Cole (The Leaves) (13 page)

“Come on in. Wait till you see this place, Aimes. It is incredible.” I lead her through the entry and into the large enclosed patio area. Cole told me it’s called a conservatory. Well, whatever it is, it was beautifully decorated and we were there enjoying pre-Thanksgiving dinner canapé’s.

“Inky.” She motioned to me in a whisper. “Have you ever had Thanksgiving finger foods? I mean that wasn’t cheese from a can on little crackers?”

“Please don’t make me laugh, Aimes. I can’t say that I have, but you know this is all new for them. Cole and I are having Christmas at his place. You guys want to come by? It’ll be more what we’re used to.”

“We can at night. I’ll bring pie.” We laughed.

“Gentlemen, would you care to join me?” Richard Carlyle stood ominously in the doorway like the force he was. Gus gave him the
It’s alright man
look and they followed him through the open French doors.

“Mrs. Carlyle, thanks for having us.” Aimes thanked Trish and tried to not look uncomfortable.

“Of course! I hope we didn’t overdo it. I haven’t hosted a holiday in years. Unless it’s a cocktail party, I don’t really know how to do the intimate family thing.”

“It’s really nice.” Aimes didn’t say much more. We talked about her recent trip to Texas and my upcoming nuptials. Party planning was definitely Trish’s forte. As soon as we told her we’d picked a date, it was full steam ahead. I gave her carte blanche to do whatever she thought would be appropriate. I gave her a list of people we wanted there and Cole asked her not to deviate from that request. He wasn’t a showy guy and he didn’t want our wedding to become a business meeting for his father.

We sat around a giant table. A least three feet of space was between Cole and me. Gus and Aimes sat across from us. Trish and Richard were at each end, but it wasn’t clear who was at the actual head of the table.

Each place setting had a beautiful little cornucopia with sugared fruits which I discovered were actual candy. It was the kind of thing you saw in a shop for twenty bucks each, but apparently these were party favors and not something you boxed up for next Thanksgiving.

When the turkey was brought in by the housekeeper, I heard an audible gasp from Aimes. I looked at her, she looked at me, I looked at Cole, he looked at his mom, and Richard stood up. He held up the carving knife and fork and thanked the housekeeper.

“Patricia?” Richard studied the beast – and that’s the only way to describe it – for an appropriate place to begin carving.

“Yes, Richard?” I could hear her trying desperately to stifle a laugh.

“How many people were you expecting today?”

“Six.”

“Well, dear, this is not a turkey, this is a parade float.” The entire table burst into laughter. I couldn’t even see the top of Gus’ head over the giant bird.

Gus was the first to speak, “About ten years back, my pop kept feeding a turkey he bought from the neighbor who raises ‘em. He told my mom to just buy a frozen one from the market. He wanted to see if he could fatten it up for next Christmas. Well, I was supposed to be there the next Christmas, but it turned out I couldn’t get leave. So my pop told her to wait until I was coming home for sure. Three years he fattened up that damn bird. I finally said I was coming home for sure and my pop yells out to Mom, ‘tell ‘em all Christmas at our house this year.’ I get there and we had cousins and aunts and uncles, friends from church. That bird weighed in at thirty-four pounds and that was after he’d killed and cleaned it. I reckon this bird here is around twenty-five pounds.”

I was laughing so hard I had tears coming down my cheeks. “Gus?” Richard asked. “Would you like to carve this turkey because honestly, I wouldn’t even know where to begin?”

Huh, Richard Carlyle can’t do something.

“I’d be happy to.” Gus took the knife and fork from Richard and began to carve that bird with the ease of a seasoned butcher.

I started to laugh again, but quickly realized I was the only one. “Anika, dear… are you feeling okay?” Trish asked.

Gus carved a few pieces and returned to his seat. It was at that moment I decided to make a bold move. I wasn’t even sure what came over me, but decided to go with it. I reached to my left and took Cole’s hand then reached to my right and held my hand open to Richard’s. He looked at me like I had cooties, but tentatively wrapped his large hand around mine. Everyone else at the table followed suit.

