Betrayed, but New Love Found

Thanksgiving

Holly

“Is dinner ready yet?” Amber asked for the tenth time.

Holly smiled at Kyle’s sister and shook her head. She was twenty-four, two years younger than Holly and all Holly could think was she was a spoiled brat. She hasn’t even offered to help. Holly was doing everything herself. Kyle’s mother and father were in the living room with Kyle and his buddy Roger watching the football game.

“There are some black olives, baby pickles, cheese, pepperoni and crackers over there. Why don’t you get the charcuterie board in the living room and refill it,” Holly said.

Amber scoffed and rolled her eyes. A knock at the door alerted Holly. She was in the middle of mashing the potatoes.

“Kyle, could you get that please?”

“Sure doll.”

She heard a chorus of ‘heys’ and turned from the mashing to look at who was at the door. She smiled as Alyssa came in with two pumpkin pies.

“Sorry I’m late. I had to talk to my parents who were giving me a guilt trip for not coming home this Thanksgiving. But like, the prices of plane tickets have skyrocketed for the holidays. I’m not made of money.”

Holly chuckled. “They just miss you,” she said. She would give anything to have parents give her a guilt trip over not making it home.

“Yeah, I know. Well, where do you want these pies? They’re my grandmother’s recipe.”

“Um, over there with the cherry and the pecan.”

“Why are there so many pies?” Alyssa asked.

“Well, Kyle doesn’t like pumpkin or pecan, so I made him cherry. Larry, Elenore, you, and Amber like pumpkin and me and Roger like pecan. Well, really, I like any pie, but pecan is my favorite. I just like to make sure everyone has something they like.”

“Isn’t that sweet? Well, I’m going to go visit. Toodles.”

Holly watched her walk out of the kitchen. Alyssa had on a tight black dress that was mid-thigh and low cut. It was the type of dress that one wore to a dance club. Holly found it inappropriate for a Thanksgiving meal, but Alyssa was single, and so was Roger. Maybe she was trying to get his attention.

Holly went back to mashing the potatoes. It was the last thing that needed to be done. She looked over at the table. Everything was set, all the rest of the food was there.

“Doll, how’s that food coming,” Kyle yelled.

“I’m almost done mashing the potatoes, if you all want to come and sit.”

The stampeding of feet and the sound of scraped chairs assaulted Holly’s ears.

“Babe, the wine?”

“Geez Holly, there’s nothing to drink on the table,” Elenore complained.

“Sorry, the wine is in the fridge, and there’s juice and coke too. I can get it all once I’m done.”

“I’ll just do it,” Elenore snapped.

Holly finished seasoning the potatoes and transferred them into a bowl. She brought them over to the table and sighed with satisfaction.

“Well sit, so we can all eat,” Larry said.

Holly took off her apron and put it on the counter. She turned and stopped. Roger was sitting next to Kyle on one side and Alyssa was on the other to his left, where Holly normally sat at family dinners. Amber sat next to her. Elenore was to Larry’s left, who took the other end of the table, leaving the empty seat to his right. She looked at Kyle, he just shrugged.

Holly put on a strained smile and sat next to Amber and Larry. The moment she sat, everyone started passing dishes. She went to grab the turkey platter, but it was snatched up by Roger. So she moved to the green beans, but Elenore took the spoon that was in it and started loading her plate. Larry grabbed the mashed potatoes and gravy boat, so Holly grabbed a roll and started buttering it.

“The potatoes are really dry this year,” Elenore complained.

“I think they’re delicious, seasoned perfectly. They don’t even need gravy,” Alyssa said.

Holly looked over at her gracefully and smiled. Larry grunted, and Elenore huffed.

“So, Holly, when are you going to make me an aunt? You and Kyle have been married for three years now. Shouldn’t you be pregnant already?” Amber asked.

Holly choked on her bite of food. Kyle stopped eating and glared at his sister.

“I’m not ready to share my wife yet. I like having all her attention. Maybe in another year or two. Besides, why are you so worried about us having kids? Shouldn’t you be worried that you’re twenty-four and don’t even have a boyfriend.”

