~Brie

“Hurry up Mommy, we're going to be late!”

I glanced at my son through the rearview mirror as he hurriedly undid his seat belt. I turned off the ignition and shook my head.

“Calm down, Manny. We're on time.”

“I wanna put Dashy's bowtie on him and see Aiden and Iris.”

“They're not even here yet” I chuckled as I climbed out of the car.

My parent's driveway housed several cars... Aiden's excluded thank goodness. But that also meant my entire family was already here.

“Mommy!” Roman whined, tugging at my hand and pulling me toward the house.

“Easy, Manny. Thanksgiving dinner isn't going anywhere” I laughed.

We climbed the front steps and just as I lifted my hand to knock with the iron lion-shaped knocker in the middle of the wreath, my fingers caught air as the door swung inward.

“Hi, Grandma! Bye, Grandma!” Roman greeted in a rush and ran inside the house.

My mother stood in the doorway wearing a dazzling smile and a bronze outfit made of a shimmery fabric. She’d matched her eyeshadow to it as well as her nail polish and jewelry. She swept out of the house, pulled me in for a hug, drowning me in her perfume, and stepped back to look me over.

“This is an interesting ensemble,” she cooed.

“You look amazing too mom.”

“Well come in, come in. Your father just took the turkeys out of the oven.”

Plural.

As per usual, my mother and the house swallowed me whole. The house smelled like turkey, stuffing, baked pies, and cinnamon candles. Twinkling lights and leafy garland made everything feel ultra-cozy. I barely had time to take in the rest decorations she'd put up before I was whisked away into the kitchen.

Somehow it seemed the high ceilings had gotten higher, the wood walls had been waxed, and our giant chandelier had more tiny lights.

“Which wine should we serve? Red or white?” she asked, holding up two bottles.

“Pinot noir” I replied. “Although I'm feeling Chardonnay too.”

“So serve them both” my dad chuckled, whipping off his oven mittens to hug me. “You can never go wrong with too much wine.”

“Hi Daddy” I greeted with a smile.

“Where's Aiden?” he asked.

“He's coming with Iris. I'm sure they'll be here any—” I trailed off when the kitchen island caught my eye. “Mom, what's all this?”

“Thanksgiving” she beamed.

I glanced at my Dad.

“This isn't the menu we drafted yesterday.”

“True. But your mother decided to make a little of everyone's favorite dishes.”

A little?

The entire kitchen island and the counters were filled with food.

“But—”

“Let's go say hi to everyone else. They're in the den” My dad nodded at me through his 'don't argue because you'll lose', look and put his hands on my shoulders.

“She's overdoing it Daddy, you know that,” I said to him as we strolled into the den.

“Let her, honey. Thanksgiving is once a year and even if it was every month, you know how your mother is” he sighed. “She's even talking about putting up the Christmas decorations tomorrow.”

I groaned and rolled my eyes. But they didn't fully set in front of me when my cousin came hurtling around a corner into me.

“Brie!”

I chuckled.

“Hi Cora” I grinned, closing my arms around her.

My voice caught Maudelin's attention, making her gasp and grin as she tapped Gregory mercilessly.

“Breanna!”

The next three minutes consisted of exchanging long hugs, 'I missed you so much', and 'Great seeing you again'.

My aunt Adelia was the last one to hug me.

“She saved the best for last” she chuckled as she let go of me.

“I'm not quite sure, Mom” Justin spoke, entering the den with his wife, Aliyah.

I grinned.

“You came.”

“I did” he chuckled, hugging me. “You look great.”

I feel great.

He let me go and Aliyah squeezed me in her hug.

“I'm definitely going blonde after today” she whispered in my ear.

I laughed.

“Where's Roman?” she asked when she let go of me.

“Probably forcing Dash to wear a bow tie he made for him.”

Aliyah slowly pulled a small headband from her purse.

“I brought Dash reindeer antlers,” she said.

I playfully rolled my eyes.

“It's not even Christmas yet.”

“'Tis the season” Justin nudged me.

