Diva Runs Out Of Thyme

I hated that he’d overheard my call. And his habit of sneaking around and eavesdropping didn’t do anything to engender warm feelings for him. Mindful of Hannah’s outburst the night before, I asked politely, “Coffee?”

He reached back with his left arm, grabbed his left foot, and stood one-legged while he stretched. “No, thanks. I’m going for a run.”

An awkward moment passed between us.

“If you’re half the cook Hannah says you are, I’m certain I’ll be overeating later.” He flashed me a grin of perfect teeth. “Better work off some calories ahead of time.”

It was a transparent effort to be nice but I gave him credit for trying. I followed him to the front door, opened it, and said, “Enjoy your run.”

Laughter filtered in from the sunroom. I returned to the kitchen, set the oven to preheat and slid off my sweater, then took the coffeepot into the sunroom to see if anyone needed refills.

Bernie had stepped outside to use the phone. Through the glass, I could see his worried expression. Daisy roamed near him and sniffed at the overturned pots I’d forgotten to set straight.

While I poured coffee, Bernie returned, shivering.

“That was Mars. Bad news, I’m afraid,” said Bernie. “They had a rather nasty fire in Natasha’s kitchen last night.”

June paled. “Was Mars hurt?”

Everyone asked questions at once.

Bernie motioned for quiet. “Mars and Natasha are fine but the house is uninhabitable. They’ve moved into a hotel and, of course, there will be no grand feast at Natasha’s place today.”

“You’re welcome to join us,” I offered. “We have plenty. I bought way too much anyway.”

Mom rewarded me with a proud smile.

June looked down at the partially knitted sweater in her lap. “That’s very kind of you, Sophie. I only wish I could spend some time with Mars. I had hoped to have some private time with him today while Natasha cooked.”

“I know exactly how you feel.” Mom placed a hand on June’s shoulder. “It breaks my heart that my son and his family can’t be here today.”

My brother lived in Chantilly, a Washington, DC, suburb outside the Beltway. It wasn’t too far as the crow flew, though it could be a good forty-five-minute haul in traffic. But this Thanksgiving, they’d driven to Connecticut to see his wife’s family.

Hannah blurted out what I was thinking. “Give me a break, Mom; you just want to see Jen.”

My brother’s ten-year-old daughter was the only grandchild in our family and everyone doted on her.

Dad, always the voice of reason, chided gently, “Come now. You can’t expect to see them every holiday. And don’t forget, they’ll be joining us for Christmas, which is more fun for a child anyway.”

Mom seemed perilously close to pushing back tears. “It’s just that I never get to see them. They’re always so busy. Sophie, you see them more often than I do.” Her face brightened. “Why don’t we invite Mar—”

Oh, no! “Mom,” I interrupted, “could you help me in the kitchen?”

She nodded at June and followed me.

Whispering, I said, “Don’t you dare invite Mars and Natasha to dinner.”

“Honey, you saw how sad June was. Is it really so much to ask?”

“Do you honestly expect me to entertain my ex-husband and his new girlfriend—who, incidentally, accused me of murder—at Thanksgiving dinner?”

“Honey, this is your chance to steal Mars back.”

“Natasha did not steal Mars.”

Mom patted me as though she didn’t believe it. “There will be so many people you’ll hardly notice.” She sniffed. “And it will help me forget that Jen can’t be here.”

“No.”

“Well, I must say that I’m very disappointed in you, Sophie. Where is your compassion? Their house burned and you can’t even bring yourself to offer them one meal? I brought you up better than that. Besides, I have to see Natasha’s mother every week at the hospital auxiliary. It’s only good manners. If your kitchen burned down, I would expect Natasha to invite you.” She paused. “And what’s more, Natasha would do it because she has exquisite manners.”

I would not let myself be manipulated. “No.”

June poked her head into the kitchen. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but Bernie lent me his cute little phone to call Mars. They’ve accepted your generous invitation. Now I’m going to call Andrew and Vicki.”

June must have read the astonishment on my face because she added quickly, “They have nowhere else to go. Vicki’s only living relative is a brother in Hong Kong. We’ve never met him. He didn’t even come to their wedding.”

Mars’s brother and his wife, too? My eyes met Mom’s in desperation. All of my former in-laws would be coming for dinner.

Mom shrugged like it was out of our hands. But she looked far too happy about it.

NINE

From “A Natasha Thanksgiving”: