“What’re you doing tonight?”
“Sitting around watching football and wishing you were here.”
“So you’re staying in?”
“Yes, Ella, I’m staying in and behaving myself while you’re out of town.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“It hasn’t even been two weeks since you picked me up at a bar, so it doesn’t offend me that you’d be worried about that.”
“Haven’t things changed since then?”
“Everything has changed since then.”
His assurances warmed her all the way through.
“Don’t worry, El. I’m on my best behavior. I have promises to keep. Important promises.”
“I love you, Gavin. And I love being able to tell you I love you.”
“I love you, too. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you then.” She waited for him to end the call. “You’re supposed to hang up now.”
“Not until you do.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Neither do I.”
Ella smiled widely. “Let’s hang up together. One, two, three . . .”
“You first.”
“I’m going now.”
“So am I.”
“Night, Gavin.”
“Night, Ella.”
Their phones clicked off at the same time, and Ella lay there for a long time afterward thinking about him, wishing she were with him and counting the minutes until she could see him again.
*
Everything about this Thanksgiving felt different to Ella from every other one that came before it. For one thing, it was the first one they’d spent in the lake house. For another, the family football game happened on the beach rather than in the field next to the barn. It was strange not to have Hunter and Max with them, which was also a first. It was the first Thanksgiving in which they’d taken turns going to the hospital to visit Max and Caden, who’d had a good first night.
It was the first Thanksgiving that Ella had somewhere else she’d rather be—or rather the first time she wished she could be in two places at once. It wasn’t unusual to see Lucas and Landon nursing hangovers, but it was unusual to see Wade in the same condition.
Ella plopped down next to him on a blanket on the beach. A chilly wind blew in off the lake, but the bright sunshine kept the day from being too cold to be outside. “You’re looking rough.”
“Gee, thanks,” Wade said with a wan smile. “Remind me not to try to keep up with those two buffoons.” He gestured to Landon, who was showing off his backflip skills. “If I did that right now, I’d puke all over the place.”
“Not like you to get loaded.”
“Maybe it’s more like me than you think.”
“Wade . . . That’s not going to make anything better.”
“Actually, for a short time last night, it did make things better. I was with the chick magnets and had just enough booze in my belly to forget about why I wanted to get drunk in the first place.”
“Did you meet someone?”
“Nah. Nothing like that. It was fun, though.”
“I’m glad you had fun.”
“Not so fun today, though. Can’t remember the last time I was this hungover.”
“Thanksgiving dinner will soak up the booze and make you all better.”
“I’m counting on that.”
They were sitting down to dinner an hour later when Max came in, seeming upset. “Am I too late for dinner?”
“Right on time.” Molly jumped up to get another place setting while the others made room for him at the table. “How’s the baby?”
“He’s great.”
“And Chloe?”
“Miserable as usual lately. Motherhood hasn’t changed that.” He loaded his plate with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole and the other sides. “I’ve got to be back in an hour. I don’t want to talk about her. But I’ve got lots of new pictures.” He passed his phone around so everyone could see the pictures.
“He’s a beauty,” Elmer said proudly.
Max put down his fork, bent his head and seemed to be trying to control his emotions.