Forbidden Fruit (gxg)

Part 13

I hadn't been dreading Thanksgiving...until I realized I was going to have to answer all of the questions from my family as to why I wasn't a nurse anymore.

I knew they would ask the same questions my parents did.

Why did you feel like nursing wasn't right for you anymore?

What are you going to do instead?

Why would you take a job that pays less in the meantime?

Like I did to my parents, I was going to give as vague of answers as possible, as it really wasn't anyone else's business.

I needed something that diminished my stress, and working at Hollis so far had done that. Yes, I made less money. But I made enough, and I have money saved from when I worked as a nurse.

Ever since I was young, I've gone to my Aunt Karen's house for Thanksgiving. She lives about a half hour away from me, in a big home that can house the 20 some people she has for Thanksgiving. My Aunt Karen is my mom's sister, and like my mom, she hasn't worked in over 20 years. Her husband, my Uncle Dan, is an anesthesiologist.

Addison picked me up and we went to Thanksgiving together.

"I'm not exactly looking forward to this," I said to her in the car.

"Why, because of all the questions you'll get about you not being a nurse anymore?"

"You hit the nail on the head."

"Only say as much as you want to. Don't let anyone force you into saying something you're uncomfortable sharing," Addison said to me, "I know it's a touchy subject."

I nodded, "It is. And I don't want to get into it with anyone."

For the past few years, my aunt has hosted a sober Thanksgiving, so I wouldn't even be able to have a glass of wine to get me through it.

However, I'd much rather there be less temptation for my father to drink.

As Addison drove us the rest of the way, my mind drifted to Kori.

I wonder how her Thanksgiving is.

I just wonder how she is in general...

"Ash, are you there? I've said your name twice."

"Oh, sorry," I looked at Addison, "I was in a daze."

"What were you thinking about?"

I know I mentioned Kori to her a while back. Do I tell her more?

Hmm...I think I'll keep it to myself for now.

"Just wanting to get this over with, that's all."

Addison nodded, "I understand. We'll get through it together."

Thankfully, the attention was barely on me at dinner. My cousin Morgan, who is my Aunt Karen's oldest daughter, announced she was pregnant, and that stole the show.

Morgan is taking after her mom. Her husband makes a lot of money, so she doesn't work, and she is just as materialistic.

I couldn't help but notice that Alyssa seemed a bit dejected after the pregnancy announcement. She smiled and cheered, but I could see in her face that something was going on.

I pulled her aside in the kitchen as I was putting my plate in the sink.

"Lyss, are you okay?" I asked her, "I may be wrong of course, but you seem a bit down."

"You can read me well," Alyssa looked at me, "Look, I'm happy for Morgan, incredibly happy for her. But...it's a bit tough for me to hear. Damon and I have been trying to get pregnant, and we've had zero luck. I'm going to a fertility specialist in a couple of weeks to see what might be going on."