Page 33 of Four Letter Feelings

Chapter 13

“Can you pass the potatoes please, Jeremy?” AJ’s dad, Art, asked as he handed the bowl of stuffing to Ana, who sat on his left.

“Sure.”

“I need those sprouts, please, Pim!” Ana said excitedly. “They look amazing, Jer.”

Jer blushed as AJ passed the bowl across the table to Ana.

“I’ve never seen my children so keen to eat sprouts, Jeremy,” Cindy laughed. “That bisque for our appetizer was truly delicious. You really do have a calling to food, don’t you?”

He nodded, shoving a bite-sized ball of cheese bread into his mouth. It tasted exactly as it was supposed to and was cooked to perfection. It almost melted as soon as it hit his tongue. He heard himself moan in appreciation.

“Modest too, eh Jer?” AJ joked.

“Shhhh! Don’t bug me, Age. I’m in my happy place.”

Ana laughed as she passed the plate of meat across the table to AJ.

“This entire spread is amazing, Cindy. Thank you,” Art said appreciatively.

“Thirty years together and he still thanks me for Thanksgiving dinner,” she remarked, as she poured gravy over her food. “I guess it’s time to say what we’re all thankful for, before Jeremy finishes his meal, anyway.” She was clearly amused at the fact Jeremy hadn’t been able to wait and was shoveling forkfuls of food into his mouth.

“Sorry,” he mumbled through a mouthful of mash potatoes. “I couldn’t help myself. Don’t tell my mom I forgot the thank you part before tucking in,” he smiled bashfully, embarrassed that he’d been overcome by the dishes scattered across the table. “I’ll start,” he said, putting his fork down on the table next to his plate and wiping his mouth with his napkin before letting it fall back onto his lap and raising his glass of champagne.

“I’m thankful for Age and you guys welcoming me into your home for this great Thanksgiving dinner. It’s been nice to finally meet all of you and get to know AJ a bit better through you all. The food is delicious – seeing as how I’ve just shoved half a plate of it in my mouth, I can say that – and I look forward to passing out on the sofa later to the tune of AJ’s guitar.” He raised his glass and took a sip of champagne as AJ started to protest.

“Wait. What? Who said I was playing?”

“It’s Thanksgiving, Pim. You always play on Thanksgiving. It’s as sure as the sun rising in the east or no one giving a crap about Thanksgiving football but us all sitting down to watch it regardless. It just happens.”

Jeremy smiled at how insistent Ana was that her brother play for them, as though their Thanksgiving traditions were sacred and couldn’t be messed with.

And yet they invited me to join them, that’s kinda cool.

“You’re already in cahoots with my family, Jer. This isn’t good!” AJ shook his head. “I’ll go next. I’m thankful for Mom and this sure-to-be delicious, as always, feast. I’m thankful to be doing something I love in college, close enough to home that holidays like this are still possible, and I’m thankful for lucking out and meeting a roommate who wasn’t a loud and lazy jerk.”

“Ugh,” Ana exclaimed with a dramatic eye roll. “I never really understood the term ‘bromance’ until this walked in for Thanksgiving dinner. You’re simultaneously adorable and puke-inducing, not to mention annoying as shit. It’s like there’s two of you now, Pim.” She picked up her glass and paused for a moment, as though thinking about what she wanted to say. She seemed to enjoy having everyone’s attention on her and Jeremy was impatiently eyeing his plate of food, willing her to go faster. “I’m thankful for having complete control of the TV now that Pim has moved out, for not having to wait for a shower, or three hours to use the bathroom 'cause he’s ‘thinking’.” She took a gulp of her champagne. “Though it really kinda sucks not having someone else around to blame shit on.”

Everyone laughed at her honest admission. Despite her poking fun at AJ, Jeremy could tell she was glad to have him home. Art and Cindy were both thankful to have their family all back together under one roof, and Cindy commented on AJ having met a good influence in his life during his first week of college. A contented silence descended on the group as they tucked into their meal and Jeremy mulled over the fact that this was the first time in his life that he could recall being called a good influence on anyone. It felt good. He liked it here, with these people, and he thought perhaps in the new year he could suggest that his parents join team Williams for a slightly larger get together at some point in the near future. He had a feeling his parents would like Cindy and Art and he could see them hanging out together wine tasting, or taking in a show together at the theater. He’d only been back a matter of months, but he already felt more settled and at home than he had in a long time and he was looking forward to what was next on the horizon.

***

When they’d finished their meal, Ana, AJ and Jeremy offered to clean-up, much to Cindy’s obvious surprise. The three of them worked well together and Ana was in charge of putting all leftovers in Tupperware boxes and playing Tupperware Tetris in the fridge because neither of the boys could be trusted not to eat themselves to the point of being sick.

The boys stacked the dishwasher and AJ turned it on, he washed the overflow of dishes, Jeremy dried and Ana put them away. Jeremy was impressed at how quickly they turned the post-Thanksgiving meal bombsite into something resembling a kitchen again. By the time they’d finished cleaning up the disaster zone, AJ’s dad had fallen asleep on the sofa. AJ strummed Tim McGraw’s Humble and Kind on his acoustic and his mom had picked up her crocheting and was making progress on a blanket she had started the night before. While he’d heard AJ play countless times before, there was something about this song that resonated with him deep inside.

“Is it time for dessert now?” Jeremy asked eagerly as the song finished.

Cindy laughed. “I’m glad you asked, before just delving into the sweet treats. I can imagine coming into the kitchen and finding you and AJ sharing an entire pie.”

“Accurate.” Jeremy grinned.

“You can’t be hungry again already?” she asked, sounding simultaneously astonished and disgusted.

“I’m always hungry,” he answered at the same time AJ said, “He’s always hungry.”

Ana answered that she’d put Jeremy’s apple pie in the oven and it would take about twenty-five minutes to warm up and, in the meantime, she suggested they play a card game while they wait.

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