Page 55 of The Ghost of You

“The crooked nose?” she interrupts, gesturing toward my face.

“Yeah, Everett got a hell of a hit on me as I was trying to break the two of them up. My dad was too busy consoling my mom to even know what the fight was about. To this day he doesn’t know Mason was with her that night. And we all pray to God he never finds out.”

“I—ugh I don’t know what to say, Noah. It’s so terrible.”

“It’s life though. We learned to live without Rosie. We all got through it for the most part. Yes, we all harbor a bit of anger about it but we can’t let it ruin our family. Please don’t think any less of Mason. He blames himself more so than anyone else.”

She nods. “What about Everett? I don’t think I’ve met him.”

I grab the back of my neck. “And you won’t. At least not today. He stayed here for almost two years after Rosie died but he couldn’t take the memory of her so he moved out west. I talk to him once a month but he hasn’t been back since. It pains my mom because she feels like she lost both her twins when Rosie died.”

I realize after I say it that Everett’s story sounds a lot like Anna’s.

“I definitely can’t come now, not after knowing that.”

I look at her strangely. “Why? That has nothing to do with coming today. Thanksgiving has turned into exactly what it means. Being thankful for what we have, for the family we still have. Even Mason, the self-declared black sheep shows up.”

She bites her bottom lip as she looks at me. “Yeah but Noah, I don’t know anyone.”

“You know me and Mason.”

“I can’t intrude on your family when this day brings so much pain.”

I sigh. “That’s the thing Anna, we don’t let the pain affect us. We say a prayer for Rosie, we relive the good memories, and then we continue on with our lives. Not dwell on the past.” I pause and sip my lukewarm coffee. “It will be good for all of us. Including you. Besides, Carson is bringing his girlfriend. You won’t be the only one there that’s not a Taylor.”

“Mason will probably think it’s weird,” she says as she plays with the hem on her t-shirt.

“He’s the one that brought it up. Inviting you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

She goes back to biting her lip. “I’m not sure.”

“All you are going to do today is mope around,” I tease.

“I don’t mope,” she defends herself quickly.

I raise a brow. “Really?”

“Yes. I have plenty to do. Clean and umm… clean. Maybe some yoga. Laundry.”

“Just come with me. I promise it will be fine. Plus, it might even make you smile.”

She rolls her eyes. “Why do you want me to go so bad?”

I could tell her I think it will do her good to see a family that’s been broken and survived. But she will probably kick me out and tell me to fuck off and never talk to me again. “If you go then I won’t be badgered so much by my brothers.”

“So you are using me?”

“Kind of.” I shrug.

She squints her eyes and purses her lips. “Does this mean I get to cash in and have you return the favor at some point?”

If it means I get to spend more time with her, then absolutely. “Whenever you wish.”

“Okay fine.”

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