“I’ve always seen this in movies and TV shows, but I’ve never done it before, so, don’t judge me if I do it wrong. I just wanted to say that I’m thankful to everyone at this table. I know each of you played a part in bringing me home. I’m thankful for friends and I’m thankful that I finally have a family… and I’m thankful for this huge bird.” I could hear Aimes hiccupping with sobs. It wasn’t my intention to make anyone cry, so I thought I better throw something in to lighten the mood, “And I’m thankful that today I was a witness to the humbling of Richard Carlyle – turkey carving, finally, something you can’t do.”

He gave my hand a squeeze and the tiniest of smiles lifted the side of his mouth.

“Dig in everybody.” Trish lifted a platter of mashed potatoes and handed them to Cole, then she caught me with her gaze and gave me a little nod.

Cole leaned into me as he handed me the bowl, “I love you. I’m speechless and turned on all at the same time. I can’t wait to get you home.”

My smile must’ve been contagious, because when I handed the bowl to Richard, I actually saw teeth.

***

“So, next week I’ll pick you up and we’ll find some decorations and a tree.”

“No, Mom. Anika and I are going to buy a tree together, but you feel free to get decorations.”

“Fine then. Really Cole, you hog her all for yourself you know that?” She teased and pulled me into a hug. “Great toast” she said quietly into my shoulder. “Not a dry eye in the house.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” I said trying to pull away, but she held me still.

“I do. This was very special to all of us, dear. Thank you for making us a family again.”

I decided not to respond. If I even dared, there might be crying on my part and that was something I’d been doing enough of to last a lifetime.

“Aimes, Gus….don‘t move!” I grabbed two bags from a side table and gave one to Gus and one to Aimes. “The brown bag has your pie plates and leftovers.” I winked at Aimes, “I’m pretty sure there’s enough turkey there to last you a week solid… and the other one is your wedding gift. Don’t let the size of the bag fool you. Oh, and it was Cole’s idea.” Aimes looked to Gus for guidance on whether they should open it now or wait. “Open it, please.” I pleaded.

“Okay, okay.” She said and opened the bag to reveal a large envelope. She pulled out the four by six embossed card and looked from me to Cole to Gus and back to the card again. “Dude. Inky. This is too much.”

“No. Trust me, it’ll never be enough where you’re concerned.” Cole wanted to send Gus and Aimes on a honeymoon, but I knew she would’ve felt awkward about it. She also didn’t want to travel too far just in case she had any complications. There was a beautiful resort locally and it turned out they offered a great honeymoon package. Cole suggested we include the pre-natal spa package, so that I could join her while he and Gus go golfing.

“Do you golf Gus?” Cole asked.

“As a matter of fact, I do.”

“I’m not very good” Cole explained. “But I like driving the buggy around and drinking beer all day.

“Can’t think of anything wrong with that. You’re on. And thanks.” He flashed his wide smile and looked down to Aimes, who was threatening to start crying on the spot.

“You better get her home, Gus.” I hugged them both and watched the car pull away.

“Anika.” Richard’s voice halted me. I always felt like Maria when she meets Captain Von Trapp every time he spoke to me. Except take away the thrill part and just leave the terror part.

“Yes.”

“May I speak with you a moment… privately?” He began to walk into what I knew was his home office without looking back to see if I followed. I supposed people just followed him without question.

I looked to Cole who answered, “I have no idea. I’m happy to join you.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’ll just be a minute and we’ll go. Can you find your mom and make sure you get a lot of pie and leftovers.” I smiled.

“Yes ma’am.” I giggled and went in search of Richard.

When I entered the room he stood behind a large dark wooden desk, looking out a window. The room was dominant and masculine and I was surprised by the lack of mounted animal heads. “I would’ve taken you for a hunting man, Mr. Carlyle.”

“Shut the door.” He turned to face me. “Please.” I did as he asked. “Have a seat, Anika.”

“Am I in trouble?” It felt like I’d been summoned to the principal’s office… not a feeling I liked at all.

“Why would you think that?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Our track record isn’t very good.” I was treading lightly, not sure what he wanted to talk to me about.

“Are you always going to treat me with disdain?” He didn’t seem angry; it was more like he was on a fact-finding mission.

“Probably not, but I feel like you want something from me.” I said honestly.

“I like you Anika. I like your spirit. I like that you don’t back down, even though I’m quite certain you find me intimidating.”

Wherever he’s going with this, I hope he makes it quick, because I can only keep it together around him for so long until I break.

