Page 90 of When There Was You
I collect the rest of my things, and he offers to carry my pie. He escorts me to the door and as we step inside, I’m assaulted in the best way by Thanksgiving aromas: roasting turkey, cranberry, citrus, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Music plays underneath a chorus of voices coming from different directions.
Thundering footfalls round the corner. Emmy tears through the foyer wearing a cape, as are the little boy and girl on her heels. “Hi, Jacqui!” she squeals as she runs past.
“Hi, Emmy!” I call out.
Butch takes my coat, letting out a slow whistle when he sees my dress. “Hot damn,” he murmurs.
He leads me into the kitchen, where his mom envelops me in a hug like we’re already the best of friends.
“So pleased you could join us.”
“Thank you for having me.” I collect my dessert from Butch and hand it to her. “It’s sweet potato pie. I, uh, made it.”And hope I didn’t butcher it.
Mrs. Hamilton lets out a happy gasp. “It’s official. We’re keeping you. That’s myfavorite!” She’s effortlessly warm and welcoming, setting me more at ease.
“I hope I did it justice. I’m a little nervous about it.”
“I’m sure it’s fabulous. We’re all pie fiends, but I’m not sharing this with anyone. Except you.” She raises her eyebrows and flashes another smile.
An older couple waits expectantly, and Butch guides me there next. “These are my grandparents on my mother’s side, Henry and Mabel.” They both have those signaturegreen eyes, only paler—clearly a defining feature of this clan.
We shake hands and exchange pleasantries.
Butch leads me into the living room to continue introductions. A fire blazes in a massive brick fireplace under an elaborate wood mantle. Hemi stretches five feet long on the rug before it, barely sparing me a sleepy glance. I greet Gus and meet his mother Dot, then Butch’s sister Liz and her husband Dan. The next time their kids run through (the pair chasing after Emmy), Liz threatens them with no dessert if they don’t stop “the ruckus.” Her tone brooks no argument, stopping them in their tracks.
A breathless Emmy swivels toward me and scans me from top to bottom. “Your dress is pretty. I want one.”
“Emmaline Rose Hamilton, youhatedresses,” Butch says.
“Nuh uh. Not if they look like that.”
A furrow forms between Butch’s eyebrows as he scrutinizes his daughter. After she runs off, his perplexed gaze finds mine. “I think you have a fan.”
A smile inches up my lips. I know what I’m buying one little girl for Christmas.
Liz snags my hand. “I’m stealing her. Don’t try and stop me,” she tells her brother as she tugs me down the hall.
“She just got here!” I’m nearly out of the room when he yells, “You don’t have to answer any of her nosy questions!”
Liz shuts the door on a study lined with brimming bookshelves, abundant light casting a glow upon the titles. A cushioned reading nook nestles in a bay window—a refuge if I need it. I can’t help scanning the spines…until Liz pulls me from my happy gaping.
“Not to freak you out, but I wanted some girl time,” she says with a sly smile. “Big brotherneverbrings anyone home, which means you’re special.”
“Oh…I don’t know about that.”
“I do.” Her grin grows wider. Liz isn’t lumberjack sized like Butch but stands about my height. Her long brunette hair blazes with auburn hues, and her blue eyes sparkle gleefully. “Tell me about you.”
Where to start? “I’m from California. I moved here in April to work for a magazine in Richmond. You probably heard I wrote the article about your family’s business?”
She dips her chin. “Pop was happy. That’s saying something. You live in the city then?”
“Crammed into a studio apartment that’s all mine. It’s convenient for work but also cool being near all the metro stuff.” I leave offand lonely.
She makes a face. “Oof. That’s a drag of a drive for you and Butch to spend time together.”
“A bit,” I agree. “But it’s forced us to take things slow, which we both need.”
“Mm-hmm. Guess if there’s a silver lining, it gives you the chance to get to know one another. Become friends?”
