Chapter 13 - Thanksgiving Happened Without a Ranking
The next Thanksgiving did not take place at Richard’s house.
Vanessa hosted.
That surprised everyone.
Her home in New Albany looked like something from:
a design magazine
because, unsurprisingly, it had been designed by her firm.
Emily and Aaron arrived with Noah.
Richard greeted Aaron at the door.
For half a second everyone seemed to brace.
Richard held out his hand.
“Aaron.”
Aaron shook it.
“Richard.”
Then Richard said:
“I owe you an apology.”
Aaron looked toward Emily.
She gave:
nothing.
His decision.
Aaron answered:
“You do.”
Richard almost laughed.
“I insulted your work, your income, and your place in this family.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
Aaron nodded.
“Thank you.”
No performance.
No speech about forgiveness.
Then:
“Can I come in? Noah is trying to eat the pie in the driveway.”
Richard laughed.
The tension broke.
Dinner had no:
income jokes.
No:
business comparisons.
No:
“Vanessa’s success.”
No:
“Emily’s choices.”
Vanessa served:
turkey,
stuffing,
potatoes
that she absolutely had not cooked herself.
Emily asked:
“Caterer?”
Vanessa looked offended.
“Private chef.”
“Of course.”
They laughed.
During dessert, Noah asked Richard:
“Grandpa, what’s good blood?”
Every adult froze.
Children remember.
Richard set down his fork.
He looked at Noah.
“Remember when Grandpa said something mean last year?”
Noah nodded.
“I was wrong.”
“What is good blood?”
Richard thought.
Then:
“Blood is just blood.”
“What matters is whether people are kind and honest and take care of each other.”
Noah considered.
Then:
“Dad says blood has red cells.”
Aaron covered his face.
Everyone laughed.
Richard did too.
Noah’s question stopped being:
a wound
and became:
a family joke.
Not because they erased what happened.
Because Richard answered differently when given the chance.
Later, Emily stood beside Vanessa in the kitchen.
Vanessa nodded toward Richard and Aaron talking.
“Look at them.”
Emily smiled.
“Terrifying.”
Vanessa handed her a glass of wine.
“Do you know Dad asked me last month whether I thought your nonprofit could use his company foundation money?”
Emily’s expression changed.
“What did you say?”
“I told him to ask you.”
Emily looked at her sister.
Vanessa smiled.
“I’m practicing.”
May you like
Apparently everyone was.
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