"Eetsrawlyood," Holden mumbled around a mouthful.
"What was that?" Patsy chuckled. "And please, chew with your mouth closed, dear."
Holden cheeks colored and he swallowed. "It"s really good."
"I"m glad you"re all enjoying it. Ready for seconds?" she looked at Jared"s almost empty plate.
"Almost," he laughed, shoveling some mashed potatoes into his mouth. "I miss your cooking."
"Then, you need to start visiting me more often," she took a dainty bite of food.
Jared nodded, "I"ll get right on that, we"ll be here next Friday."
Patsy laughed. "I just hope I can make enough to feed you. Are you not feeding yourself," she asked as Jared started piling more food onto his plate.
"You know I feed myself," Jared smiled lovingly at Patsy.
"I know," Patsy nodded. "Sometimes it just tastes better when someone else makes it."
"Exactly," Jared pointed his fork at her.
"When are you going to grill again for us?" Dan patted his stomach. "That was the best burger I"ve ever had."
Jared laughed. "Pop, we"ll talk about that when the weather warms up. It"s too cold to be outside, grilling."
"Just put a jacket on," Dan grumbled. "Then you won"t be cold."
I found myself smiling at their familial banter. When I was home, Thanksgiving dinner had never been like this. First off, it was catered, my mom never cooked anything, and secondly, no one spoke. It was a silent affair in the Spencer household.
"Karlie, have you and Rodney gotten your routine for the Christmas recital figured out?" Patsy asked.
Holden growled when Patsy mentioned Rodney, but everyone pretended nothing had happened.
"Yeah," Karlie shrugged. "We changed a few things around but we"re happy with it now. I can"t believe the show is in three weeks. We"ve been practicing non-stop. The bottoms of my feet are killing me."
"Oh, I"m sorry sweetie. Maybe we should schedule you an appointment with a chiropractor," Patsy said, spooning some more gravy onto her plate.
"It"s not that bad," Karlie said. "Rodney ma.s.saged them for me the other day and they"ve felt better ever since. I"m used to the pain."
"He. Did. What?" Holden growled turning his heated blue gaze to Karlie.
"You heard me, don"t play dumb," Karlie snapped.
Jared chuckled. "Jeez, Holden, you"re even more over protective of her than I am."
"Overprotective?" Holden"s brows furrowed. "Oh, yeah. Overprotective," he muttered.
"It"s not that big of a deal, Sharky," Karlie flipped her hair over her shoulder and out of her way. "We dancers have aches and pains; sometimes we have to help each other out with relieving the pressure."
Holden grimaced and stood up quickly, his chair slamming into the wall. "Pie. I"m going to go get some pie. Anybody else want any?" he asked, already strolling from the room.
Karlie looked at me, clearly wondering what she had said to cause his reaction.
I shrugged. Holden was weird.
Holden came back in, carrying two different pies.
"Holden, dear," Patsy said, "we"re not quite ready for the pie."
Holden set them down. "Well," he grumbled, sitting back down, "they"re here when we"re ready." He pushed his plate away and I could sense Jared eyeing his friend.
Patsy cleared her throat and turned her attention to me. "Katy, what is it you"re majoring in?"
"I uh- want to want to be a counselor," I looked down at the table. "I want to help people."
I looked up in time to see a smile grace Patsy"s face, her eyes and mouth crinkling at the corners. "That"s lovely, dear."
"Thanks," I said.
We finished our meal and had desert. Everything was delicious. I thought about asking Patsy to give me lessons. I"d always wanted to be able to cook food like this.
The guys helped us clean the table off and then disappeared to watch TV.
"You don"t need to help me," Patsy said, nodding her head for me to leave. "You can go with Jared."
"I want to help you," I said, dunking a plate into the soapy water and wiping it with a cloth.
"Well, in that case, stay. I won"t turn down free help," she winked, taking the rinsed dish from me and putting it in the dishwasher.
Karlie picked up some cleaning spray and went to disinfect the dining room table.
"You know," Patsy, said, "Jared may not be my biological son, but he is my son. I care and love him like any mother would. I worry about him," she shrugged. "I just want you to know that I really like you, Katy. I can see that you"re a perfect match for each other. You complete him. Hold on to him, Katy, and never let go. Love can guide you through even the worst of storms."
"Thank you," I nodded, tears threatening to fall, "that means a lot to me, coming from you."
