Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser

  ***

  When we arrived, Evan and his dad, Darren, were watching a hockey game on TV. I liked Darren, even if I didn’t know him well. Evan didn’t look like his dad, who was tall and wiry with thinning blond hair, but he had a lot of his dad’s personality. They were both hockey fanatics, and they shared the same sense of humor.

  Darren was in sales, so he was often away on business. When he was home though, it was clear that he and Lydia were in love. They stood close enough to touch. It was sweet, and I hoped that someday I would have a similar relationship with my husband.

  Katie was in the kitchen, helping Grandma Mary and Lydia get the table set. Kim and I tried to help, only to be shooed back to the living room by Lydia. “Go, relax. We’re almost done. We’ll be eating in about fifteen minutes.”

  When they called us in, I was amazed at the amount and variety of food. Growing up, it had been only Mom and me celebrating Thanksgiving together. We always had the staples—turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie— but nowhere near the feast that lay before me now. Evan squeezed my arm and whispered in my ear, “You okay? You look like you’re in shock.”

  “This is amazing.”

  “This is what happens when my mom and Grandma Mary get together and cook.” He pulled back a chair for me. “Please, have a seat.”

  “Thank you.”

  Kim sat next to me, and Katie sat on the other side of Kim. Katie asked Kim a million questions about what I was like when I was younger. Kim seemed amused by her. She told her a few funny stories. Being my best friend, she left out all the embarrassing ones. I’d thank her later.

  I ate so much I thought I was going to explode. The conversation flowed comfortably. At times, everyone chimed in on one topic, at other points of the meal, several smaller conversations erupted.

  After dinner, Kim, Katie, Evan and I stayed in the kitchen to clean up. The adults retired to the living room, after some coaxing from us. Once we were alone, Kim and I brought up the car ride today and told Evan and Katie what my grandfather said.

  Evan shrugged. “It’s kind of interesting, but I don’t see that it tells you anything.”

  Katie looked thoughtful. “You know, I could always ask my mom about that summer. She might have more information, or at least a different perspective.”

  “Could you?” What did Lydia know? Would she share?

  “Sure,” she said. “Don’t get too excited, though. I’m not sure that my mom will tell me much, if anything.”

  “It’s worth a shot, anyway,” Kim added.

  We were almost done with the dishes when my grandma and Lydia came back into the kitchen for the desserts—pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and chocolate torte.

  “Do we get to do this again next month for the American Thanksgiving?” I asked.

  Lydia laughed. “I don’t know about that, Meara.”

  “Maybe on a smaller scale.” Grandma Mary winked at me.

  Evan rolled his eyes. “Do you always think about food?”

  “Almost always,” I said.

  “I can vouch for that,” Kim said, grinning at me.

  “Speaking of food,” Grandma Mary added. “These desserts aren’t serving themselves.”

  We helped plate the desserts and took them and coffee into the living room. It was so nice to sit around with everyone and just relax. I imagined that this was what life would have been like if I had grown up here. It made me think about how different things might have been, how different I might have been, had my mom stayed. Then I looked at Kim, and I realized that I never would have known her. She was such a wonderful friend—I couldn’t imagine my life without her. It just proved that everything happened for a reason. As my grandma would say, there was no use thinking about the might-have-beens.

  Mom sat in the chair closest to the fireplace. Her eyelids were heavy, and her head lulled to the side. I hadn’t considered what a long day this must be after her last two days. My grandparents were deep in conversation with Darren, but I caught my grandfather’s eye and nodded toward Mom. He nodded back, and quickly wrapped up his conversation.

  I was leaning against Evan, warm and comfortable. Turning my head, I kissed his cheek. I felt the slightest bit of stubble. “I think we’re going to get going. Mom is exhausted.”

  He tightened his arms around my shoulder before I could stand and whispered, “I’ll walk you out.”

  I shivered slightly. When I caught Kim’s eye, she smiled knowingly and mouthed, “Go.” She went to help my mom. Evan stood and pulled me up, walking me to the door and holding out my coat. Throwing on his own jacket, he stepped out behind me. Once the door was closed, he pulled me close for a kiss. I felt a quick thrill course through my body. It had been too long since Evan and I were alone. He pulled away and left me wanting more.

  He smiled wickedly. “Pleasant dreams, Meara.”