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“Did she put you up to this?”
“No? But I saw her and Trent last night and she mentioned that she hadn’t talked to you. She didn’t even know you had a new nanny job.”
“Pretty sure I told her.”Definitely told her.
“You sure you didn’t just tell Edie?” he asks, referring to my youngest sister.
“I told them both. Per usual, Em doesn’t listen to me.”
“Yes. She does, Elianna. You need to stop shutting her out over whatever tension has been between you from when you were younger.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling the tension building from unresolved childhood conflict. “Is this why you called?”
“No,” he says with a bit of edge to his voice. “I was calling because I wanted to see what day I should expect you to fly in for Thanksgiving.”
I freeze, unsure of what to say because I hadn’t given it much thought. “Oh…”
“I can’t imagine you’ll need to work that weekend. They can give you the time off?”
I hadn’t exactly told my father that I’m nannying for a single dad. I just told him I got a new job and when he assumed it was a family complete with a mother that also lived in the house, I just didn’t correct him.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” I tell him as I rub my forehead. I already know Rowan would give me time off for Thanksgiving in a heartbeat but I feel a little ache in my chest at the thought of not spending the day with them.
And who would cook for them?
I guess I could prepare everything before I left?
“Can I let you know? It’s not even Halloween yet.”
“Well, you know prices are just going to keep going up for flights. They are already expensive.”
“Worst case, I’ll drive again.” I make my way into the kitchen and take a seat at the table.
“Alright, well keep me posted. I think we are going to Emily’s this year.”
“We aren’t having it at our house?” My dad still lives in the house he raised us in, the house that once upon a time he lived in with my mother, and that’s where we typically go for all the major holidays.
“No, we decided we’re going to go to hers this year.”
“We? I don’t recall voting on that. We’ve always done it at our house.” I try to ignore the tears building in my throat that we are changing a twenty-five-year tradition like it’s nothing.
“And we’re switching it up this year. Don’t make this into a whole thing, Elianna,” he scolds.
“Grandma’s on board too?” I ask, referring to my mom’s mom who is a creature of habit and typically hates any kind of change.
“She wants to be anywhere her only great-granddaughter is, of course.”
“Okay, well…yeah, I’ll let you know as we get closer.”
“Fine. Call your sister, Elianna. I’m not kidding.”
“Did you give her this same lecture and tell her to call me?” I try to keep the edge out of my voice, but I hear it and I’m sure he does too.
“What did I say?” he says and a scowl finds my face, once again feeling like I’m a teenager and I’m just expected to always understand my sister’s feelings because I’m the oldest.
But who understands mine?
Ever.