Right Place, Wrong Time

67. Grateful For

August arrived, signalling the beginning of the end of summer. Joey took Lauren back to the airport the day after his birthday, the goodbyes never getting any easier. And a few weeks later, he was back there himself, heading into his senior year at college.

It offered some distraction, but he still counted down the days until he would go home for Thanksgiving, where Lauren would be spending the holiday too. Another event she worried about intruding on, but Joey promised her his parents were excited for it.

She brought the house to life more than it would have been without her. The Macy's parade ran on TV in the background, but no one paid the slightest bit of attention. Everyone was bustling around, Lauren making a call to her family, Denise running out to pick up last minute things she'd forgotten. One moment when they were all sitting down, though, the smell of turkey beginning to hit their nostrils, Lauren looped her arm through Joey's and leaned in to whisper to him.

"Can we go see what food there is for me?"

"Oh, it's all gluten free," he reassured her.

She blinked. "Everything?"

"Yeah, I reminded my mom and she really took it to heart," he grinned.

Lauren looked like she was going to cry, and he pulled her into a hug.

"That's really nice," she whispered.

"That's my mom." He loved her, and he loved how much she loved Lauren.

"She really didn't have to do that."

"She wanted to. She didn't want you to feel left out."

When Denise got up to head back into the kitchen, Joey kissed Lauren's temple and then followed her. She was taking the turkey out of the oven, so he stepped back out of her way — and heard a small cry of pain.

He spun around to see Lauren's wincing face.

"Shit, I didn't know you came out here," he said, holding her arms. He knelt down, lifting her foot to his mouth to kiss it. "I'm sorry."

"It didn't hurt that much," she said, smiling softly down at him as she pushed a strand of hair behind his ear.

He stood back up, looping his arms around her waist, still feeling apologetic. "Did you need something?"

"No, I came to help."

"Uh uh," he said, turning her by the shoulders to propel her out of the room. "I've got it covered. Right, mom?"

"I think we're good here," she agreed, smiling kindly at Lauren.

"You should let me do it instead," Lauren said to Joey.

"Last time was because it was my birthday, what's the excuse this time?"

"You should spend time with your dad."

"I'll be back in less than a month for Christmas."

"I want to help-"

"You're a guest, Lauren," Denise said.

Joey grinned. "You better listen to her."

Lauren sighed, defeated. Joey kissed her forehead.

"Go and chill. I love you."

"I love you," she said, reluctantly turning away.

Joey turned back to his mom and found her watching him, smiling.

"What?" he said.

"You found a good one."

"I know, mama," he smiled back.

When the food was finally ready, Joey took a seat next to Lauren at the table and stroked her back. They passed dishes around the table.

"Thank you for the food, Denise," Lauren said.

"Of course," she beamed. "I hope you like it. I looked into some recipes."

Lauren met Joey's eyes again, and he squeezed her thigh under the table. This was the love he wanted her to have, the love he was grateful not just he but his family could give her.

Denise tapped her glass with her fork. "I'm thankful for family," she said, her eyes going around the table, Joey noticing the warmth in them as they lingered on Lauren. She turned to Bob.

"For good food and good company," he said.

Joey nudged Lauren's knee with his.

"For the warm welcome," she said softly.

Joey raised her hand to his lips. "For my girlfriend," he said, and she blushed. "And my mom and dad," he added, as though it were an afterthought.

Everyone laughed, and they didn't let the food sit there cooling any longer. Joey could think of little better than this: a good meal, with the people he loved with his entire heart.

After dinner was over and Joey and Lauren tag teamed the dishes, the four of them settled down on the couch to watch a movie together. When Lauren started playing with Joey's hair twenty minutes in, he tried not to move a muscle, worried she'd become conscious of it and stop out of embarrassment. But she kept going, the affection filling his heart with love, until she finally rested her head on his shoulder and snuggled into him. Joey couldn't help catching the eyes of his parents, who were watching and smiling softly. He smiled back. He wasn't sure he'd ever been more grateful for this family, Lauren now a part of it he didn't ever plan to let go.