Love Without End (16 page)

“Brie, calm your shit, I was only joking and you know it’s funny. This is going to be the best Thanksgiving Dinner EVER! See you soon, kay? Bye!” she practically laugh-shouts as she ends the call.

“Han,” I smile, shaking my head, “what’s going on, and why have you invited everyone over?

Slowly turning to me, she pops her shoulder a smiles tenderly realizing my uneasiness of the guest list. “I have a lot to be thankful for Carter Grayson, and everyone that I invited plays a role in that happiness. The happiness that I have accepted completely and wholly since you visited Florida through this morning. You don’t have to like it, but please try to support me, like we talked about last night, okay.” Her eyes are bright with love and purpose, so full of life like they use to be. She’s happy. This is my Hannah Grace.

“Why is Brie flipping out?” I clear my throat, “I mean, no matter whether she did or did not hook up with Bray when we visited, I assumed she was single.” I glance over at the brown-eyed, cheeky woman arching her brow, as if questioning me for my inquiry, as I pull off the highway onto our exit ramp nearing her parents’ house.

“She’s just Brie, don’t worry about it. Let’s just have a great day, like we used to,” she laughs softly and checks her cell as it beeps again, silencing it before placing it in her purse and laces her dainty fingers with mine.

Bringing her hand to my lips, I place a kiss and smile as we pull into the James’ driveway. “If it makes you happy, I can give you that. It looks like the Sava’s and Chase started without us,” seeing Chase on the porch swing taking a pull from his beer and Brie chatting away with him, David, and Joel.

Wow, it appears mom and dad had the wraparound porch refinished and stained this past summer; smiling bright, I squeeze Carter’s hand before unlacing our fingers and exiting the car. Just as I duck back out of the backseat with my bag containing a change of clothes for both Carter and myself, I meet my father’s eyes and smile. Hugging him in a tight embrace, he kisses the top of my head and walks me to the porch where my mother and Meredith have now joined everyone. After a round of hugs and a quick catching up, I shoot Carter a wink and head inside with the rest of the women.

Once inside, I deposit my belongings onto the hope chest just inside the foyer after grabbing my cell and shoving it into my back pocket; I don my apron and wash my hands. Brielle has already pushed her mother, Meredith, to a bench stool on the opposite side of the island and began to prepare the stuffing, greenbean casserole, corn casserole, and a few other side dishes. My mom starts pressing the freshly made crust into several glass pie pans, and directs me to start the filling for the pies.

“Mom, do we really need all these desserts?” I ask hesitantly. I mean seriously she has five crusts set out and ready for the pie fillings.

“Hannah Grace, you invited all your friends over with very little planning notice, I would think you’d appreciate all the varieties to satisfy their preferences,” she says with an arched brow as she pours mimosas for us all and takes a seat with Meredith. I guess that means Brie and I are officially taking over the meal prep.

“Yes boss,” I sigh and roll my eyes, “I did invite the Sava’s and the Jacobs’ as well as Chase and Braydon. I just want everyone that has affected my life together. I’m very thankful this year, especially, and wanted to share that with them.” Grabbing the canisters of sugar and flour, pecans, apples, and cheesecake ingredients, I turn back to her and take a sip of my orange bubbly. “Is that so bad?”

“But the Jacobs’ are still out of down Han, I called Elaine just this morning,” my mom reminds me while taking dishes into the dining room to set up the table.

“Han, I need you to forego the pie fillings and finishing the potatoes, so I can get them boiling and baking.” Brie states as she pushes my current task away and slide two bowls of potatoes in front of me.

“Of course, chef,” I chuckle as I start peeling the russets and yams.

After a few hours, we make our way into the family room passing through the formal dining room, which is now set to accommodate all of us for dinner. My cell beeps just as we all collapse into the plush leather sofas around the room triggering a loud sigh from me.

Braydon – I think I’m here

Me – kk, I’ll be right out, the guys are on the porch last I knew.

Braydon – give C and me a few

Just as I lifted the chilled bottle of Corona to my lips, a familiar grey, four door Silverado comes cruising down the drive.

“Who the fuck invited him to the party?” David grumbled.

“That’d be our girl, Sir.” I roll my eyes and stand, taking back the last of my beer and toss it in the barrel beside the stairs. “I’ll go welcome him,” I say without looking back making my way towards the truck before it even comes to a stop.

As Braydon pulls up next to the garage, I see him texting someone but quickly looks up and hops out.

“Hey man,” he says hesitantly, “thanks for having me.”

“I didn’t, Hannah did.”

“Well, okay,” he drawls out. “Can we at least make it cordial for her then?” I almost laughed at the palpable anger in his tone as he asked me. This fucker has to be fucking kidding me right now.

“Can we? Sure, we can Braydon. Do me a favor first,
man
? Can you tell me why the FUCK you never found it necessary to tell me before? And don’t give me the bullshit of ‘I thought you knew’.” I seethed.

