Page 52 of Convincing Carrie
It was Thanksgiving, and I was lying in bed with a watery smile. It was weird to be both sad and happy about the end of things. I was so angry with Thatcher, but I’d also loved him so much. It felt… wrong to spend a holiday away from him. But thank goodness I didn’t have to see his dragon of a mother anymore. I no longer had to sit through one of her interminable meals and pretend to be happy.
I closed my eyes and fluffed the pillows under my head. I was waiting to move out of my parents’ house until the divorce was finalized, and the house Thatcher and I had lived in was sold. I was fortunate enough to have an inheritance from both sets of grandparents, but I didn’t want to use it unless absolutely necessary. I’d been feeling so tired and sick lately, it was sort of nice to have my parents’ support right now, too.
“Carrie!” my mother called from downstairs. “Lunch is ready.”
All my friends were over to show support. Most of their parents were, too. My parents’ house was packed with people, which was both good and bad. It was nice to have such great people in my life, but it was also harder to hide how I was really feeling.
Maybe I wouldn’t even try.
My phone was buzzing like crazy, and I knew they were notifications from Thatcher. I would block him soon. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it yet. I glanced down and saw that he’d sent me Thanksgiving GIFs. I didn’t respond.
I walked down the stairs, not even caring that my hair was in a messy bun and my face was makeup free. If you couldn’t look like crap when you were going through a divorce, I don’t know when you could.
I was wrapped in hugs as soon as I entered the room. I smiled in appreciation, and the tears flowed. I’d been so emotional lately. I had never thought of myself as someone who cried easily before. But I was now. “Thanks, y’all. This holiday feels so different, and I’m so glad you could all be here.”
“I hope it fucking gutted him to wake up this morning without you on Thanksgiving,” Harrison said.
Nobody even got onto him for the language. “Me too,” Sadie said. “Just think of him having to navigate holiday lunch at his mom’s without you.”
I chuckled. “Serves him right.”
“He’s here in town,” Melinda said.
Everyone turned to look at her. “Really?” I asked.
“I’d heard that as well, dear, but I wasn’t going to tell you.” Mom gave Melinda a look, but she didn’t back down easily.
“Yvette Brubaker at the Piggly Wiggly told me,” Melinda continued. “The word in town is that he told his mom he didn’t know if or when he’d ever want to see her again.”
I was shocked. “Why?”
Mom couldn’t hold in what she knew any longer. She spoke up before Melinda could get the credit for all the gossip. “Do you mean besides the fact that he partly blames her for the divorce? Apparently, she conspired with that horrible Madison to break the two of you up.”
Sadie gasped. “How could she do that to her son?”
“Please,” I said. “There’s nothing that woman won’t do. I’mthrilledto never have to see her again.”
Blair seemed to sense that I didn’t want to talk about it and quickly changed the subject. “What’s everyone most thankful for this year? Scott, why don’t you start.”
Her husband swallowed hard. “Uh… food? Turkey? I don’t know why you started with me, babe.”
Blair laughed. “I don’t either. I’ll go. I’m most thankful for friends and Sadie’s mom’s apple pie.”
Everyone laughed, the tension was broken, and the day continued almost as if nothing life altering had happened.
But it had.
“You’re not eating much,” Sadie said quietly. “Is it because you’re upset?”
I put a hand on my stomach. “No, I don’t think so. I just feel a little… off, you know?”
“I lost a good bit of weight after what Harrison did.”
We both turned and stared at Harrison, who had just taken a bite of pumpkin pie. His eyes widened. “What?” he asked after he swallowed.
“Don’t ask, man,” Drake said. He grinned at us. He knew what we were talking about.
The longer I sat at the table, the worse I felt. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “I’m sorry, but will y’all excuse me? I think I need to lie down.”
