Page 43 of When I Should’ve Stayed (Red Bridge #2)

Josie

Breezy taps her knife on her wineglass and stands up. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to make a little speech.”

“I mind,” Bennett grumbles.

But when Summer starts to clap her hands and shout, “Bees! Bees! Love you, Bees!” his annoyed frown turns into an instant smile.

“I think the crowd has spoken,” Breezy comments, flashing a knowing smile at her brother, and Bennett just laughs.

“Looks like I’m the odd man out, huh, Summblebee?”

“Lovoo, Daddy!” Summer claps her hands again.

“Love you too, baby,” he says and reaches out to wipe some mashed potatoes off her face. Summer proceeds to dive back into her dinner while Breezy commands the attention of the room.

The dining room is filled with everyone we know and love from Red Bridge.

Sheriff Pete, Earl, Reverend Bob and his wife Darlene, sweet little Melba Danser, who was one of my Grandma Rose’s favorite people in the whole world.

Marty and Sheila Higgins and their new baby, Ella, who is currently sleeping in her car seat on the floor beside their chairs.

My boss Harold Metcalf and his wife Carol.

My two coworkers and good friends Camille and Todd.

Breezy even managed to invite the town gossip Eileen Martin and the annoyingly chatty sheep farmer Tad Hanson and his brother Randy.

No one knows a whole lot about Tad and Randy Hanson other than the fact that they’re sheep farmers who bought land near Bennett’s property a couple of months ago, and that they’re not very good at it.

Last week, fifty sheep caused a traffic jam on Main Street during the morning rush.

Sheriff Pete nearly froze his lips to his whistle trying to herd them back home.

It’s a full house at Bennett’s, and I wish Grandma Rose could’ve been here to enjoy it.

Even though Eileen Martin is the town gossip, my grandmother was always the one woman who could get people to spill the tea.

I don’t know what it was about her, but she was the kind of person that you found yourself telling everything.

Her aura just drew you in and made you feel like you’d been old friends for a lifetime.

She might’ve been ornery and dry and stubborn, but she was also warm and comforting and understanding.

She was the best of us.

A sheen of tears forms in my eyes, and I swallow hard against the emotion that feels like a golf ball has lodged itself in my throat.

This is my first Thanksgiving without her.

This is the first year that she didn’t make me help her bake a hundred pies to pass out to everyone in town just to get under Betty Bagley’s skin.

This is the first year that I didn’t get to witness her wrestle her turkey into the oven.

A turkey that she always managed to buy two sizes too big and had us eating leftovers for weeks.

The first Thanksgiving that I didn’t get to sit across from her at the table and have her make me list off everything I was grateful for.

Last year, our Thanksgiving dinner was a quiet one with just me, Clay, Grandma Rose, and Melba.

Clay had said he was grateful for me. And Grandma Rose had said, “What about me, Clay? Am I just chopped liver?”

She loved to razz his ass. Loved to tease him. And I know he loved it too.

She wanted me to marry him; she told me that at least a hundred times. Told me I needed to marry that man and have his babies or else she’d do it herself. And here I am, married to him, carrying his baby, and she’s not here.

Clay reaches out his hand to cover mine, and I realize Breezy is already halfway into her speech, while I’ve been a million miles away thinking about the good old days with Grandma Rose.

Clay’s smile is soft when I meet his eyes, but my emotions are too raw right now to offer anything but a quick smile before I redirect my attention to Breezy, who still stands at the head of the table.

“Bennett and Summer and I are so happy you’re here to celebrate Thanksgiving with us,” Breezy announces, and Ben doesn’t even roll his eyes or grumble. But how could he? His little Summer’s face is bright with an adorable smile as she claps her hands after every sentence that his sister says.

“Yay, Bees! Yay, Bees!”

“I know this is a little clichéd, but I think it’s a tradition worth doing.

It is Thanksgiving, you know? And this room full of amazing people is proof we have a lot to be thankful for.

So, I’d like to go around the table and have everyone just name one thing they’re grateful for today.

” Breezy grins down at Bennett. “And when I say everyone, I mean everyone .”

Ben just laughs. “You know what, Breeze? I’ll even go first.”

“Yeah?” Breezy questions, surprise in her eyes.

Bennett responds by starting us off. “Today, I’m thankful for everyone in this room. But mostly, I’m thankful for this sweet little girl.” He reaches out to gently rub his fingers over Summer’s cheek. “You’re the greatest gift I’ve ever been given, sweet girl. Love you forever, Summblebee.”

“Lovoo, Daddy!” Summer exclaims and claps her chubby toddler hands together. “Much much much much!”

Ben smiles and leans forward to press a gentle kiss to her lips.

Breezy goes next, her voice soft with emotion when she says she’s grateful for her brother and Summer. “I don’t know what it is about you, little lady. But you make everything better.”

“Lovoo, Bees!” Summer exclaims, and Breezy has to swipe a tear from her cheek when she walks over to kiss Summer on the forehead. “Love you too, baby girl.”

“I think we’re all thankful for Summer,” Melba announces with a soft smile toward the happy toddler in the high chair.

“And I’m thankful for my best friend Rose.

She would’ve loved being here for this dinner.

” Melba meets my eyes. “Missing her is hell, but I know she’s watching over us all.

And I know that she’s proud, so proud, Josie, of the woman you’ve become.

She loved you fiercely. And I loved her like a sister.

And even though decades of time being best friends didn’t feel like enough, I’m thankful I got them. Love you, Rose.”

A few tears slip from my lids, and Clay reaches out to squeeze my thigh.

Everyone at the table continues the tradition. Pete. Reverend Bob and his wife. My boss Harold Metcalf. Camille and Todd. They state what they’re grateful for, and every single person includes Summer in their list.

I can’t blame them. That little girl lights up the room like no one else.

“I guess it’s my turn, huh?” Clay asks with a smile and stands up from his chair. “I’m definitely thankful for our little Summer.”

“Uncie Cay! Lovoo!”

“Love you too, sweetheart.” Clay grins. “But the one person I’m most thankful for is this woman right here.” He reaches out to grab my hand. “Josie, I love you more than anything. And I’m ready for everyone to know just how much.”

I quirk a brow, but he continues.

“Right here, right now, on this Thanksgiving filled with our dearest friends, I’d like to share our good news with you,” he announces, and it feels like his words are coming out faster than my brain can comprehend them.

“This beautiful woman right here is my wife. And I’m the lucky son of a bitch who gets to be her husband. ”

A collective confusion washes over the room, but I’m reading things loud and clear. Patient Clay has officially left the building, whether I was ready or not.

“What?” Melba is the first one to exclaim. “You got married?”

“We did.” Clay nods proudly, but my ears feel hot and heavy on the sides of my head.

All the guests shout and croon with congratulations, but I feel like I’m drowning in quickly rising water. The questions are coming—I can feel them—and the truth will be unavoidable.

On the day Grandma Rose died, I was off saying I do.

Nothing will ever be the same again.