High School Hockey Boys

15

Mom and I were up early Sunday morning. She'd woken up an hour before me to put the turkey in the oven. We spent the morning in the kitchen washing and cutting vegetables, preparing the ingredients for dessert and listening to cheesy movies as they played at full volume on the TV. I was a little jittery as the hours crawled by. I was almost fully convinced my hasty invitation to dinner hadn't made its way to James on time. In a way I guessed that was a good thing. If he never showed up, then Mom wouldn't have the chance to get upset with me about finding her son.

I leaned against the counter with a glass of water and two Advil tablets in my hands. I popped them into my mouth and took a sip of my water before tilting my head back and swallowing. My face and head were still aching from the small beating they'd taken from Graham. I hadn't gone to school since that day. That was Wednesday. I'd told Mom that my morning sickness was hitting me really badly and she let me stay home. On Saturday I refused to see anyone, much like the two days before that. I'd turned my phone off completely Wednesday night after Mom got home. I didn't want to hear what anyone had to say.

I closed my eyes for a moment and sighed. I was sure Graham was satisfied with himself. I still couldn't believe he thought I would take him back. He's not only a jerk, but he's a delusional jerk. Looking back, I think part of him really did think he was my only option. That he was the only one that could have me, or who would want to have me. How did he know that I was pregnant, but not that I was dating Eli? It was that question that assured me none of my friends had told him. I didn't know why they would anyway; rub it in his face maybe that I'd found someone better? Either way I know he hadn't been told directly. So how had he known? Did he figure it out the way Jacob had? By careful observation whenever he saw me. Or had it just been a lucky guess?

"Come on Fin, these potatoes won't mash themselves."

Mom's voice brought me out of my thoughts and I rejoined her. She passed me a masher and we each had our own pot of cut up potatoes in front of us. We were having Harper's family over for dinner, as was our tradition. One of her parents was usually away on business around Thanksgiving, so we had Harper and whichever parent was present  over so they wouldn't feel as separated. The repetitive action of crushing potato cubes was slowly calming my nerves. Dinner would be fine. School could wait until I go back. Now all I had to worry about was how on earth I was going to subtly add a fifth place setting, when there was only supposed to be four of us.

~*~

We'd abandoned movies for music a little over an hour ago. Mom's dessert pies had been slipped into the oven and would slowly bake through dinner. The oven was on low heat to keep the turkey warm until people showed up, but it had finished cooking ten minutes ago. Dinner began at six. Harper and her mom would be here around five-thirty. We still had an hour to finish cooking the vegetables and make the gravy.

"Why did you want to make this much this year? It's a little too much for two people to make." I noted as we both tried to do two things at once. Mom gasped suddenly.

"We haven't done the sweet potatoes. And I forgot to buy cranberry sauce."

I groaned. Mom's panicking and my mental complaining were cut off by a sudden knock at the door. I looked to Mom, but she was just as confused as me. Harper wouldn't be here this early; she knew we'd still be busy cooking. We weren't expecting anyone else. My eyes widened and a thought hit me like a bus.

"I'll get it." I declared quickly and tried to subtly rush to the door.

I took a deep breath when I got to the door. My heart was in my throat and my hands were shaking but I reached for the knob anyway. After one more steadying breath, I turned my hand and pulled the door open.  A man was stood there, dressed casually but nicely. He was a few years older than me. I noticed with a start how much we looked alike.