Unraveling (36 page)

The bright blue, hulking, SUV was easy to spot, when I reached the parking lot.

Jared leaned against the passenger door, arms crossed over his chest, grinning as he watched me approach.

“You clean up nice,” I smiled up at him, finger
ing the silver tie and then his purple button down shirt tucked into black slacks.

“I always look nice,” he chuckled, kissing my cheek and opened the door for me. “You look beautiful,” he said as he helped me inside.

“Thank you,” I blushed. He took my hand and kissed the top of it, before flipping it over and kissing the palm as well. “Thank you for agreeing to this. Patsy can’t wait to get to know you better.”

My stomach lurched at his words and I tried to smile but it looked more like a grimace. Jared chuckled, closing the car door and jogging around to the driver’s side.

I swallowed. Patsy was Jared’s mother’s figure and I knew her opinion mattered to him. Dan’s too. So, what if they didn’t like me? I knew my fears were silly, I had had dinner with them before, at the restaurant, but this was different. This was a family setting and I wondered if I would truly be accepted.

“Stop it, Katy,” Karlie said from the backseat. “You look like you’re about to pass out. You have nothing to worry about. Patsy has gushed about you for so long. She
thinks you’re wonderful and she loves the change you’ve made in Jared.”

Jared reached over and squeezed my knee. “You have nothing to worry about, really.”

“Okay,” I let out a gust of air, leaning back in the seat. “I’ll believe you.”

~***~

We pulled up in front of a modest, all brick, one story house with columns.

The door flew open and Patsy came running out before we could all get out of the car.

Karlie glared at an old truck parked by the mailbox.

“What is it?” I asked, puzzled.

“Holden’s here,” she snarled.

Patsy, overhearing, said to her, “Now, Karls, you know
how Holden’s dad is. We’re the only real family he has. Please, be nice to him.”

“I’ll try,” Karlie grumbled, hugging Patsy.

Patsy released Karlie and turned to me. She didn’t try to hug me, and that made me a bit sad, but it was my own fault.

“I’m so happy you’re here, honey,” Patsy said. “It means the world to me and I know Jared’s ecstatic that you agreed
.”

Jared grinned, slinging his arm around my waist and pulling me against him. He kissed the top of my head and murmured, “I am. I’m not too much of a man to admit that.”

I blushed.

“Let’s stop standing out here
, in the cold,” Patsy ushered us inside. “I’m afraid Dan and Holden might eat all the food if we wait too long.”

I expected to find a very traditional style of decorating
, on the inside of the home, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was homey. The couch worn, but not too worn, and the coffee table looked like it could tell a story or two.

Dan was relaxing in a tan recliner, a bottle of beer in one hand.

“Hey son,” He nodded at Jared. “Katy,” he grinned at me.

I smiled shyly and gave him a small wave.

“Where’s my little girl?” he peered around us, looking for Karlie.

“Hey, dad,” she said, going up and kissing his cheek. “Already starting in on the alcohol, I see,” she pointed at his beer.

“Your momma will only let me have them on ‘special occasions,’” he grumbled. “I fully intend to indulge. Jared feel free to help yourself,” Dan pointed towards what I assumed was the kitchen.

The house, being older, wasn’t very open. All the rooms were closed off from the other.

“Nah, I’m good,” Jared shrugged.

“Suit yourself,” Dan took a sip of his beer.

Karlie muttered, “
I’m
the one that’s going to need one.”

“
Whatcha need, Angel?” Holden asked, coming into the living room.

“None of your business,” Karlie snapped, crossing her arms over her chest and going in search of Patsy.

Holden smacked Jared’s arm. “What the fuck crawled up and died in your sister?”

“Don’t use that language in my house, Marks,” Dan snapped.

“Sorry, sir,” Holden straightened, waiting for Jared to answer.

“Nothing,” Jared shrugged. “She just doesn’t like you.”

“What’s not to like?” Holden threw out his arms.

“Do you really want me to answer that?” Jared raised a brow.

Holden sighed, letting his arms drop. “She acts like I kicked her puppy or something. I didn’t do
anything
.”

I hated to inform Holden, but I thought
the fact that he hadn’t done anything, was sort of the point.

Jared shrugged. “Maybe she’s
PMSing or something.”

Holden made a face. “Does that shit last all month or something?”

“Holden,” Dan growled warningly.

“Sorry,” Holden apologized. “It won’t happen again.”

“I don’t know, Holden,” Jared said, guiding me to the couch and sitting down. He pulled me down beside him and squeezed my hand. “I don’t understand how that works.”

I laughed. “Holden, she’s a sixteen year old girl, you just get on her nerves.” I wouldn’t betray Karlie’s trust by telling him about the crush. I also didn’t think Jared would take that news very well.

Holden made a face and muttered, “Women.”

“Dinner’s ready!” Patsy called out.

Jared squeezed my hand again. “Ready?”

“Yeah,” I nodded.

“Come on, Pop,” Jared patted Dan’s shoulder. “Turn the TV off.”

Dan grumbled and
the TV went black. He stood and I could hear his joints pop and groan. He chuckled. “I’m not as young as I used to be, Katy. This old man is falling apart.”

“No, you’re not,” Jared said, leading me through the house, past the kitchen and into a large dining room.

The walls were a dark blue and the furniture was mahogany.

Jared pulled out a chair, motioning for me to sit down. I did and he scooted me in.

I smiled over at him as he took the seat next to me, beside Dan. Karlie sat across from me with Holden beside her. Patsy sat to my right.

We joined hands and Dan said grace.

“Dig in,” Dan said, when he was finished with the prayer.

We each took a dish, putting a little on our plate before passing it to the next person.

The amount of food was a bit overwhelming.

I dipped my turkey in gravy and bit into it. It was the most delicious thing I’d ever tasted. “Patsy, this is delicious,” I gushed.

“Thank you, dear,” she smiled, sipping a glass of wine.

“
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 massaged 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 hear
d 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.