“Happy Thanksgiving family!” Emmett shouted, entering the the den with Nia and the kids who let out excited screams at the sight of their uncles and grand-aunts and uncles.

“Dinner's ready everyone” my mother informed us upon entering the den. “But let's get the first family picture” she smiled.

“I'll get the camera” Emmett smiled, ducking out of the room and returning seconds later with the camera and a tripod stand.

He set it up while everyone got their picture faces on.

“Roman?! Get in here!” Mom hollered for him.

“Hey, where's Aubree?” I asked no one in particular.

The room suddenly grew quiet.

“What? If we're taking a family picture she has to be here” I said. “And we're past the awkwardness guys, c'mon.”

“Maybe for you” my aunt Adelia folded her arms.

She was always the difficult one.

I shook my head.

“She's in her room” Gregory replied. “Hasn't been out the whole day.”

Roman hurried in with Dash trotting after him looking dapper in his bow and I laughed as Aliyah put the reindeer antlers band around my dog's head.

“Mom?!” we heard Aubree holler from somewhere in the house.

“In the den, darling!” my mother replied.

Her footsteps neared and I glanced at my aunt who had a scowl growing on her face.

“Hey Mom, is Oliver here yet? I'm trying Rick's phone but—” Aubree trailed off at the sight of everyone gathered together behind the camera. “Were you all about to take a family picture without me?”

“Yes,” Nia replied with a teasing smile.

“No,” I said, holding my hand out to help her down the small stairs. “It's a family picture.”

“Yeah, not a 'take a picture without Aubree' picture” Maude teased. “And P.S. we've already taken that one.”

“Haha, Maude” Aubree rolled her eyes.

She was about to say something else when she paused and gave me a long look.

“That is an ugly skirt, Brie,” she said.

“You're wearing the same thing” I deadpanned.

“It's not the same. Mine has floral prints.”

“And the sweater? That's the same balloon-sleeved sweater I have on right now.”

She playfully rolled her eyes.

“It's in a different color.”

I gave her a look.

“Take it off.”

“You take yours off.”

“No.”

“No.”

“Girls” Emmett called, slipping in between us. “No, no.”

I fought back a smile.

“We're giving Adelia a show” Aubree whispered.

He glanced between us and shook his head.

“Okay, picture time!” my mother called out.

We all squeezed in and after two, or three pictures, Zach's family and Dove's arrived and my mother insisted we take another round of photos.

“Mommy?” Roman tugged at my skirt. “Isn't Aiden coming?”

I pulled my phone away from my ears as he didn't answer and bent down to his height a little bit.

“I'm trying his phone but he's not answering so let's give them a little more time okay? If he doesn't pick up or show up, we'll go to his hou—”

“Aiden, my man!” Emmett's excited voice reached our ears.

How was he this excited about Aiden all the time?

I chuckled.

“Good evening everyone. I hope we're not late.”

Roman whipped around and barreled into him as I stood up straight. Iris released Leslie from the hug they were sharing and moved up to hug me.

Aiden told her the news about us last night and from the way she was grinning from ear to ear, she wasn't at all upset.

“You look great, Rissa” I smiled as she let go of me.

“And you look even better” she chuckled.

She glanced at Aubree who was talking to Nia and then back at me.

“I'm sorry, did I miss a dress code or something?”

I shook my head.

“Coincidence.”

She chuckled. Over her shoulder, Aiden handed over a bouquet to my mother and the way she smiled at him made my heart swell. Iris moved out of the way after her brother finished shaking hands with my dad.

“Hi.”

I smiled.

“Hi.”

Then he smiled.

“I see you brought my mom flowers.”

He chuckled and then nodded.

“I did.”

I nodded.

“Yours is waiting at your house... scattered on the steps and your bed.”

I arched a brow and then hid my blush with a soft chuckle.

“That's why it took you so long to get here?” I asked.

“Yes. But trust me, I was itching to get here” he smiled, taking one more step closer to me, “Particularly to do this.”