Amber turned beet red. “I had a boyfriend, but I caught him cheating. Nothing’s worse than a cheater.”

“A gold digger is,” Elenore said.

Holly paused from taking a drink of her water. She knew that was a dig at her. Elenore made it a point for Holly to sign a prenup before she and Kyle got married. She had even at that moment made a comment that gold diggers would get nothing if she and Kyle divorced.

Holly had calmly told her she didn’t mind signing a prenup. She wasn’t after Kyle’s money. Elenore scoffed and crossed her arms. Holly knew the woman didn’t like her. She said Holly came from nothing, that who knows what’s in her blood or what mental illness she may pass on to her future grandchildren.

That had hurt Holly and made her cry. It was also the first time Kyle had yelled at his mother. Holly knew Kyle loved her, but she also knew Kyle and his family were really close, so she did everything to mend the rift between his mother and him.

She put up with the snide remarks Elenore and Amber made about her behind Kyle’s back. She never told him. She never complained that there was no present for her under the Christmas tree for her when they would go over for Christmas morning. She didn’t need anything. Kyle bought her gifts all the time.

“Mother,” Kyle snapped.

“What? I’m just saying. Someone that marries only for money is worse than cheating, in my opinion.”

“No, cheating is definitely worse,” Alyssa said. “It’s unforgivable.”

Holly nodded and so did Roger and Kyle.

After dinner, Holly got the pies sliced. The pumpkin pies she noted were definitely not homemade. They were totally store-bought. But she didn’t call Alyssa out on it. She didn’t want to embarrass her.

Everyone was back in the living room. After slicing the pies. Holly cleaned the kitchen and dining table up. She put the leftovers away, including what she divided for Alyssa and Roger to take home. She even put some leftovers in a container for Larry.

Once everything was cleaned up, she asked who wanted pie. Everyone came rushing into the kitchen. They all got their slices and went right back to the living room. Kyle kissed her and whispered it was almost over.

She smiled at him. She ended up eating a slice of pecan by herself at the dining table. When football was on, Kyle did not want to miss it. That’s why they always ate between games. But dessert was always in the living room.

Alyssa left a few hours later followed by Roger. They both thanked her for the leftovers.

“I don’t think we should take on an influencer as a client dad. You can’t tell me, this person makes enough money to invest with,” Kyle said.

“You’d be surprised, son. Thatcher Jones has over a million followers and three quarters of that are subscribers.”

“So?”

“Well, at three dollars take home per subscriber per month, he’s making two million, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a month before taxes, Kyle. And someone that big will also have sponsors. So, he’ll be making a lot more. And that’s if he’s on Foodie Net, Group, VidTube, or Click. I think Click gives their people a dollar more. I don’t know. I’m only on VidTube.”

“Seriously, that much? How much do you make on that little channel of yours?”

“Oh, only about three thousand a month. I have three thousand followers and a thousand subscribers.”

Amber and Elenore snorted. “So pathetic, living off of my brother.

“He prefers me to take care of our home.”

“Amber, I don’t know why you’re saying anything. You’re twenty-four and still live off of our parents.”

“That’s only because I’m not married yet,” she said pouting.

“All the more reason for you to get a job. Who knows how long it will take for a man to even like you.”

“Kyle, don’t speak to your sister like that,” Elenore scolded.

“Don’t talk down to my wife. I don’t want her working. I’m the provider in this house. I like that she needs me,” he said, giving Holly a wink.

She gave him a soft smile and looked at him with a smoldering look.

“It’s time for you to leave. Dad, I think your idea now has merit. We should have a meeting with this influencer.”

“Alright son, I’ll set up a meeting.”

His parents and sister left. He turned to Holly and wrapped his arms around her.

“Let’s go upstairs so I can make love to my beautiful wife. Thank you for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. I’m sorry you couldn’t sit by me.”

“It’s okay. Come ravish me, husband.” She giggled all the way upstairs as he chased her.