Can't Let You Go

Chapter 17

My whole life my parents were really busy. My dad worked long hours and had many business trips. My mother was a working actress so she'd be gone regularly. There was more than one time when she was filming on location where I didn't see her and barely talked to her for over three months. There were only two days a year when we were guaranteed to be together as a family.

My parents were both lapsed in their religious practices, following in the paths of their parents before them. Despite his Jewish background the one special day that stuck for my dad was Thanksgiving. For my mother, who was ostensibly Christian, Christmas was the holiday she deemed most important. That premise was why she established the Savis Foundation's annual Holiday Gala. Bethany took over it last year, just like she took over the holidays themselves.

She convinced my dad to go home with her last Thanksgiving. I was bestowed a token invite, but I opted to stay in Alaris and dine with Zayan's family. Christmas was at home with Dad and Bethany, but everything revolved about Bethany's pregnancy.

"Liam," I sidle up to him while he's standing at the counter eating lunch, "how do you feel about having guests in your house?"

"What kind of guests?" Raising an eyebrow, he looks sidelong at me.

"Dinner guests."

"That's okay, I guess. What are you brewing in there?" He pokes my temple.

"I was thinking maybe... we could... you know..."

"You're making this seem like a huge deal. Spit it out."

"Can we invite people over for Thanksgiving dinner?" Hosting a holiday meal together is something couples do and I don't want him to think I'm pressuring him into anything, but I missed this holiday more than I thought I would. I miss my family. Quill especially.

Answering without hesitation, he agrees. The guest list is people from his work and a few American exchange students I've met. We're doing it on Saturday because I have school. Although we have a toaster oven on the counter, it's not big enough for a turkey. It seems like many older, average Korean homes don't have ovens. Or clothes dryers. Liam orders a cooked turkey from a grocery store which caters to expats.

Dae-Ho groans with satisfaction and rubs his stomach after eating his last bite of pie. "I went to school in America, but was never invited to celebrate Thanksgiving with anyone." He elbows Liam in the ribs. "I had no idea the traditional food was this good."

"Well kimchi is probably only on the table in Korean-American homes, but for someone who only started cooking this summer, Tally has definitely shown a knack for it."

"I second that! For some reason my youngest Aunt is always in charge of pies and they're always both cold in the center and burnt on the edges." One of my girlfriends laughs and picks up her wine. "Here's a toast to Tally and Liam. I'm thankful I met you both. Thank you for inviting us into your home and for the delicious food!" Everyone clinks their glasses together. "And to show my appreciation, I will stay to help clean-up."

Several others pitch in and it goes quickly leaving Liam and I with little to do. After they're all gone, there's still half a bottle of bokbunja, a blackberry wine, to finish off. When he takes our glasses to the sink to wash them, I follow and rest my head on his back.

"Thank you for today. It was really special. Probably the best Thanksgiving I've had since I was little." There's a familiar drunken thickness of my tongue when I speak, but I'm not so far gone as to be slurring.

Reaching out behind him with one hand to touch my arm, Liam shuts off the water with the other hand. Suddenly turning around, he pulls me into his chest and hugs me as I lean with my arms limp at my sides.

"I think it was my best one, too. I was nervous about having so many people over, but it really was a lot of fun. Let's do it every year." His voice is gentle and sounds like home.

I look up at him. "Really? We can make this our new tradition?"