Page 58 of A Cowboy's Twinkling Lights Lasso
“Then Mama said she heard that some women like to keep things fishy, too!” Aunt Rita’s shrill shriek echoes off the walls.
Theo’s fork rattles. “Well, I’ve lost my appetite.”
“It’s all about how you season it, mama said to him.” Rita snorts through her fingers, and my family is done. We breakaway into a fit of laughter that lasts minutes before we regain control.
I dig the back of my hands into my eyes to clear the tears. I glance at Thorn. My first instinct is to apologize. Then I see his amused expression, and my heart melts. My family is wild, silly, and obnoxious, and he doesn’t care a bit. He never has. He accepts our flaws in a way I’ve never been able to do. I glance around the table at my family, whom I’ve often felt embarrassed by. They’re the ones I tried my hardest to avoid in public. In this moment, I recognize that my judgments have held me back from embracing the things I can’t change while also preventing me from appreciating the unique aspects of my life that truly matter. I wasn’t only running from what I assumed had been Thorn’s betrayal but from a family who loved me unconditionally—a family I turned a blind eye to.
“Whew.” Peggy-Ann blows out a deep breath.
“Don’t finish it,” Rita warns.
There’s a long quiet as we all exchange looks, silently daring each other to finish the story.
“Then your old man said he preferred his unseasoned and fresh.” Uncle Elmer’s throaty guffaw is unapologetic, and we ensue in laughing chaos.
“I’m never going to look at Jell-O or fruit the same again,” Theo chimes in.
“I’ll make you a big bowl for Christmas dinner,” Dani promises.
“Y’all aren’t ruining my Christmas dinner.” Theo shovels a forkful of food into his mouth and loudly crunches.
After breakfast, Thorn heads to his room for a quick shower before the last day of signatures and lunch. Theo hangs back, and I’m unsure why until he corners me.
“Listen, I want to apologize for my part in keeping you and Thorn apart.” He crosses his arms defensively, and his toneconveys irritation. “I get it. I messed up.” He shifts his weight uncomfortably.”
“Real smooth.” My sister stands behind him, arms crossed over her chest similarly. “You’re doing a great terrible job.”
“Shut up,” he growls over his shoulder, then forces a smile back at me. “I realize now how selfish and reckless my actions were.”
“Do you? Or did Thorn put you up to this?”
I glare at my sister.
“I didn’t consider how much it would hurt either of you. I was being an idiot.”
Dani’s expression hardens. “An idiot? That’s putting it mildly.”
He turns to her. “I’m sorry I hurt you, too.”
She swings her hands to her hips—her defense mechanism. “You did nothing of the sort.”
I know Dani was hurt, but it’s me who owes her the apology.
Theo swallows hard. “I genuinely regret my actions and hope you and my brother can move past the secrets and have the future both of you dreamed of.”
My sister coughs at the same time she says, “bullshit.”
“I believe you,” I say.
“You do?” My sister sounds surprised.
“Yes, I do. We were young and just trying to figure things out.” I smile at Theo. “We didn’t know nearly as much as we thought. We made so many mistakes—big ones—acting on impulse, never really considering how our choices would ripple out.”
My sister’s posture relaxes.
“We didn’t see the consequences of our actions until it was too late. If you’re looking for my forgiveness, I forgive you.” I hug Theo.
“Eww. Gross,” Dani mutters under her breath.