“And….?”

“I know it’s because of your love for my son that you chide me the way you do. I’m more than happy to be the butt of the joke. Whatever I need to do or not do to win back the favor of my son. Win is not the verb I should use – earn.” He looked through me and said, “I almost killed him. I threatened him. Did he tell you that?”

“Yes.” I could’ve spit that answer at him, but I didn’t. I could hear the regret and pain in his voice and understood he was already torturing himself.

“You know that Joe is most certainly dead?”

Oh.

The weight of his words was like having the wind knocked out of me.

“It was implied, yes.”

“Serena wanted to meet you. She wanted to apologize. She didn’t want anyone to endure what she did. The family feels they owe you a debt for your suffering.”

“Mr. Carlyle…”

“Please, call me Richard.”

“Richard, all that would do is remind me. He can’t hurt me anymore and he was only half of the problem.”

He sat down in the chair next to me and took my hand in his. It was a gesture so out of character for him that I hesitated. “I won’t bite you, Anika. I want to protect my family. It may seem too little, too late, but my wife, my son… and you are all my priority. If there is anything you want me to do, anything… just say the word and I will make it happen.”

“What are you saying exactly?”

“I’m not saying anything except that my son is happy for the first time in years and that’s because of you. I hated Emma, so did Trish. She used Cole. I don’t care about the money, I care that she took advantage of his vulnerability. Anyway, that’s enough for today. But to be clear, I am a hunter, Anika. I hunt money, I hunt power and if need be, I hunt people.”

His eyes were almost the same as Cole’s, but the green in them burned into me. “Thank you for what you’ve done for this family. Have a good night.”

He released me from his grip just as Cole opened the door. “Are you ready?”

I rose from the chair and took Cole’s hand. “Goodnight… Richard. Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Happy Thanksgiving, Anika.”

Cole

Anika stared out the window as we sped toward my house. As much as I wanted to tear her clothes off with my teeth, I needed to know what my dad spoke to her about and that made my dick go limp faster than anything on earth could.

“What did he want?” I asked.

“He wanted to say thank you, I think. He’s kind of cryptic. He just wants you to be happy. And he basically welcomed me to the family I guess.”

“That was nice?” It came out as a question, and I guess it was, a question of my dad’s change in sentiment and behavior. I pulled into the drive way and reached for her hand.

“He also said that Joe is dead. Or he probably is.”

I didn’t react at first. I wasn’t sure how she wanted me to respond, so I just said, “It was assumed though. Are you okay with that?” I opened the front door and led her inside, taking the bag of leftovers from her hands.

We both moved around the kitchen silently, Anika arranging containers into the fridge and leaving the desserts on the counter. It wasn’t until she began to look between the pumpkin pie and the chocolate pie trying to make a decision that she spoke.

“You know, as an outsider, I can say I’m against the death penalty. But then when something happens and it becomes personal, that rational person I usually am goes right out the window.”

“So, you are okay with it?” I took a large slice of Gus’ chocolate pie and two forks, handing her one, making the decision for her.

“I’m glad the choice wasn’t mine to make and I’m glad it’s over.” I watched her for a few minutes, savoring each bite. She stopped and put the fork down. “I wonder sometimes how Joe and my mom ended up in each other’s lives. Why she let him do what he did to me, you know?”

I don’t say anything, I can’t. I hate them both with every fiber of my being, and I think Joe got exactly what he deserved and so did her Mom.

She leaned down and started to take another bite of the pie. “Oh, God this is so good. I told Aimes to bring these. She was nervous about what to bring.”

Since I was still following her lead, I happily invited a new topic and decided to add my own.

“Hey, did my mom ask you about registering for our wedding?”

“You know I don’t really care about that stuff right? I mean, if we need dishes, we go out and get them. If we need towels and a vase, we get them. I just want everyone to come and see us get married, dance, eat, and enjoy themselves. Why does it have to be so freakin’ complicated?” She folded her arms and put her head on top.

“Don’t worry about any of that. I was only asking to see if there’s something you wanted. It’s part of the whole wedding thing and I don’t want you to miss out on any part of the experience. Whatever you want, say the word, Anika. You know I’m happy to just meet you at the end of the aisle, both of us in our wedding finery. None of that other stuff matters to me either.”