Page 41 of Sweet Ruin

“How about you, Frank?” she asked. “What are you thankful for.”

“I’m thankful you guys have the best coffee in town,” he said with a soft smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without it.”

“You say that every year,” Norma gently chided him.

“Well, it’s true!” he replied

Once everyone had their turn, it was finally time to get stuck into the feast my mom had prepared. As I piled food onto my plate, I began to regret having such a large breakfast. An amateur mistake. My mom’s Thanksgiving food was so good I wanted to try a bit of everything. I just hoped I didn’t get full too fast.

“How was the beach, girls?” my mom asked.

“It was beautiful,” Cress replied. “I just wish the weather was nice enough so we could swim while we’re here.”

“At least it’s not as cold as it is back in Weybridge,” Anna said. “I think it’s going to snow there early this year.”

I repressed a shudder at the thought. I couldn’t remember the last time it had snowed in Rapid Bay, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle winter in Weybridge if it was cold enough to be a regular occurrence there.

“You’ll both have to come back in the summer,” Mom said. “It’s wonderful.”

“Yeah, we’d really like that,” Cress replied. “Does it snow here in Rapid Bay?”

“Rarely,” Mom said. “It never really gets quite cold enough.”

“Still too cold for my old bones in winter,” Frank said. “I’m beginning to wonder if I need to move further south.”

Norma gasped and her fork clattered to her plate. “What do you mean?”

Frank returned her shocked stare with a shrug.

“I’m just saying I’ve considered it. My holiday in Florida a few weeks back sure was convincing.”

“You’ve been thinking about moving away?”

All eyes at the table were on Norma. Her face had paled, and her hands grasped the arms of her chair tightly. Frank seemed oblivious to the alarm in her voice. He also didn’t seem to notice how the entire table was watching, waiting for his response.

“I haven’t made any plans,” he said calmly as he lifted his fork to take a bite of turkey. “I just think it would be nice to be somewhere warmer.”

“Warmer? But it’s plenty warm here,” Norma protested.

“Maybe for now, but I’m not getting any younger, and my arthritis always plays up in the winter. I think year-round sunshine would do me good.”

“So, what? You’re just going to leave me…uh, I mean, us?” Norma seemed to be freaking out, and I had a feeling Anna’s comment earlier about Frank potentially moving on had gotten to her.

Frank lowered his fork to the table. He was looking at Norma, a hint of concern now on his face. “Like I said, I’m not going anywhere yet.”

“Yet,” she repeated. “Yet. So now we just have to sit and wait with this dark cloud hanging over our heads…”

Frank opened his mouth to respond, but Norma cut him off before he had a chance.

“You can’t leave me. You just can’t.”

“Norma…” He tried to console her, but she was too worked up.

“Damn it, Frank, can’t you see I’m in love with you?” she gasped.

The whole table remained still and silent, and neither Frank nor Norma seemed to notice there was anyone else in the room. I couldn’t believe she’d finally laid her feelings for him bare like that. Given Frank’s blank and completely shocked expression, it was a surprise to him too.

Norma looked ready to storm off, but Frank reached out and grabbed her hands.

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