A year to remember

21. Jared

I knocked on the big white door and wondered if I was doing the right thing. This place was becoming as familiar to me as my own house, but somehow, it felt more like home.

Scarlett opened the door, and her beauty made me catch my breath. She was wearing ripped skinny jeans, tan ankle boots and an oversized tan sweater, but she looked breathtaking. Her golden hair fell over her shoulder and down to her waist in a loose braid; small tendrils fell out, framing her face. Her pale green eyes stood out strikingly against her dark lashes. A hint of pink brushed her cheeks as she smiled and pulled me into a hug. She was so warm, and her amazing scent overwhelmed me; jasmine, vanilla, rose... Then she had pulled back almost as suddenly and I blinked. 

"I bought pie," I said dumbly, holding up the store-bought pecan pie; my pathetic contribution to the Livingstone Thanksgiving feast.

"And drinks?" she asked, looking at the shopping bag by my feet. 

"I thought we could make up a big punch?" I suggested. 

"Punch?!" Carl's voice came from behind the door. A smile broke out across my face at Carl's excitement. That kid was always excited; his happiness was infectious. No matter how bad your day had been, his easy-going, uncomplicated pure happiness made life seem better. I missed the simplicity of being a child.

"Hey there, buddy. Do you want to help me make it?"

"Sure do!" He said, pushing his way past Scarlett. I laughed as he grabbed the bag and I followed him inside. In the kitchen, Chris and Jane were both wearing aprons and were elbow deep in the cooking duties. They looked up as I entered the kitchen and stopped what they were doing immediately, greeting me with a big hug. Over the past month, Chris and Jane had become such a big part of my life, and I loved them in a way I didn't even love my own parents. They were just... there. I wondered if they knew how much I needed them, or if that was just how they were; forever caring and present.

Scarlett collected a huge glass bowl as Jane fussed over me and swept my hair out of my eyes, touching her warm hands to my cheeks and hugging me tightly, again. "How are you, my darling boy? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating enough food?"

"I'm fine," I lied, but I knew she could see straight through me. My eyes escaped her concerned glance and drifted to Scarlett's. She was watching me the same way her mother was. Two sets of startling green eyes, staring deeply into my soul. The truth was, I would have been better if Scarlett had dumped her stupid boyfriend who had tried to date rape her instead of happily believing his toxic denial. For such a smart girl, she was so clueless when it came to Tyler.

"I'm fine," I repeated with a forced smile, which I knew most people would call boyish and charismatic.. but Scarlett and Jane weren't just anyone. Scarlett was one of my closest friends, and Jane was the best maternal figure I had in my life. But they also knew me well enough to know when they should or shouldn't push a topic, and today I just wanted to feel normal again. Maybe my parents were right and I should just forget about what had happened and move on from it.

I turned towards Carl, who had already started pouring various juices and soda's into the big glass bowl, not really knowing what he was doing, but neither did I. We added chopped fruit and kept pouring a dash of this and a drop of that before Carl had a final sip and declared perfection.

"Have you ever basted a turkey before?" Jane asked.

"Can't say that I have,"I responded. When I was younger, my parents had lavish Thanksgiving meals every year with their wealthy social climbing friends. They had a private chef prepare the meals, and I was never allowed in the kitchen. I had to stay in my room until it was mealtime. It was one of the loneliest holidays of the year.