"It's fine Luke, really. You need Mom and Dad more than I do this Thanksgiving. I just wish I could've gone with them to see you and Aislynn," Iris said into her phone, her older brother Luke on the other end.

"Yeah I know, no need to explain. You didn't get time off for Thanksgiving but you're coming over for Christmas, right?" her brother asked, his voice ringing out on speaker into her living room.

"Yup, I have to see the snow! Already took time off and booked the ticket. I'll be there a day early to make up for not being there this Thanksgiving."

"The snow? Is that all you're looking forward to? I'm hurt," Luke said with a fake sob.

Iris rolled her eyes good-naturedly. Luke was always dramatic, but she loved that about him, although she'd never admit it. "Fine fine, I'm also looking forward to seeing Aislynn and the kids again!"

Luke faked a gasp. She could almost see him now, a hand pressed theatrically to his heart. "And what about me?"

Iris snickered. "What about you?" She pretended to think. "Oh yeah! Right, and to see my favorite brother too!"

"I'm literally your only sibling, I. You should treat me better."

"Sure, whenever you give me back my signed Temptations album, L," Iris shot back.

"Never in a million years, that thing has a permanent spot on my wall," Luke said with a chuckle.

"Whatever, I'm taking it back by hook or by crook when I come over for Christmas. Same rules. Deal?" Iris asked.

Every time Luke and Iris squabbled over something even as kids, they liked to play a game they made up called "by hook or by crook", or BHBC. The rules were simple: 3 different games, chosen at random, best 2 out of 3 was the winner. Over the years, their game had grown to include beating each other at every single game from chess to Ludo, Go Fish to Monopoly, and even Pinball and Minesweeper. They were the crazy competitive siblings that were almost evenly matched in all games, and never backed down from a BHBC challenge.

"Deal. Bring all your games over," Luke said gleefully.

Once they agreed, Iris hung up, a smile on her face.

She had scarcely put her phone down before it pinged with a notification, one that she'd set especially for Ben. Since they had been texting and calling each other almost daily since August, she felt it necessary to set distinct sounds for him. She smiled wider as she picked her phone back up, even before reading the text.

Ben: So what are your plans for today, since it's Thanksgiving? You making anything? 👀

Iris: No plans this year. I wanted to visit my brother but I couldn't get extra time off so I'm just spending Thanksgiving alone 😅

Ben: You're by yourself?

Iris: Yeah. But it's not as bad as it sounds lol. I had a small dinner with my folks last night, so I'm all good!

Iris didn't get a reply from Ben after that, so she assumed he was busy with family and thought nothing of it. She went to her kitchen and tasted the jollof rice she had just finished cooking. Perfect. She decided to make some to get her through the weekend since she'd be going to work for a few hours on Friday and didn't want to think about making food after. Her phone pinged again with the sound she set for Ben.

Ben: Would you like to join me and my folks for Thanksgiving dinner?

Iris gaped at her phone in shock. Not wanting to get her hopes up, she decided to play it cool. She slowly typed, heart betraying her with every tap.

Iris: You almost got me there lol

Ben: I'm being serious.

Before Iris had time to process, her screen flashed with Ben's contact and his special ringtone cut the silence. Heart in her throat, she answered.

"Hello?"

"I'm serious, Iris. If you're down, come on over and spend the day with me," Ben said, his melodic southern accent filling her ear.

Iris opened and closed her mouth several times, not sure what to say as she tried to process that Ben was asking her to spend time with him and his family. "Ben, I...I couldn't possibly just...show up...a total stranger at your family dinner? I know how close knit y'all are," she said, thinking maybe he said it on a whim because he was nice and felt bad for her.

"No really, it's okay! My folks have heard so much about you that they already want to meet you," Ben said warmly.

Her heart thumped wildly in her chest at what that could mean. On the other hand, Ben had always been notoriously sweet to just about everyone even in college, so Iris didn't want to assume he meant anything more than inviting a friend over.

"Um, are you sure your family wouldn't mind a friend dropping in?" Iris asked cautiously.

Ben chuckled. "Not at all! They all regularly invite friends to our family Thanksgiving. Take my Uncle Seb, he always invites his best friend Nick to Thanksgiving."

Iris hesitated. "And you said you're serious?"

"Yup, my grandma really wants to meet you, you can hear it for yourself if that convinces you," Ben replied.

She could hear him asking in a loud voice, "Nana! Iris wants to know if it's really okay if she comes over for dinner! She's on the phone right now." Through the phone, she could hear a woman in a country accent agreeing heartily that she could come over. Her heart warmed at the welcome of someone she hadn't even met.

