Haunting

Chapter 5

        Dev pulls a plain dark blue button up from his closet with yet another glance at the clock. 11:45. He sighs, pacing around his room for the hundredth time. He emerged from the shower about ten minutes ago and it pains me that I can't smell his rich scent. I remember it well, though. Cool and minty.

        He looks at his phone. It's been silent except for a few texts from Trent and Ben describing the latest antics of the twins. I assume he's been expecting a text from Cassidy.

        His back straightens with determination and he tugs on the shirt, careful to keep it mostly wrinkle-free. The cross is displayed proudly against his skin. He starts to leave the room but pauses. His gaze is locked on the picture. "Happy Thanksgiving, Averi," he whispers. "I love you."

        The drive to Cassidy's house takes only ten minutes. Dev sits in the truck for another five as if he still hasn't fully convinced himself to do this. He leans his head back against the seat and closes his eyes.

        Before he can reach a decision I see the front door open. Cassidy is wearing a cute lavender blouse with a black shawl wrapped around her bare arms and shoulders. Her matching skirt sweeps against her ankles as she heads to the truck. A smile graces her lips as she taps on the window.

        Dev jerks upright. His amber eyes search the inside of the truck a moment before landing on Cassidy. He relaxes, finally opening the door.

        "Hey, Devin. I'm glad you made it."

        "Sorry if I'm too early. I just--"

        "Nonsense," Cassidy interrupts. "I told you you were welcome whenever. Come on. Mike's dad brought lunch. My mom and Jenna are still working on dinner. They've banned all males from the kitchen, but I think they could make an exception for you if you know your way around meal preparation."

        He smiles as he follows her inside. "I live alone so, yeah, I know how to get by in the kitchen."

        He's being modest. When he tries, he can create masterpieces with food. For my birthday he always made his special pancakes in the morning. He never told me what was in them. All I knew was they were delicious. For dinner he'd fix me whatever he knew I had been craving most that week. He's put only minimal effort into his meals since I...

        He breathes deep when they step over the threshold. I wish I could smell whatever it is that makes him sigh.

        Mike and his dad are in the den. Mike glances up and waves. "'Sup, Dev?"

        The uncertainty in his voice is not lost on me. Or Dev. "Hey, man. Good to see you."

        Mike relaxes noticeably and nods. His gaze flicks back to the TV where the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is airing. I miss curling up on the couch with Dev watching that.

        Cassidy leads him into the kitchen. "Mom, look who's here. This is Devin."

        The woman's hair is several shades darker than her daughter's but her eyes are the same vibrant green. She offers him a kind smile. "Glad you made it, Devin."

        "Thank you for allowing me to join you, ma'am."

        "Brenda is fine," she says.

        "Mom, he says he can cook. Would it be okay if he helped out?" Cassidy grabs a carrot stick from the bowl on the counter and munches it while she waits for a reply.

        "We won't turn down assistance," Jenna answers as she wanders back into the kitchen from the hall. "My husband and son are hopeless when it comes to being in the kitchen. If you don't have a problem being surrounded by women, then come on in!"

        "First, why don't you go grab something to eat from the den?" Brenda digs in a drawer and pulls out a can opener. "I'm guessing you didn't have lunch before coming over here?"

        I trail behind them as they head back into the den. Dev and Cassidy sit on the couch, watching the TV and each grabbing a small sandwich from the plate on the coffee table. Mike gets up and returns with two cans of Coke.

        I wander around the room, looking at all the pictures hanging from the walls. Most are of a little girl surrounded by the arms of her parents. Smiles grace all three faces. It makes me think of the photos I hid in my sock drawer at Dev's. The ones of me and my parents.

        "Oh! I can't believe I didn't ask this earlier."

        I turn back toward the group as Cassidy continues. "You aren't allergic to cats, are you, Devin? God, please tell me you're not."

        He laughs and I recognize it as a real laugh. There's nothing forced about it. "No, I promise I'm not. You have cats?"

        "One," she replies. "He should be around here somewhere."

        "I think I saw him head off toward your room," Mike says.

        Cassidy glances at Dev. "Would you like to meet him before we go help Mom and Aunt Jenna?"

        I pause in the hallway, debating whether I should follow them into her room or not. But when I hear her call for her cat, I decide I can't stay behind.

        "Hyde! Where are you, Hyde?"

        "Hyde?"

        She smirks. "Yeah. You know, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? My best friend back in Chicago has his better half. Her cat had kittens five years ago and she let me pick one for myself. There you are, you annoying fuzzball."

        Curled up among a pile of stuffed animals is an orange tabby with deep amber eyes. He stretches and flicks an ear as they kneel down next to him. Dev reaches out to gently scratch Hyde's head. The cat begins to purr.

        I drift closer. Dev might not be allergic to cats but I had been.

        Hyde jerks back with a hiss, his fur fluffing out around him. He swipes a paw out, catching the back of Dev's hand. I see tiny beads of blood well in the wounds.

        "I'm so sorry!" Cassidy exclaims. "He's never done that before. He's usually such a mellow cat."

        Dev shakes his head. "It's fine. I've survived worse."

        I follow them in a daze as Cassidy takes Dev to the bathroom to clean his hand off and bandage it. I'm still in a daze as they head back to the kitchen and start helping with the dinner preparations. I don't focus on any of what they talk about. I'm still wondering about what happened with Hyde. Before I know it, five o'clock rolls around and the six of them are sitting down to dinner.

        "Before we start," Brenda says, "I'm curious what we're all thankful for. I'm thankful for the fresh start this move has provided us with and to be so close to family again."

        "I'm thankful to have a happy, healthy family," Jenna adds.

        Mike's dad takes a drink of his tea before speaking. "I'm thankful for the promotion I got two weeks ago."

        "I'm thankful to have a decent paying job," Mike says.

        Cassidy peeks up from beneath her lashes at Dev. "I'm thankful to have made a few really good friends already."

        All eyes focus on Dev. He shifts and I wonder what he will say. What does he have to e thankful for? He clears his throat but when he speaks his voice is soft. "I'm thankful for the years I had with Averi."

        A hush falls over the table. Gazes are lowered, bodies are shifted uncomfortably. Finally, Brenda speaks up. "That's a very good thing to be thankful for, Devin. Lord knows I'm thankful for every day I got to spend with Don."

        He gives her a ghostly smile, though I can see the way his shoulders have tensed.

        Cassidy seems to notice as well. She reaches over under the table to rest a hand on his arm. Slowly, he relaxes and a silent sigh escapes him.