Page 137 of Again, In Autumn

“Heddy’s here too?”

“Yeah.” I search his face. “You don’t have to come inside if it’s too uncomfortable.”

He snaps his gaze back to mine. “Of course, I’m coming inside, I have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I just meant…I know he wasn’t the easiest on you that day.”

“That was a long time ago.” Adam’s spine straightens, and his jaw tightens. “I don’t care what he says to me now. He thought I was going to be a giant failure, and I’m not. I’m proud of who I became.”

They were my father’s words, but I feel responsible for them. I sink into myself, dropping my hands. “You should be.”

That day, I knew the minute I didn’t jump in and defend Adam against my dad’s vitriol that he would think less of me. I should have argued against the accusations of him being stupid and childish and destined to struggle, but I just sat there and listened to it, scared out of my mind. Adam let himself get yelled at for me. He shouldn’t have to face my dad again.

Suddenly, Adam swings his arms around me and picks me up, propping my feet atop his. I get up on my toes and wrap my arms around his head, our faces aligned.

He says, “It’s one dinner. It’s going to be fine.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask.

He kisses me gently. “Yes.” He keeps me tight and walks forward until reaching the grass where he lets me go, thankfully, before someone sees, and this Thanksgiving starts with a bang.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

As requested, Adam sits on the opposite side of the table from me. Heddy sits at one end, my father on the other, everyone else piled in between.

Having my father around changes the energy of the group. We’ve been having such a nice time together and we’ve been so comfortable, but his stern, quiet aura keeps the rest of us tense. Francesca seats Alice and Grayson on either side of him because they’re the only ones not scared.

When he came inside, Adam gave Heddy a hug and my father a firm handshake. I did not mistake those cold eyes landing on me, between us, and I sense them as we eat, like lasers, dragging back and forth.

“Why didn’t you girls answer my phone calls last night?” he asks.

Francesca freezes. “Sorry Daddy, we just missed them. The kids were up late, and we had just listened to Adam play, so they were wired.”

“You went to a concert?” He takes a sip of wine.

Grayson says, “Grandpa, we went to this huge mansion.” He illustrates with his hands. “They had a garden and a put-put place and cats were walking around and a big fire. That’s where Adam played his guitar.”

We’re met with confusion.

David explains, “Adam has a friend with an inn about thirty minutes up the road. We went up for the night.”

Maggie says, “Adsy was telling us about it. It sounded so beautiful. Diego and I will go for a stay next time we’re up here. I heard how romantic it was.”

I choke on a piece of turkey.

“Romantic, huh?” My dad says, watching me sputter and cough. He shifts in his chair. “So, Adam…”

I guzzle down water and watch Adam’s easy, passive expression shift. He slowly meets my father’s eye.

“How is it being a successful musician?”

“It’s the dream,” Adam responds. “Just like I knew it would be.”

“Did you struggle?

“At first. But I didn’t give up.”

My dad blinks. “And how did you kids all find yourselves back here together again? What a coincidence. Was it a coincidence? Or was this some kind of planned thing?”

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