Those That Came Before

One Day

Hadley came downstairs quietly, greeted by the sound of chaos ensuing in the kitchen. It sounded as though there were a million people gathering and laughing. She rounded the corner of the livingroom to find Mama Becky starting her famous sweet potato casserole, and Brantley trying to swipe a taste. Blair was giggling at something Kolby had been whispering behind their backs. She stopped in her tracks to take it all in. This was the type of family togetherness she had been missing. The whole in her heart since she moved to Tennessee. 

Mama Becky glanced up from the eggshell colored baking dish on the counter in front of her, cinnamon in her hand. Her bright eyes lit up like the Rockefeller Christmas Tree as they met Hadley's. 

"My eyes must be deceiving me. Hadley Taylors is that you?!" Mama Becky came around the counter, brushing her hands on the apron tied delicately around her waist. 

"Hi, Becky." Hadley smiled shyly, greeting her with open arms. 

"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes. Spin, let me see you. " Becky held her hand out, twirling Hadley around in the middle of the kitchen. Brantley watching from the other end of the room. "Yup, beautiful as ever." Becky smiled, pinching Hadley's soft pink cheeks with a manicured hand. 

"Great to see you, little one." Kolby embraced her in a giant bear hug, lifting her off her feet. 

"Hey, Kolbs." 

Hadley sighed as the chaos commenced. Her eyes darting around. They landed on a pair of bright green ones staring back at her in her Thanksgiving Day best. She took it upon herself to jump right in and help make the stuffing and homemade gravy. Pies were in the oven warming up. Clinking of glasses and plates being set on the table distracted her from the thoughts that were bound to intrude sooner or later. 

"So, what are you doing here for Thanksgiving?" Kolby inquired, placing another fork at a setting on the long, dark oak table. 

"Mom was heading to the Bahamas, as per usual." Hadley rolled her eyes. 

"No boyfriend or anyone back home?" He continued to ask, innocently trying to catch up.

"Uh, well, yeah. My boyfriend. Jay. He is a detective for the police department so he is working over time." Her eyes diverted all attention that was on her. She could feel his eyes burning in to the side of her like wild fire. Her cheeks flushing. Mama Becky looking over toward Brantley. She could of slapped him that day three years ago. 

"Ugh, enough of this depressing chit chat. Who wants a drink?" Blair held up a glass, singing the end of her sentence. 

Hadley laughed, brushing away a tear that sneakily escaped. "I do." 

Everyone sat around the table picking at the last bits on their plates. Laughing and joking as they shared stories from years ago. Kolby was in the middle of mimicking Brantley, when Becky sneaked a look at Hadley. Her eyes slowly moved over to Blair, who was drunk and arguing with Brantley quietly under hushed breathes. As a mother, it was hard for her to keep her mouth shut and not tug someone's ear at a gathering, but she was doing a very fine job of keeping her opinions to herself. 

They cleaned up the mess, loaded the dishwasher, and settled in the living room with a bunch of games to enjoy. Christmas music was playing softly in the background. Hadley loved this kind of gathering. The coziness of it all. It made her homesick for something that she didn't even know existed. Jay was such a great guy, but his work kept him from home a lot. When they did get the chance to spend time together, it was a bunch of making love and quick dinners before he had to head back out. Was it worth it? She wasn't quite sure. But one thing she was sure about, she wasn't going to have anything like this. Brantley and Blair were married. Although she loved Kolby, he was like a brother to her. And a mischief maker at that. Whatever may happen, it would all come together for her. One day. Eventually.