Page 109 of Choosing a Forever
“Dad, how’s business going? Any new projects?” If I remember correctly, Tal’s dad is a landscape architect and does a lot of business planning out the temple grounds for the church.
“It’s going well. We will start on the gardens for the Lehi temple soon, since construction will start in about six months. How are things at the station? Your ankle all healed up?” George points his chin to Tal’s ankle.
Tal nods. “I’m almost one hundred percent. I should be back to full duty soon, after I get approval from my physical therapist.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Dinner’s ready!” Laurie calls at the same time three giggling teenage girls come bouncing down the hall.
I’m glad the girls have already connected with Lacey. I hope—if things can be mended with Laurie and George—it means they’ll have a lifelong friend in their… sister-in-law.
Ew. Kinsley has a crush on her brother-in-law.
Thank God nothing will probably come of it. Tim hasn’t spared her a second glance, and I think she’s too wrapped up in whatever Lacey is talking about to notice.
After the ordeal with Jeremy, the last thing we need is Kinsley getting her heart crushed by someone we’ll have to see often.
We sit around the table, Tal to my left and Harper on my right, and George asks Thomas to say a prayer.
I haven’t prayed in alongtime, but I bow my head anyway. I turn to peek at Tal, who I find already staring at me.
“I love you,”he mouths, squeezing my thigh under the table.
“I love you, too,” I mouth back, resting my hand on top of his and squeezing back.
After everyone mutters, “Amen,” we pass each dish around the table and scoop up what we want. Once everything has made its rounds and everyone starts eating, Laurie clears her throat. “So, Mackenzie, tell us about yourself. What do you do for work?”
I swallow the bite of mashed potatoes I just put in my mouth, dabbing the corners of my lips with a napkin. “I’m a bid desk specialist.”
“Oh? I’m unfamiliar with that job title. What is it you do?”
“I put together quotes for companies wanting to purchase tech equipment. We work with anyone from schools to government entities to software developers. We generate discount codes and things like that. It’s mostly a lot of copying and pasting.”
I hate explaining my job because it sounds so unimportant. I mean, it kind of is, but it’s the first one I found when I needed one, and the company’s been decent so far. The schedule is flexible, and the pay is okay. All I cared about was my ability to be home for the girls in case of an emergency.
“That sounds like a boring job,” Lacey pipes up.
I shrug. “Yeah, but it pays the bills.”Mostly.
Talmage’s family takes turns asking me and the girls questions, and as the night goes on, I feel slightly less anxious. No one’s made any snide comments or back-handed remarks, and I’m feeling hopeful Tal can reconcile with his family.
“All right, kids. Favorite time of the week. Tell me what’s been going on in your lives,” George says once the interrogation has ended.
Laurie and Lauren clear the plates as Thomas starts off, and it takes all of dessert and then some before we get all the way around the table.
At the end of the night, Laurie gives me a gentle shoulder squeeze and a Tupperware full of leftovers to take home, and I’m feeling lighter than I was when I got here.
Maybe, just maybe, the girls and I will be accepted into this family.
Chapter 38
Talmage
24 years old…
Idon’t remember when Emma left the church or when she started getting tattoos, but she looks like she feels lighter, freer.
It doesn't match the way the leaders of the church say people who leave will never know true happiness.
