alone with him so they could just be real. And so she could grab him by the lapels of his
stupid coat and shake him until he explained everything. This had gone on long enough.
"Got to talking, shared a cab," Cam picked up, winking at Callie.
Callie smiled at Luce. "Here I was picturing some intimate gathering at the Price
household, but this is so much better. Now I can get the real scoop."
Luce could feel her friend searching her face for clues about what the deal was
with these two guys. Thanksgiving was about to get really awkward, really fast. This was
not the way things were supposed to go.
"Turkey time!" her mother called from the doorway. Her smile changed into a
confused grimace when she saw the crowd outside. "Luce? What's going on?" Her old
green-and-white-striped apron was tied around her waist.
"Mom," Luce said, gesturing with her hand, "this is Callie, and Cam, and ..." She
wanted to reach out to put her hand on Daniel, something, anything to let her mom know
that he was special, that this was the one. To let him know, too, that she still loved him,
that everything between them was going to be okay. But she couldn't. She just stood
there. " ... Daniel."
"Okay." Her mom squinted at each of the newcomers. "Well, um, welcome. Luce,
honey, can I have a word?"
Luce went to her mother at the front door, holding up a finger to let Callie know
she'd be right back. She followed her mother through the foyer, through the dim hallway
hung with framed pictures from Luce's childhood, and into her parents' cozy, lamplit
bedroom. Her mom sat down on the white bedspread and crossed her arms. "Feel like
telling me anything?"
"I'm so sorry, Mom," Luce said, sinking down on the bed.
"I don't want to shut anyone out of a Thanksgiving meal, but don't you think we
need to draw the line somewhere? Wasn't one unexpected carful of people enough?"
"Yes, of course you're right," Luce said. "I didn't invite all these people. I'm as
stunned as you are that they all showed up."
"It's just that we have so little time with you. We love to meet your friends,"
Luce's mom said, stroking her hair. "But we cherish our time with you more."
180
"I know this is such a huge imposition, but Mom"--Luce turned her cheek into her
mother's open palm--"he is special. Daniel. I didn't know he was going to come, but now
that he's here, I need this time with him as much as I need it with you and Dad. Does that
make any sense?"
"Daniel?" her mom repeated. "That beautiful blond boy? You two are--"
"We're in love." For some reason, Luce was trembling. Even though she had her
doubts about their relationship, saying out loud, to her mother, that she loved Daniel
made it seem true--made her remember that she did, despite everything, truly love him.
"I see." When her mom nodded, her sprayed brown curls stayed in place. She
smiled. "Well, we can't very well kick out everyone else but him, can we?"
"Thank you, Mom."
"Thank your father, too. And honey? Next time, a little more advance notice,
please. If I'd known you were bringing home 'the one,' I would have grabbed your baby
album from the attic." She winked, planting a kiss on Luce's cheek.
Back in the living room, Luce ran into Daniel first.
"I'm glad you got to be with your family after all," he said.
"I hope you're not mad at Daniel for bringing me," Cam put in, and Luce searched
for haughtiness in his voice but found none. "I'm sure you'd both rather I weren't here,
but"--he looked at Daniel--"a deal's a deal."
"I'm sure," Luce said coolly.
Daniel's face gave nothing away. Until it darkened. Miles had come in from the
dining room.
"Um, hey, your dad's about to make a toast." Miles's eyes were fixed on Luce in a
way that made her think he was trying hard not to meet Daniel's stare. "Your mom told
me to ask where you wanted to sit."
"Oh, wherever. Maybe next to Callie?" A mild panic struck Luce as she thought
about all the other guests and the need to keep them as far away from each other as
possible. And Molly away from just about everyone. "I should have done a seating
chart."
Roland and Arriane had made quick work of setting up the card table at the edge
of the dining room table, so the banquet now stretched into the living room. Someone had
thrown down a gold-and-white tablecloth, and her parents had even busted out their
wedding china. Candles were lit and goblets of water filled. And soon Shelby and Miles
were carrying in steaming bowls of green beans and mashed potatoes while Luce took her