Page 122 of Game Change

Brynne

While everyone is distracted by the food, I put a piece of turkey to my husband’s lips. He makes a face, but I inch the fork closer. He finally opens his mouth, and I slide it in. He chews slowly as if expecting it to taste bad, but his eyes light up in surprise after a few moments. I offer him another piece, and he greedily takes it.

“How did you do that?” he asks in awe. He steals a big piece of turkey from my plate.

I get closer and bite his earlobe. “I season until the ancestors tell me to stop,” I whisper.

“Brynne,” Milton says, “can you bring the turkey next week?”

“Yes,” I quickly agree. “I told you I cook better than that fancy chef,” I whisper to my husband.

“His ancestors obviously don’t talk to him,” Colin says. “How did I end up with a wife who is good at everything?” He shrugs. “Just lucky, I guess.”

“Very lucky,” I agree.

Life with my husband has pretty much been perfect. The only dark cloud was Oliver, and the justice system dealt with him. There was no trial. They offered him a plea deal, and he accepted. That was after his mother pleaded with me to pay for a defense attorney because she did not trust the state-appointed one.

My husband told her if she ever contacted me again, she’d regret it. I haven’t heard from her since. In Oliver’s plea deal, he pled guilty and was sentenced to nine years. I didn’t celebrate. The day of his sentencing was one of the most depressing of my life. My mother’s house was gone, and I could never get it back. The family that we once were was gone. It was like a death, but Colin, Amira, and Raven helped get me through.

To my surprise, Heath showed up at the courthouse and held one hand while Colin held another. Colin’s family had us for dinner at the big house and distracted me by asking to see the preliminary sketches I had done of the new house. Milton was impressed and even offered suggestions. My relationship with Milton will never be what it once was, but I’ve also put that aside. He’s my husband’s uncle, and they are close. I accept that and treat him like family. He’s just no longer my friend like he once was, even though he acts as if everything is okay.

“Brynne,” Ernestine says. “Is it okay if my daughters come? They’re supposed to be with their dad, but I think they’ve had enough of him today.”

“Of course,” I say.

“The more the merrier,” Colin adds.

That’s another thing I love about my husband. He accepts and loves everyone in my life.

“Brynne, you can just give my chef your recipe,” Colin the First says while he puts another piece of turkey on his plate.

“I’ll bring it,” I insist.

“You two have a suite in the house. Come over on Wednesday. I’ll reserve one of the kitchens for you,” Colin the First says.

“One of the kitchens? And he has to reserve one?” I whisper to my husband, who shrugs. “Do you want to go on Wednesday? I can make pies, too, if we go early.”

“Can I help?” Heath asks.

I stare at my husband and wait to hear what he says. He’s not fully at ease around his older brother, so I let him decide how much we interact with his family.

“We’ll go on Wednesday only because I love my wife’s pie. It’s up to her if you can help, Heath,” Colin says.

“You sly dog,” Heath whispers to Colin. He gives him an exaggerated wink. “Enough about your wife’s pie. This is a family affair.” He whispers, and I almost choke on my laughter.

“You can help, Heath.”

Our house is alive with the loud chatter of our family and friends. My husband helps himself to more turkey, and so do most of our guests.

“At this rate, there won’t be any turkey left for pot pie,” he laments.

I give him a smug smile, and he plants a greasy kiss on my cheek.

At some point, someone changes the music and Malcolm and Amira do the robot in the corner. Tabby joins them.

“I’ll get it,” I say about the knock on the door. Ernestine follows me, and we let her two daughters into the apartment.

“Brynne, this is my oldest, Naimah, and my baby, April.” I hug both girls and take their coats. After I introduce them to the rest of our guests, I point to the buffet and tell them to help themselves.

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