Azmir
Thanksgiving has rolled around and is met with mixed feelings. I know it will be strange for, at least me, to be spending a family holiday with my Earth. It’s been damn near twenty years since I’ve spent a holiday with her. I don’t know what the atmosphere will be like. Coincidentally, this will be my first major holiday with Rayna as well.
I’ve been accustomed to holiday dinners with Tara and her family. Patricia would make a big to do over the linens, silverware, and even her apron, attempting the ideal family meal. Big D would entertain her pretentious antics the way he’d always placate her idealisms. Tara would be shooting off at the mouth with either a complaint or a request for some astronomical wish list item. And I would, I guess humor her as well, just to get through the damn meal. After dinner, I’d cop a spot in front of the television for the game. After a few years, I’d watch television until I could no longer take the mundane of it all and would leave to get some work done. Big D and I never discussed business during family events, so he wasn’t much company.
This year, I have a new family and a new lady. And the new family is my mother and Samantha. My mother invited her girlfriend, Pam, from Chi-town out. I think it’s nice that my mom has reconnecting with her old buddies. With Rayna’s mom being in attendance I don’t know what to expect. Samantha has been trying to move at Rayna’s pace with reuniting. And if I know my Rayna, she’s giving her mother a hard way. I will not involve myself in their affairs. So long as Rayna isn’t hurt, I have no problems with stepping aside and allowing them to work through this alone. I have my own adjustment issues with Yazmine. We’re good, finding our way amenably.
On our way over to Redondo Beach, Rayna doesn’t talk much. I don’t know if it’s her nerves or she just enjoys the peaceful quiet, but when I shut off the engine she doesn’t budge.
I turn to her. “Are we good, little girl?”
Rayna’s eyes rise to mine and I can see her pupils flip. She goes from introspection to company that quickly.
“Y-yeah…I’m good. Are you ready?”
Her eyes dance between mine. I can now tell she’s pensive. But what can I do?
“Are you going to be okay in there? I don’t know about you, but this is the first holiday meal I’m having with my Earth in two decades. My head’s a little fucked up right now.” I try warming to her.
She turns her gaze to the house, considering what I’ve said. After a few beats, she sighs, “Yeah, this is quite unusual, isn’t it?” Her tone is just as forlorn as her words. She then turns back to me. “But we’ll be fine.” Then she cracks a beautiful smile. “Let’s go. I’m starving.” She kisses me, hungrily sucking my bottom lip before slipping out of the Wrangler.
I go to the rear cargo area to grab the turkey. Rayna spent the entire morning in the kitchen, preparing a maple-pear glazed bird. The damn thing is big enough to feed at least my Cobalt staff. We climb the steps to the porch and she rings the doorbell. Her eyes are everywhere below her neckline. I can swear she’s nervous. Before I can ask, the door swings open.
Yazmine throws her hands in the air. “Beloved, y’all here!” she shrieks as she engulfs Rayna in the biggest embrace.
Rayna reciprocates, “Mrs. Jacobs! I’m starving.”
“We ready for ya, baby. C’mon in!”
Rayna makes her way inside and Yazmine turns to me. “Mir-Mir, you got a big ass bird there. Come, put it down. Is it cold?” she reaches up as I stoop down to allow her to kiss my cheek. “You so damn tall, beloved. Just like your uncle.” She always said that when I was a kid coming up. My uncle was her brother, whom I’ve never met. He was killed in war before I was born.
“No, it’s straight from the oven.”
I walk into the house and head straight to the kitchen. It’s funny, each time I’m here, I never feel familiar with the place. Rayna hadn’t lived her long enough for me to acclimate myself to it. I find my way to the kitchen where I see Samantha, over the stove, stirring gravy.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Mrs. Brimm,” I greet while holding the turkey in the large broiler pan Rayna’s transported it in.
She turns, and with eyes as big as saucers filled with excitement, trills, “Azmir! You guys made it. Let me clear ‘da counter for the turkey—wait, is it warm already?” The same question Yazmine had.
“No, it’s hot…been cooking all day.”