Aiden leaned down and kissed my mouth gently. His hand slipped to the back of my head to deepen the kiss. Then, swallowing, he took a step back.

“Just that?” I asked, swallowing hard as my chest heaved. “Kiss me again.”

Aiden’s laugh was dark, his devilish side coming out to play.

“No.”

I groaned.

“Why not? No one's even looking at us.”

He dipped his head, his lips trailing over the soft skin of my neck. Up, up, up until they were at my ear.

“If I kiss you again, my love,” he whispers, those damn lips of his brushing against me with every syllable, “I won’t stop.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

“It is, as I need you to wait because I have plans for us tonight.”

I laughed and planted a small kiss on his lips.

“That I understand.”

He smiled, brought my hands to his mouth, and kissed my knuckles, leaving my heart fluttering wildly in my throat.

“Hey, Breanna? Could you try to call Riccardo? He's not answering my— Aiden” Aubree paused.

Her eyes flicked back and forth between us then stopped at my hand in Aiden's.

“Oh they know now?” she chuckled.

I nodded.

“Thank God.”

“Wait, wait” Nia pouted, “She knew?”

Aubree shrugged proudly.

“I'm her very identical hotter older twin sister for a reason, Nia. You're just the sister-in-law... no offense.”

“Err... a lot of offense” Nia frowned. “But I'm not mad. I like Aiden too mad to be mad at this.”

“In case anyone wondered, I called this first” Maude spoke up. “Told you he was a keeper.”

I chuckled.

“Okay, everyone. Let's move this into the dining room, please” my mother called out.

I tugged Aiden's hand.

“C'mon, lemme introduce you to the rest of my family.”

“Eager to show me off huh?”

“When you're always so hot and all mine, why not?”

Aiden laughed. The introductions didn't take long as Roman had already pointed out Aiden to them as “Mommy's boyfriend”. Riccardo and Oliver arrived shortly after we were seated and we all said grace.

My mom proceeded to pour everyone a glass of red wine... saving the Chardonnay for later. Aubree and the kids all got a champagne flute full of sparkling apple juice, which she wasn't very happy about.

My dad sat up from his seat at the head of the long oak table with his wine. His attention swept to every face in the room, but his gaze settled on Aiden.

“It’s so nice to have you all here to celebrate all the things we are grateful for this year. Personally, I’m grateful for all the new things that have come into my life, including the lives of my little girls,” his attention shifted to me and then to Aubree. “And of course, I’m thankful for all that I already had. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.”

“Happy Thanksgiving, Daddy,” I whispered, my voice swallowed up by all the others.

Aiden smiled at me and tapped his wine glass against mine over Roman's head as he sat between us.

“To new beginnings.”

“Oh I like that very much” I giggled.

Our plates filled up. Wine was repoured. Napkins were stained. Gravy boats, cranberry sauce containers, butter, and dinner rolls were passed around the table multiple times.

While we ate, conversation buzzed.

“Aubs, do you know the baby's gender” Auntie Thea asked as she swirled her wine glass.

My sister cleared her throat.

“Well no. I want it to take me by surprise.”

“Well I say it's a boy,” Nia teased. “I'm never wrong about these things.”

“Right,” Aubree dragged.

Chuckles went around the table. Roman swung his feet for a second and leaned in to whisper something to Aiden that made him chuckle.

I smiled to myself.

Once everyone was finished eating, Aiden instead on helping my mother clear the table. We heard them laughing to themselves as they rinsed dishes, loaded the dishwasher, and scraped food scraps into the trash.

The kids, having grown bored of the adult talk at the table, abandoned their seats and went into the living room, where they all settled down on the sofa to watch cartoons and play video games.

Iris came to sit in Roman’s empty spot beside me.

“You know, every Thanksgiving since our mom died hasn't been worth celebrating,” she said. “I know for all these years there was a lot to celebrate but it always felt empty. But this year... getting to be with you and your family, I have never felt more loved, Breanna. And Aiden? I never thought I'd hear him laugh after everything.”

I smiled and squeezed her hand.

