Brandi pulled Katie from their apartment. “We need to hurry, or we’ll be late. You know how my mom hates it when people don’t show up on time.”
“Oh, I know all right. But we won’t be late. Traffic is light today, and we have thirty minutes to get there. What’s up with you today?” Katie shot her a questioning look.
“I don’t know. I’m nervous I guess.” She closed and locked the door behind them then raced toward her car as rain pelted the hood of her water-resistant jacket.
“Why?” Katie asked as she raced past her.
Brandi picked up her pace and clicked the key fob to unlock the door. She scooted behind the wheel and cranked up the heat. “I have no idea why I’m nervous.” Maybe it was more anxiety than nerves. Her parents were bound to grill her about her job status. After all, that was how they rolled. She pulled out of her parking spot and headed toward I-90.
“How is work?” Katie asked. “Is everything going okay? You’ve been tight-lipped the past couple of weeks.”
“Have I?” She glanced toward her friend. “It’s funny you should ask. I was just thinking about how my parents would want to know about my job.” She signaled and merged onto I-90 northbound. “After my conversation with Miranda a couple of weeks ago, I thought things would take off, and they did for about a week, then nothing.”
“What do you mean, nothing?”
“I haven’t been brought in on any more projects. I don’t know what happened.”
“Did you ask her?”
“I couldn’t.” She’d come close several times. Then Miranda would send her on an errand.
“Why?”
“My timing stinks, apparently. I know I need to be my own advocate, but that’s not easy.”
“I get that. I’m not judging, either. Look at me. I’m a college dropout who works in a coffee shop and doesn’t even like the stuff.”
“You might if you gave it half a chance.” Brandi grinned. “Someday make yourself a peppermint mocha.”
“I’d prefer a peppermint hot chocolate.”
Brandi rolled her eyes. “Suit yourself. Speaking of college and the coffee shop, what are you going to do?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to keep working at a job you don’t really like?”
“What else am I supposed to do? I have no skills and no education.”
“You like theater and art. Why not try to find a job in those fields?” Brandi glanced at her friend who had spent much of her childhood in foster care and had been supporting herself since she graduated high school at eighteen. She’d received a scholarship for her first year at the University of Washington, had gotten involved with the theater program there, and had taken several art classes. Too bad the scholarship had only been for one year.
“You need a degree, that’s why.”
“Then you should go back to school.”
“It takes money to go to college. Money I don’t have.”
“What about a student loan?”
“No way. I don’t want to saddle myself with that kind of debt. Plus, I really didn’t care for school.”
“I know academics aren’t your thing, but you enjoyed the acting and drawing.”
“I don’t want to talk about it today.” Katie pointed. “That’s your exit.”
Brandi signaled and exited the freeway. “Thanks. I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Or maybe you were hoping to pass it.”
“Ha. Nope. I want my parents to be in a good mood today. Which is why we can’t be late.” Brandi shook her head. They’d be ten minutes early—right on time according to Mother.
Five minutes later, she pulled along the curb in front of her childhood home. “You ready for this?”
Katie nodded. “Oh, yeah. You know I love your parents, and your mom is a great cook. Don’t stress the job thing. I’ll back you up if needed.”
Brandi turned to face her friend and smiled. “Thanks. You’re the best.” She took a bracing breath and let it out. “Let’s do this.” She darted up the walkway through pouring rain with Katie right behind her.
The door swung open. Her dad stood there wearing a wide grin. “Welcome home, princess.”
“Hi, Daddy.” She hugged him, planted a kiss on his cheek, then moved inside.
“Hi, Mr. Prescott,” Katie said.
“Happy Thanksgiving, squirt.”
Brandi winced. Katie hated that nickname. She didn’t like being small and short, and the name felt like a slap to her, but she was too polite to correct him. Brandi had tried to explain how Katie felt, but her dad laughed off her concern as if she was making it up and teasing him.
“Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.” Katie stepped passed him and stood beside Brandi. “You know, I’m not a kid anymore, right?”
He nodded.
“Then why do you still call me squirt?”
“For the same reason I still call Brandi princess.” He closed the door and walked toward the living room where sports blared on the television. “Your mother’s in the kitchen. I think she wants help.”
“Thanks, Daddy.” Brandi looped her arm through Katie’s and lowered her voice. “Don’t mind him. You know how he is.”