"You hear that?" Ben asked with a laugh in his voice.

"Yeah," Iris replied quietly, a soft smile blooming on her face.

"So...I know it's a long trip, but if you want to come over, just know that you'd be welcome," Ben said. His voice softening, he added, "I'd also really like to see you again."

Iris' heart soared. Deciding to agree before she could chicken out, she giggled softly before replying. "Okay, I'll drive over!"

"Really?!" Ben asked, incredulity apparent in his voice. "I mean...I hoped you'd agree, but I was worried you might not want to come."

Iris laughed. "Well it looks like I'd be welcome, and it sure beats sitting around alone."

Thinking about the tradition of not showing up to a dinner empty handed, Iris asked, "Ben, I have a question: should I bring anything?"

"Only if you want to."

"Well I just finished making a whole pot of jollof rice, would that be okay?" Iris asked, looking at the amount of jollof in her pot.

"Whoa really? Yeah, that would be great! I'd always wanted to try jollof ever since you told me what it was. And I'm sure the rest of us would too," Ben said excitedly.

Iris had to tamp down the feeling of butterflies in her stomach. Ben had always been enthusiastic whenever she excitedly told him about things she'd cooked, whether it was 5 years ago or within the past few months. Now she had a chance to show him part of her world, a part of her life that she cherished, since cooking was a way she showed love to her family. "It's settled then," she said. "Guess I'll get ready and head over!"

"I'll see you then!" He said before they said their goodbyes and hung up.

Iris took a moment to process. "I'm going to see Ben!" she said to herself, shivering in excitement. Then she stopped. "No...I'm meeting his family...oh sugar honey iced tea, I'm meeting his family!" Iris turned around in the kitchen several times in agitation before remembering that she needed time to get ready, and that she had to bring her jollof now. She peered in the pot, taking another taste. It was fine to her, only kind of spicy since she was feeling for something milder than usual, and she wasn't sure that would be acceptable to Ben's family. "I guess I have no choice," she said to herself before scooping it all into the largest baking dish she owned. Finding a large insulated cooler bag, she put it in there and zipped it up, setting it on the counter and checking the time.

"Yikes, I gotta get ready!" She exclaimed before dashing to her bedroom and throwing open the closet, nearly yanking the sliding doors off their tracks. She pushed hangers aside, critically eyeing every article of clothing. She went over to her mahogany dresser and opened a couple drawers, looking between that and her closet as outfit ideas began coming through her mind. Eventually, she settled on a loose cream colored dress with a lace overlay that ended just above her knee. Belting it with a thin black velvet belt, she considered the weather. It was November in Georgia, which meant it was warm during the day and cool at night. Making up for the nighttime air, she opted for black lace tights and a long burgundy knit cardigan that ended where the dress did. Leaning into the fall chic style, she paired it with black suede ankle boots with a block heel, and a small black crossbody purse to match. She dabbed a light coat of waterproof foundation on her face, added mascara, and finished it off with a swipe of tinted lip balm. When she was done, she fluffed out her hair, revealing long onyx natural twists that tumbled around her shoulders and down her back, grateful that she'd twisted her hair the day before. Throwing the top half into a ponytail and letting the rest cascade down her back, she also packed a few scrunchies of varying tightness just in case it popped. Finishing her look off with a dainty necklace, tennis bracelet, and simple crystal earrings, she nodded in satisfaction.

Not too dressy, not too casual, just perfect for a cozy autumn dinner. One where she'd be meeting the matriarch of his family. No biggie. Nothing to it. Iris covered her face with her hands, suppressing a stressed whimper. "At least I should be grateful I'd only see his dad and stepmom, not his mom and stepdad," she thought to herself. "I'll take my small wins where I can get them."

After taking a moment to compose herself, she gave herself a once-over in the mirror before swiping the cooler bag and going outside to place it very carefully in the passenger seat of her car. Eyeing it uneasily, she decided to put a seatbelt over it for good measure. Catching a glimpse of her overnight bag in the back seat, she frowned. It was usually only for wardrobe emergencies at work. She contemplated taking it out, but opted to leave it in the car. "I might drink there, meaning I'd have to probably stay at a hotel in town," Iris thought. Nodding to herself, she climbed into the driver's seat and started the car. Before shifting the gear to drive, she sent a quick text.

Iris: I'm leaving home now, what's the address?

Ben: [hyperlinked address] Can't wait to see you! Let me know when you get here! :D

Iris: Will do, see you in an hour or so!

Iris set the navigation on and put her phone down, the voice of the automated system filling her car and drowning out the sound of her anticipatory heart.

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