Page 37 of Room to Breathe

“The Blairs are here,” Mrs. Eubanks announced, gesturing toward us when we arrived in the great room. The normal dining table was full. A large folding table had been set up in the adjoining living room and covered with a burlap tablecloth. That was full as well. Vases of fall-colored flowers filled the room.

I located Beau right away at the extra table, the kid table. He wore a long-sleeved shirt and a tie. He was surprised to see me, I could tell, but it was a good surprise. He smiled big. For the first time in a week, I felt a sense of relief. I could talk to Beau. Swear him to secrecy. I needed to talk to someone, and I trusted him more than anyone. He would let me vent. Tell me everything was going to be okay. Let me cry or scream or do something to release all the pent-up tension that made my body feel like it was about to combust.

There was movement to his left and I locked eyes with Harper. She was waving. I waved back. So much for being able to talk today.

“Hi, Indy!” Brady said from the other end of the table.

“Hi,” I said.

There was some shuffling at both tables, chairs being moved, some folding chairs brought from a back room. After a couple of minutes there was an extra chair for me at the kid table, next to Beau, and two chairs added to the main table for my parents. We took our places.

“A tie, huh?” I said to him under my breath as I sat down.

He reached up and adjusted it. “And I pull it off so well, don’t I?”

I let out a breathy laugh while taking in his styled hair and the blue tie that matched his eyes perfectly. He actually did pull it off. Very well. I cleared my throat and looked away.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” he said.

“Yeah, sorry, my mom decided last minute.”

“No, I’m happy you did. But you missed my grandpa’s big speech,” he said.

I glanced over at the adult table again, where his grandpa sat at the head. He evenlookedimportant. A full head of white hair, a crisp white shirt under a dark suit. Like he’d spent his whole life speaking in front of crowds. Probably because he had, as mayor and then governor and then congressman. It didn’t surprise me that Beau’s dad had given the head of the table to him. Or that he had made the Thanksgiving Day speech. I wondered what he’d said he was thankful for. I wondered if he went around the room and had everyone say what they were thankful for. I was glad I’d missed it. I wasn’t sure what I would have said. Beau? I was grateful for him.

“Yes, we’re glad you’re here,” Harper said, leaning forward to talk to me around Beau.

“Thanks,” I said.

“Here’s a plate for you.” Mrs. Eubanks set an empty gold charger in front of me, then topped it with a white plate. “Help yourself.” She tapped Beau on the shoulder. “Elbows off the table.”

Beau quickly complied, then reached to the center of the table and grabbed the bowl of mashed potatoes, placing them beside me. “Your favorite first.”

“Thanks.” I scooped a spoonful onto my plate, then pushed the bowl back toward the middle. Over the top of the bowl, I saw a little girl staring at me. I offered her a smile.

“If that’s Beau’s girlfriend”—she pointed to Harper—“who are you?”

“This is one of my friends,” Beau responded. “She lives pretty close.”

I was his neighbor. That was what he was saying.

“Indy,” he said. “This is my cousin Clara and her brother, James, from Roseville.” He continued pointing around the table, introducing people. I knew some of his family, like his sister’s kids on the end and obviously Brady.

“I’m Harper,” Harper said with a laugh when he was done.

“Nice to meet you,” I tried to tease back. It fell flat. I ran my fork through the potatoes on my plate.

“Did you already eat before you came?” Beau asked. “We’re your third stop or something?”

“No, I’m hungry,” I said, because I was, but my stomach felt tight at the same time. Full of the nerves that had been swirling around in there all week. I took a bite of potatoes.

Beau reached for the platter of turkey and forked a few pieces onto my plate. “You okay?” he asked under his breath, brows low in concern.

No!I wanted to scream, but instead I forced a smile and nodded. I didn’t look at him while I did, knowing he’d see right through me.

“Did you hear about the bonfire on the beach on Saturday?” Harper asked.

“I didn’t,” I said. But there were bonfires on the beach once a month, it seemed, so I wasn’t surprised.