Sam and Kate took a red-eye flight out and arrived Wednesday morning. We were all excited to meet Kate, especially Vivie, who ran outside to greet them when they arrived. I was more patient, waiting in the foyer.
Sam and I hugged, and then I hugged Kate. She looked nervous, and I hoped that all of us would be able to put her at ease. My family was about as nice as a family could be.
“Mom and Dad didn’t want to overwhelm you by being obnoxious like Vivie and me, waiting impatiently for your arrival. They’re in the sunroom where there’s coffee and breakfast.”
“That gives you another two minutes to calm your nerves,” Sam said, rubbing Kate’s back.
Mr. Gabriel, my parents' butler, entered the foyer. “Shall I take the bags up to your room, Mr. Clarke?”
Vivie and led the way to the sunroom. When we entered, our parents were mid-embrace.
“Oh, God. When are you guys ever going to learn to get a room?” Vivie moaned. To be honest, I agreed. I loved that my parents were still madly in love, but I didn’t like seeing it on display. It was weird to think of them that way.
“Welcome to our home,” my mother said, giving Kate a hug.
“How was the trip?” my father asked.
“It was fine. It’s very nice of you to have me for Thanksgiving, Mr. and Mrs. Clarke.”
My mother waved her hand. “Please, call me Juliana.”
“And I’m Drew.”
“You’re probably exhausted, but we have coffee, juice, and breakfast if you’d like,” my mother said. I’d already sat down to eat, as did Vivie.
“Pancakes?” Sam asked.
My parents rolled their eyes.
“Of course, there are pancakes.” My mother gave Kate an amused look. “As if I wouldn’t have pancakes for Sam. I swear, if he could get away with it, it’s all he’d eat.”
After breakfast, Sam and Kate rested, and then he took her on a tour of New York. I hung out at my parents’ home, helping with Thanksgiving prep. That evening, Vivie and I decided to watch a movie in the home theater. We invited Sam and Kate to join us.
Sam entered the theater and took a seat next to me.
“Where’s Kate?” Vivie asked.
“She’s jetlagged, so she’s gone to bed early.”
“She seems different,” I said, handing the bowl of popcorn to Sam.
“She’s just nervous about being around the family.”
“She’s nervous around us? We’re a family of cream puffs.” Vivie laughed.
“I know. But she’s had some experiences in the past that make her wary of people.”
“Well, she’s here, so that’s a good sign.” At least I hoped it was. Kate seemed more subdued than I remembered, and Sam was bending over backward to make sure she was okay. It seemed like a lot of work. Shouldn’t love be easier? I thought of Amelia. Everything between us was easy. The conversation, as well as the sex.
The next day, I was up early to help my parents execute the festivities. They always gave their servants Thanksgiving and the days following off. It meant more work for us, but it had become a family ritual to cook and decorate for the holiday.
I helped my dad put the leaves in the dining room table. “Why do we need more leaves? We fit fine at breakfast yesterday.”
“Sandra and Chelsea are coming,” my father said as he pulled the table, opening the space for the leaf.
“Oh, shit,” I muttered. “I thought they were in Boston now.”
“They are, but she’s in New York for business. As you know, they don’t have anyone else, so your mom invited them for Thanksgiving.”