wine, ate all the delicious food, and just talked. I had no idea that my father had to give up golf because of his arthritis, or that mom had been doing some styling gigs with major political figures. Both Ann and Joey had recently gotten promotions at work but were talking about launching their own firm in the next five years. Cassie won first place at her most recent violin recital, and Luke just lost his first tooth.
It was so nice to hear about their lives. Nice enough that I wanted to start making family dinners a regular thing. But for as much as Hazel was happy for me, I could see a sense of sadness lingering in her expression.
“I’m sorry you’re not with your family tonight,” I whispered in her ear. “Your mom told me about everyone disbanding this time.”
“You talked to my mom?” she gasped.
“I assumed you would be with them and was going to come by. I figured I’d better ask her permission first.”
“It’s okay. Thank you for letting me join all of you instead.”
A phone started ringing all of a sudden, and we quickly realized it was Hazel’s.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. How rude. Let me just…,” she glanced down at the screen and paused. “It’s my little sister. If you’ll excuse me, I just want to make sure everything’s okay.”
Hazel stepped out into the hall to answer, and I couldn’t help but overhear her conversation.
“You’re where!?... I thought you were in Oregon!...What do you mean you’re at my apartment!?” Hazel looked up at me with wide eyes.
“Give her my address. Tell her to come over here and join us.”
Hazel did just as I said before returning to the table. “Apparently she hated her boyfriend’s family so much she decided to come home. They broke up...the poor thing.”
“Hope that doesn’t run in the family,” Evelyn joked dryly, sipping her wine. “I’m starting to grow rather fond of you and want you to stick around.”
“Well, so far you are all more than tolerable,” Hazel beamed.
We were surprised again by a knock at the door. “She got here fast.”
But it wasn’t Payton. It was both Mr. and Mrs. Malone at the door.
“Mom! Dad! I thought you were in Canada!? How did you...What are you…”
“Oh honey, it was such a nightmare,” her mom explained, hugging us both. “We got stopped by border control! Our passports were expired! Took us forever to get out of there and back into the city.”
Her dad added, “We figured if we weren’t going on our big trip, we wanted to be with you. Payton told us we could find you here and that she was on her way.”
Payton showed up a short while later, but that wasn’t the last of the excitement. Yet another knock came to the door, and this time it was Margo and Tom.
“I figured we were late enough that most of the triggering food smells might be gone,” Margo explained as she showed herself in. “Sorry for all of us barging into your family dinner like this, Chris. But I guess you’ll have to get used to this sort of thing with us if you’re going to be hanging around for a while.”
“I plan to,” I said, scratching my head as I looked at the dining room, which was rapidly filling up. “I just may need to buy more chairs.”
“What’s this about triggering food smells?” Kathy asked.
“Oh, good. I can just tell you in person now,” Margo replied. “I’m pregnant!”
Everyone erupted in cheers as she went around the room for congratulatory hugs. The noise and intimacy of it all was nothing like the Christmas galas...in all the best possible ways.
Margo eyed me and Hazel holding hands. “It looks like you two have some news to share as well.”
“Not news to me,” their Dad insisted. “I’ve known these two would be a thing from the moment she brought him to the tree farm. My girl doesn’t bring just any guy there, whether she wants to admit it or not.”
Once everyone settled in, Payton looked around the room with a frown. “I know half of you have already eaten and preggo here might have to hide in another room for a bit, but are there any leftovers we can heat up? I’m starving.”
“Actually,” Margo said, rubbing her stomach. “For the first time in days, I think I actually feel better. Maybe getting out of the house was what I needed after all. And yes, I’d love something to eat if you have it,