Nadia caught Lauren’s eye and mouthed ‘No it’s not’ while shaking her head slowly. Everyone laughed, and a voice from the kitchen shouted, “Are you talking about me? I promise this time it’s going to be good!”
This time, both Nadia and Kayla cut their hands back and forth across their throats, mouthing, ‘No it isn’t.’
“Last Christmas, Paul decided to make lasagna.” Nadia lowered her voice, telling the whole room the story for what she imagined was the umpteenth time. “But there was a football game on, and he forgot about it, and when he finally remembered, it was a black lump in the oven.”
“If you breathe in deep, you can still smell the smoke in the curtains,” Kathy laughed. “I should replace them.”
“But Mom insisted we all pretend it was still edible,” Will added. “So we didn’t hurt Paul’s feelings.”
“It was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever eaten,” Mark said dryly, looking back at the kitchen to make sure he wasn’t heard.
A tall, thin man with a thick beard and a full head of dark hair stepped into the doorway of what Lauren assumed was the kitchen. He wore a frilly pink apron over his tan sweater and no shoes. “While I appreciate the pity meal last year,” he swatted Nadia with a towel, “this time, I am confident I will not fail.” He glanced at Lauren. “You’re new. Impressionable. Don’t be swayed by their horrible, horrible lies.”
“It’s the truth, Lauren, you’ve been warned!” Nadia quipped.
She smiled. She instantly liked these people—their familial banter was different than what she was used to. It wasn’t intended to leave scars.
She glanced at Will and saw that the sea of people had parted, clearing his line of sight to the other side of the room. His attention laser-focused on his grandpa, sitting in the chair, eyes fluttering open. The old man had an afghan over his lap and an oxygen mask affixed over his nose. Will looked stricken.
Was this the same grandpa he’d told her about? The man Will had let down all those years ago?
“Pops.” Will’s voice was a whisper.
“Will?” The old man’s voice was hoarse and quiet as he reached for his grandson.
Will crossed the room and leaned in to hug the frail man. The others drifted together, as if moved by the scene before them. Kathy sniffed and wiped her eyes. She glanced over at Lauren, who felt every bit the intruder. This moment felt private, too private, for her to be a part of it.
But Kathy was at her side in seconds, as if intent on not letting Lauren feel out of place. She leaned closer. “Will’s grandpa is very special to him. Did he tell you about Pops at all?”
Lauren thought back to a stop on the road trip, his admission at the torchlight parade. “A little bit.”
Will had mentioned his regret over disappointing his grandpa, but he’d downplayed how much his grandpa meant to him.
Kathy motioned for Lauren to follow her through the entryway and into a den on the opposite side of the front door. One entire wall was made up of bookshelves, stacked to the ceiling with books. Lauren gasped. “Okay, this is my favorite room, ever.”
Kathy smiled. “Oh! Are you a reader?”
She nodded in awe. “Huge.”
“I knew I liked you.”
Lauren blushed at the compliment.
“You’re welcome to borrow anything from my library,” Kathy said. “As long as you agree to tell me what you think when you’ve finished.”
Lauren nodded. “Deal.”
Kathy paused. “I would really like that, actually.”
She smiled, tilting her head. “Me too.”
“Anyway, that’s not why I brought you in here, though I could talk about books all night long.” She knelt and pulled out a large red photo album.
The album said “Will” on the front in script-y handwriting. Kathy lovingly ran her hand over the word.
Lauren thought it strange that she was sitting with Will’s mom, about to get a peek into what she assumed were captured moments of his childhood. She would’ve flipped over this when she was younger. But now, everything was just—different.
Will said he liked me. Why couldn’t I have just said, ‘I like you too’ like a normal person? How different would things be if she had?
But no. This was better. This was the best thing for her heart. At least that’s what she was telling herself.
Kathy flipped the photo album open. “Don’t ever tell him I’m showing you this.”