"I know you"re going to be a part of this family, Katy," she smiled. "I want us to have a good relationship."
"I want that too," I nodded. With a laugh, I said, "Maybe you can start by teaching me to cook."
Her light, musical, laughter filled the kitchen. "I think I can do that, sweetie." She patted my cheek and quickly withdrew her hand. "Oh! I"m sorry!"
"No, it"s okay," I told her. "I"m okay."
And I was okay, with everything.
"See," Jared said, taking my hand and helping me into his car. "I told you, you had nothing to worry about."
"Patsy is awesome," I said.
He looked over at Dan and Patsy, standing on the front porch, waving.
"They both are," he said, waving back.
I nodded in agreement and waved.
Jared got in and looked in his rearview mirror. Groaning, he scolded, "Karlie, put your seatbelt on."
"Ugh, you"re so annoying, Jare," she grumbled but I heard the seatbelt click into place.
"No, I"m just concerned about your safety. This is why I don"t want you to have a car," he waved once more at his parents as we pulled away.
"You suck the fun out of everything," Karlie said from the back, her voice m.u.f.fled by her jacket, which she"d rolled up and currently had her head propped against.
"I try," Jared chuckled.
In no time, a light snore filled the backseat, and Jared chuckled. He looked over at me. "Fill her up and she falls right to sleep, just like a baby."
Jared pulled up in front of my condo building.
"I love you," he brushed his nose against my cheek. "I"m so glad you were in the club that night, and I"m so glad you came to Fight For It."
I chuckled. "You"ll have to thank my therapist for that one. She saw the flyer and suggested I try it out."
"I want to give that woman a big hug," he growled in my ear, "because she brought you straight to me."
"I think I can arrange that," I kissed him again, quickly, and grabbed my bag. "I"ll see you."
"Bye," he smiled, as I closed the door.
I walked to sliding gla.s.s doors of the main floor and looked over my shoulder. Jared was still there, watching to make sure I made it inside safe. I smiled and waved over my shoulder at him before going inside.
A smile lit my face as I rode up in the elevator.
Every day, I was finding another reason to love Jared a little more. That"s how I knew what we had, was true, real, love; the kind that lasts.
32.
I LOOKED OUT MY BEDROOM WINDOW, GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR.
It was snowing, the first one of the season.
I loved the snow, always had. When I was a child, I was the first one bundled up and outside with my sled.
It looked like we really would have a white Christmas this year.
Tonight, was Karlie"s Christmas recital, the holiday itself only a few days away. Cla.s.ses had ended a few days ago and I was happy for the break. I needed some time without homework.
I pulled on a pair of black skinny jeans and a red sweater. I had recently bought a nice black coat that came to just above my knee and belted at my waist and decided to wear it over my sweater for a dressier appearance.
I pulled my hair back in a ponytail and swiped some gloss over my lips.
Jared had to stay late at the gym today so I was driving myself to the recital. This one was smaller and would be held at the studio.
I really felt like I was part of the Reed family now and not just Jared"s girlfriend.
I slung my purse over my shoulder and locked the door behind me.
It was dark outside, the stars twinkling above and I was thankful that the condo kept the parking lot lit.
I had ordered purple tulips yesterday, for Karlie, and had picked them up this morning. I had decided to leave them in the car so I wouldn"t forget them, and was pleased to see that they still looked fine.
Traffic was heavy, but that was normal with this being a college town. I was so used to it that I didn"t really pay much attention.
The parking lot at the ballet studio wasn"t full yet and I easily found a spot.
I followed a group of people inside, up a set of steps and into a s.p.a.cious room.
A small stage sat in the front of the room with chairs set up in rows.
"Katy! Katy, honey! We"re over here!" Patsy waved me over to where her and Dan were sitting.
"Hey," I said, taking the seat beside her.
"Thank you for coming, dear. I know this means a lot to Karlie," Patsy patted my knee and quickly withdrew her hand.
I put my purse on the floor, with the flowers on top. I removed my coat and rolled it up to hold it in my lap.
"I"m just happy she wants me here," I smiled.
"You"re the sister she always wanted but never had," Patsy"s eyes shimmered. "When she was little she used to beg Dan and I to give her one," she chuckled.
"That"s sweet," I said.
"Do you have any siblings?" she asked, clearly making small talk.
"No," I snorted, shaking my head.
She gave me a funny look, my tone of voice tipping her off to a deeper meaning.