“Well get used to it because this is how your lives are going to feel from now on.”

She chuckled and gave me a quick hug.

“I'm gonna use the bathroom. I'll be right back.”

I nodded and watched her leave just as Aubree was heading my way. She sat in Aiden's seat and sighed.

“You okay?” I asked.

She nodded, pushing off her heels with her feet.

“Just tired.”

“You wanna go take a nap?”

“It's Thanksgiving Brie. No way.”

I chuckled. Leslie topped off his wine and came to sit between my sister and me.

“So, not to be a bother or anything, Brie, but, um, is Rissa single?”

I rolled my eyes playfully.

“Yes, she’s single, Les. If you want to shoot your shot, go for it.”

“There’s chemistry, right? I’m not imagining it.”

“It’s not subtle,” Aubree said.

Leslie chuckled.

“If things worked out we’d be in-laws of some sort, you know, Brie.”

“Oh God,” I groaned. “One step at a time, Les.”

“Yes, she might not even be looking for anything serious” Aubree rolled her eyes.

“Let me have my fun.”

We both held up our hands.

“We’re not stopping you” Aubree and I chorused.

Leslie chuckled.

“Well, I'm going to join the guys on the back patio,” he said.

“What's going on there?” Aubree asked.

“Something about your dad and brother officially welcoming Aiden into the family.”

My eyes popped and Aubree laughed.

“Oh that I gotta see” she grinned. “Help me with up, Les.”

I shook my head and moved into the kitchen to see what my mother was doing.

“This has got to be the best Thanksgiving dinner you've ever hosted Mom,” I said as I leaned up against the kitchen counter and watched her prep the dessert. “And thank you and Daddy for letting me invite Aiden and Iris. It means a lot to them.”

My mother poured whipping cream and vanilla extract into a container and rummaged through drawers in search of an electric beater.

“It means a lot to us too, darling. They’re family now... especially Aiden. He has to be here.”

I nodded, biting my lip.

“Yeah.”

My mother paused and looked up at me, a pretty smile on her lips.

“You seem very happy, Breanna.”

I couldn’t stop the smile that made my cheeks ache.

“I am. He’s everything I ever wanted, Mom. The way he is with Roman? I couldn’t ask for more. It started with Rissa but they’ve become fast friends and I know the more time they spend together, the stronger their bond will be. I can’t stop thinking about Christmas, vacations, and having Aiden’s support as things get trickier and Roman becomes a teenager. I just feel so lucky.”

“We are all very lucky, my darling” My mother found the beater and held it up with a victorious little swirl in the air. “We have our health and each other. We have beautiful homes, our huge and wonderful family, and good food. Plus we finally have peace,” she added with a somewhat dreamy sigh.

I nodded.

We finally did have peace.

My father, brother, and Aiden’s laugh announced their return from Aiden's 'official' welcome... whatever that meant. My mother whipped the whipping cream and I helped her bring it and the pie out.

“Okay everyone, get back in here for pie!” she called out.

Aiden thanked my mother when she handed him his and approached me.

“What did my dad and brother do to you?”

“Can't tell you, my love.”

I snickered at his answer as he slid into the seat next to me, his arm brushing against mine.

“I love you but I just can't tell you.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You're welcome to try and force it out of me tonight though.”

I dared a peak at him and he gave me a wolfish grin, bouncing his brows up and down.

He's killing me here.

I snapped my attention back to my pie, shoving a forkful of gooey deliciousness into my mouth to refrain from leaning over and kissing him.

“Okay, wow” Dove wagged her finger between the two of us. “I like you two together. This dynamic is everything.”

“Tell me about it” Aubree added, swiping a piece of pie off my plate.

“Hey!”

“Oh shush Brie” she waved me off. “It's been a perfect evening.”

“I hope we're not too late!”

The chatter in the room died and everyone's attention swung to the entrance of the den. Roman stopped gigging at whatever Justin was telling him and sat up straight.

“Dad?”

“Hey, kiddo. Happy Thanksgiving.”

Thank you so much for reading! ✨