Page 77 of Rise After Fall

“Are you leaving already?” I ask as I take in the bag slung over his shoulder and keys in his hand.

“I’m heading over to Garrett’s to meet the boys. Mom wanted us to get one of the turkeys in the smoker and to set up the deep fryer on the deck.”

“One of the turkeys?”

He grins. “Oh, yes, there will be several fowl options today. Smoked turkey, deep-fried turkey, and the traditional over-roasted turkey.”

My eyes go wide. “That’s a lot of fowl.”

“There will be duck, ham, and roast beef as well,” he says.

“And that’s a lot of meat.”

“Mom’s an over cooker. Always has been with a house full of boys. She’d rather have too much than too little.”

“At least Morris will be happy,” I quip.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, nothing. It was just a conversation we had. Um, can we contribute to dinner somehow?” I ask.

“It’s not necessary.”

“I know my mother, and she’ll be beside herself if we show up empty-handed,” I tell him.

“In that case, you can get a couple of bottles of wine from the winery’s store in the Village Shoppes. I think they’ll be open until three today.”

“Thank you. We’ll do that.”

“Pop will pick you guys up in front of the hotel at six.”

“We’ll be ready.”

He nods and heads to the parking lot, and I get to work.

Morris

Ileft my last lesson of the day and headed to Weston’s. I’d packed a bag this morning so I could shower and dress for Thanksgiving at his house. All my brothers came here to load the cooking equipment needed at Garrett’s house since Graham hasn’t yet gotten his outdoor kitchen completed.

“I’m going to grab a shower while you guys do the heavy lifting,” I say, but Langford races down the hall ahead of me.

“I need the bathroom first,” he calls.

Asshole.

I take a seat on the island to wait.

Weston, Corbin, and Graham grab a drink and stand on the opposite side.

“So, little bro, what’s the story with you and Zoey?” Weston asks.

I shrug. “What do you mean?”

“You asked if she could spend the night here while we were out of town.”

“He did, huh?” Corbin muses.

“He did. And he spent the night as well.”