe he has changed but we’ll see I’m not going to get my hopes up. Besides, I’ll never forget the past. I swallow down my anger as I finish pulling all the sides out of the oven and off the stove. I arrange everything on the counter for everyone to serve their plates. Mom lets Arthur go first, then serves herself, the two of them also grabbing a few beers from the fridge, plopping themselves back on the couch, placing their dinners on tv trays. So much for change. I serve my own plate, sitting on the small recliner to the side.

Dinner goes by surprisingly smooth. Arthur and my mom complimenting my cooking, though it was nothing fancy I accepted the thanks, as praise wasn’t something often given in this household. My mom even says she’s going to clean up, which shocks me, but I accept and head to my bedroom to lie down. I’ve been up for hours cooking and after cleaning the whole apartment last night my body is ready for rest. It’s only four in the afternoon but I decide a short nap won’t hurt, closing my eyes I drift off to sleep.

Chapter 24

Liam

I love spending the holidays with my family. Mom has always made them special from going all out with decorating to making everyone's favorite pie even if that means she needs to make four different ones. Also by enforcing her no phone policy so we can spend time face to face as a family. I’ve never minded that rule before, locking my phone away in my room and forgetting about it for the day was always nice, but this year is different. I wanted my phone on me just in case Emilia needs me or wants to talk. She surprised me when she said she was headed home for the holiday weekend, knowing she isn’t close to her mom and hasn’t seen her in nearly a year. I hate the idea of her being there alone, though it’s probably safe, something in my gut feels off.

Through her texts this morning everything seemed okay but when she sent me that picture my heart broke a little. It seems like she’s making dinner all on her own, I wonder if her mom will help her at all. My mom loves to cook but each of us help her in the kitchen at various points to make sure she isn't overwhelmed and my stepdad always takes over the meat since mom hates cooking turkey. Growing up she made us all different types of recipes and when my sister Eliza had to completely change to a gluten free diet, mom took it upon herself to make every recipe safe for her. Now, our house is strictly gluten free so there’s no risk of cross contamination or Eli getting sick.

I spend some time helping mom with the potatoes and rolling out the pie crusts until she sends me away and to the living room to hang with my siblings. Ryan’s sitting on the recliner, watching the game on tv with Eliza on the couch, I ruffle her hair before plopping down next to her.

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