“Why the fuck would I have told you? I was the only motherfucker you had; I was the only person you turned to,” his voice turning as malevolent as his eyes. “It was easier for me to take your hate indirectly day after day, knowing you weren’t gonna do something even more stupid on top of the two other massive fuckin mistakes I was living with.” My fists clinched and the words “two other” before he put up his hand and cut me off. “It’s bad enough knowing I destroyed them, man. Both of them.”

Pivoting in frustration, I turn to head back to the house before stopping short when it hits me. He said ‘destroyed them’. The fuck? Turning abruptly, Braydon still standing where I left. His face more relaxed now, must be nice because I am still all sorts of pissed the fuck off.

“So you did know Han lost the baby?” I accuse, glowering at the continual deceit. “Even though you just fuckin told her at my house you had no idea, are you fuckin kidding me? How about you figure out what goddamned story you want to tell, and tell it?”

“Carter, I swear to fuck, you assume more than a little teenage bitch on the rag during gym class. FUCK, man. NO, but Hannah and I weren’t the only one’s involved in that accident.” He retorts back with a bite. Then mutters quietly when looking around me giving a nod to whoever is approaching, “I just thank, yet hate, God, that she didn’t remember any of it… not even me. But for what it’s worth Carter, I hope one day… one day I can somehow earn your forgiveness and friendship back. I’ve, we’ve both lost more than we should have at this point in our lives.”

Getting back up to meet Braydon, after giving him and Carter a few moments to chat, I pass Chase in the hallway making his way into the kitchen. “Hey, keep those fingers out of the food Mr. Timmons. You can’t blame the indentions on Isaac today,” I playfully scold before pushing through the front door. The cool breeze gusts around me just as I step onto the porch, still loving that the temperature is uncharacteristically warm today.

Crossing the porch, I cautiously make my way towards where Carter and Braydon are standing in stiff unwelcoming stances. I peek around Carter’s side and smile at Bray earning me a nod; better than nothing I guess, so forward on I go. Closing in on the two of them, I smile bright at Braydon’s words.

“I hope one day… one day I can somehow earn your forgiveness and friendship back. I’ve, we’ve both lost more than we should have at this point in our lives.”” He says with sincerity coating every word.

“Yeah, one day.” Carter repeats with a curt nod and wraps a possessive arm around my waist. I pop up on my tiptoes and kiss him quickly on the cheek wiggling away and bouncing back toward the house.

“Alright boys, you all play nice, dinner will be ready in just a few minutes. Let’s go.” I chuckle as I make my way towards the front door the two of them following behind me in silence. Once I am inside, I shut the door leaving Carter and Braydon on the porch with my dad and Joel. Looking up, I see Chase pressed against Brie in the kitchen corridor all but dry humping.

“Ahem,” I clear my throat, which inflicts zero reaction. Shaking my head, I walk straight towards them, smacking Chase upside the head and entering the kitchen just as the timer started to buzz.

“Brielle, get your fucking tongue outta his mouth and come help me,” I call out lifting the casseroles from the double stacked oven beside the convection oven where the pies are still baking. Brie sighs loudly and walks to the farmhouse sink on the opposite wall to wash her hands. “Thank goodness, who knows where they have been while you and Chase molest each other in my childhood home.” I giggle setting the dishes on to hot pads.

“Yep, just taking your lead from when we were younger, hookah,” she laughs flinging water at my face before taking the turkey out of the oven.

“Chase, get your hands washed, you can help us take everything into the formal dining room.” I nod him over as he stands there watching our banter, smiling fondly at Brie. He does as instructed and starts taking the dishes to the table placing them where the menu cards indicate.

“Mom, go get the boys, we are ready to start dinner, please.” I call out as I fill the glasses with wine and Brielle fills the crystal tumblers with ice water.

“Yes, darling,” she sings back to me as she collects dad, Joel, Carter and Braydon from the front of the house.

Smiling as they file into the dining room, noticeably inhaling the feast’s fragrance, each person takes their seat as indicated by the printed fall leaf place card. Mom, Dad, Meredith, and Joel on the far north side of the table grouped off as couples facing each other, Carter takes his place at the south end next to my place card, which is between his and Braydon’s seat. Braydon nods to my mother on his right side as he takes his seat. Directly across from me is Brielle, leaving an open chair between her and her mother – odd, and Chase occupies the chair on her right.

Just as I clear my throat to thank everyone for coming Brielle takes her seat followed by Chase on her heels with the piping hot turkey. I glance around the table to the faces of all those so dear to my heart with the exception of Carter’s parents, a bright, thankful smile gracing my face. Once the turkey is placed at the far end of the table between the dad and Joel, Chase looks across the table before taking his seat. I cannot help but notice the look of recognition that passes between Braydon and Chase then look of confusion from Braydon to Brielle.

“Holy Shit, I didn’t know you’d be here, bro,” Chase says in a state of surprise as a familiar smile tugs at the corners of his lips. He steps back away from the table, rounding it, just as Braydon stands up. I feel as if we are all infringing on a moment as they give each other a hug followed by a loud clap on each other’s backs.