Foreign Affair ›› n.h. mature

Sixty-Five

Olivia Allen

"What can I do to help, dear?" Maura asked my mom while bringing dirty dishes into the kitchen.

"Nothing at all! Just go relax. I insist!" My mom smiled at her.

My mom's parents and her brother and his family got here this morning and Niall's dad, mom, her husband Chris, Greg, Denise, and Theo arrived this evening. So it's a very packed house. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. So far it has been a little awkward just because our parents have obviously never met. But that's to be expected when people don't know each other at all.

My mom's brother is Ross. He and his wife Heather have two little kids, Holly and Cal. Uncle Ross is definitely your typical 'Fun Uncle' and I love when they visit. This side of the family isn't big and crazy like my dad's but they're not the boring side by any means. I don't have one of those.

Niall and I went to pick his family up from the airport and he was ecstatic. He was the happiest I've seen him in the day I've been home. Which part of me was wondering why I didn't get quite the same reaction. But I'm probably thinking too much into it.

"I'm sorry to rush you," Denise came into the kitchen and said, "but what room are we staying in? Because Theo is getting fussy."

"Oh of course! I'll show you all upstairs."

"Niall, sweetie, help your father with the bags," Maura said.

We all carried everything upstairs for what was basically a tour combined with showing everyone to their rooms.

"Bobby, we thought you could stay in here," my mom said.

"Wait." He looked around at the pictures on the wall and the girly decorations. "Is this one of your daughters' rooms? Because I don't want to put you out! I can sleep on a couch."

"No need! Grace will be fine somewhere else for a couple nights."

"I really don't mind a couch or something," he said.

"Don't worry about it! It's just that we only have so much space. Maura and Chris are in a guest room, Greg and Denise in another, and Niall in the third one. My parents are in Olivia's room and Ross and Heather are in the basement with their kids.

"Wait, seriously?" He chuckled a bit. "Niall doesn't need his own room, just put him with Olivia."

"Bobby!" Maura looked incredulous and tried to cut him off.

"What?" Niall's dad defended. "He's just gonna sneak in to wherever she is after we've all gone to bed anyway. No sense making Grace sleep on a couch."

My mom tried to smile but her face actually looked like she smelled something sour. "They aren't married," she said in a forced calm voice.

I am well aware that my parents are way too overly traditional but please, Bobby, don't say anything more about it. I've just accepted it. It was silent for a second too long.

"Well that was super weird and uncomfortable. Thanks a lot, Da!" Niall laughed to break the silence and everyone else joined in, getting rid of the awkwardness.

"Never has known when to stop talking," Maura said with a laugh. "Where do you think Niall gets it?"

My mom finished taking everyone to their rooms with no more discussion of Niall and I's sleeping arrangements, thankfully.

Grace and I are sharing a pull out couch since both of our rooms are occupied.

"Where are you going, missy?"

"To brush my teeth," I answered her.

"Okay. Don't make any detours."

"I know." I hope she could hear the eye roll in my tone of voice.