Page 46 of Love and Other Chances

There’s nothing but silence surrounding me in the car, but my heart also feels surrounded by a peace I haven’t felt since seeing Brooks again. I don’t exactly know what it means yet, but I sense God’s command. “Don’t be afraid. I am with you.”

“Help me not walk in fear,” I whisper.

On Thanksgiving morning, I shower and put on a navy floral dress that’s the perfect combination of comfy and cute. By the time I head downstairs, my mom is already there, dressed in a blouse and dress pants with an apron secured over the top. She greets me as I pour a cup of coffee.

We chat while I eat an English muffin and drink my coffee, then Mom tosses me a second apron. “We’d better get to work if we’re going to have everything ready by noon,” she tells me. The counters are already covered with an array of Thanksgiving feast ingredients. None of my grandparents live in town, so it will just be my parents and me this year.

“Why are we eating at lunch this year instead of dinner like normal?” I ask, tying the strings of my apron.

Mom’s brow furrows, but I can’t tell if it’s because of my question or the can opener protesting in her hands. She reattaches it to the top of the can of green beans, and this time, it turns without a problem.

“Your dad asked if we could eat earlier this year, and I didn’t mind. This way, we could go down to the Plaza for their Christmas lighting ceremony, if you want,” she says.

My eyes brighten. “Yes! I’d love to do that!” I start humming as I wrap sweet potatoes in foil. Thepingof my phone pulls my attention away, and I open my text messages, only to find a novel from Brooks.

BROOKS

Happy Thanksgiving, Sneaks. Things I was thankful for about high-school-Teegan: 1) The way you relish life with enthusiasm. 2) Your smile that could turn any bad day around. 3) Your willingness to go along with any of my crazy ideas spur of the moment. 4) Your killer dance moves. 5) The way I could be goofy but also be serious around you, and you liked both versions of me. Not just the fun-loving one.

Before I’ve even finished reading the first text, more come through.

BROOKS

Things I’m thankful for about now-Teegan: 1) All of the above. 2) The way your love for Jesus influences every relationship in your life. 3) Your loyalty to your friends. The depth of your friendships speaks to your character. 4) The way your thoughtfulness about the Bible passages we discuss each week challenges me to think more deeply. 5) Your forgiveness. Even if we’re never more than friends, I’m so grateful that you forgave my idiocy. But also, I absolutely want to be more than friends, in case that’s been unclear till now.

Also, your enthralling eyes and dazzling smile that I fall asleep thinking about every night

Have I mentioned your laugh yet? Because it’s a song with so many remixes, I’ll never get tiredof hearing it

I’m cooking with my mom and was entirely unprepared for this onslaught of compliments

BROOKS

I warned you, Teegan. Full-court press. Better start being perpetually prepared for compliment ambushes

I know I’m blushing as I grin at my phone.

“What’s all this smiling over?” my mom asks.

Flustered, I hide my phone behind my back like a teenager.Real smooth. Not suspicious at all.

Mom’s eyes narrow at me.

“Um, just a ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ text from a friend,” I evade, turning back to the sweet potatoes.

“Uh-huh,” Mom responds. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her lean a hand on the counter next to me. Her fingers start drumming against the counter, and it only takes two seconds for my willpower to lose patience.

“It’s possible the friend might have been Brooks,” I say, then bite my lip.

Her fingers still.

“That smile looked like more than friends, hon,” Mom observes quietly. I put the foil down and turn to face her.

“Maybe? But maybe not?” I reply, then sigh. “It’s up to me to decide.”

“Hmmm,” Mom hums. “And when are you supposed to decide this by?”

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