“I do. I just thought maybe if I said something…”
Brandi shook her head. “My dad will never change. I’ll be princess, and you’ll be squirt until the day he dies, and then I imagine we’ll miss the nicknames.” Her throat clogged at the thought. Her parents were in their forties, much too young to be thinking like this. She cleared her throat and plastered on a smile as they walked into the large kitchen in the back of the house. “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Mom turned from the sink, wearing blue rubber gloves with suds halfway up her arm. She blew hair out of her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here. I should have had this catered.”
“You say that every year, Mom.”
“I know. It’s just so much work. All the side dishes and two turkeys.”
“Two?” Her mom usually went overboard but never like this.
“Yes. Your dad wanted it brined, and I wanted it the same as always, so now we have two.”
And her parents always got what they wanted. “I see.” She dropped her arms to her side. “What can Katie and I do to help?”
“Will you make a green salad, please? Everything is washed and sitting in a bowl in the fridge. Katie, you can dry dishes. How have you girls been?”
“Pretty good,” Katie said. “Remember when we told you we wanted to find a charity to volunteer at during the holidays? Well, we found one that’s amazing. We’re wrapping gifts for needy children. Then we get to go to their Christmas party and watch the kids open them. We were also asked to help at another fundraising event that supports needy kids and families. We get to check in art donations then display them for a silent auction.”
“That sounds perfect, considering you’re both artists.” Mom looked over her shoulder toward the island. “Speaking of art, how’s work? Are you still that woman’s assistant?”
Brandi stifled a sigh as she sliced celery at the island. “I am but—”
“Mrs. Prescott, you wouldn’t believe what happened to Brandi. The owner of the ad agency saw a mock up that Brandi drew and loved it so much, she’s been brought in to help on a couple of projects. Not only that, she went solo on one.”
Brandi held her breath. Katie said she’d have her back, but she hadn’t expected her to take over the conversation. This change was so unlike her. Then again, once Katie warmed up to people, she could be a talker.
Her mom stopped washing dishes and turned to face Brandi. “Congratulations. It’s about time too. I will never understand why you settled to be an assistant when you should have one of your own.”
“Oh, Mom. I know you don’t understand, but this is how I wanted to do it.”
“At least your plan worked.” Her mom turned back to the dishes. “I assume you received a raise.”
“Not exactly. Technically, I’m still Miranda’s assistant, but now that they recognize my skill, they’re bringing me in on the creative stuff.” At least they did for a little while. Things had slowed down, presumably due to the holidays. She hadn’t expected that, but since it was her first year there, she had no way of knowing if it was normal, and she wasn’t about to ask.
“That’s actually how we got involved with these charities.” Katie went on to tell her mom all about Ian and Ray.
“I’m happy you girls are getting involved with something that makes a difference.” Strain edged her mom’s voice. “That’s all for now, Katie. Thanks for your help. When you’re finished there, feel free to go watch the game. I think the Seahawks are playing today, but you know I don’t follow football.”
“Sure thing. If you need me for anything else let me know.” She draped the towel over the dish strainer and left the room but not before she shot Brandi an “I’m-sorry-I-did-my-best” look.
Brandi finished up the salad then popped it back into the fridge. “Who all will be here today?”
“Your grandparents and my brother and his girlfriend.”
“Uncle Tim’s in town? And he brought a woman? How come I didn’t know this?”
“I don’t know, but they’ve been dating for close to two years now. Your dad and I expect him to announce their engagement.”
“That would explain why he’s here and why he’s bringing her. I didn’t think he’d ever marry.”
“I agree. But some people find their special someone late in life.” She grinned. “I’m happy for him. I only hope this woman is good enough.”
“Yeah.” Her uncle was a good guy. She never could understand why he was single.
“It’s been so long since Tim has been here for Thanksgiving I want everything to be extra special. Now let’s finish those side dishes before everyone arrives.”
“Uncle Tim’s only coming to eat? Why isn’t he staying here?”
“He’s staying with Grandma and Grandpa.”
Of course. That made sense. Mom pulled the turkeys out of the ovens and set them on the counter. Then they spent the next twenty minutes quietly assembling a green bean casserole, wild rice, a fruit platter, and yams. Mom stuck the yams and the green beans in the rarely used second oven and placed the fruit on the island. “Help yourself, but don’t eat too much. We’ll be eating very soon.” The doorbell rang. “That’s probably them.” She tossed off her apron, smoothed down her top, raised her head, and squared her shoulders.
If Brandi didn’t know any better, she’d say her pillar of a mother was nervous. Go figure. Sure, she complained now and then about her mom, but the truth was, she admired just about everything about her. From her way with people to her success in the business world. Maybe her mom was right, and she should have looked for the job she wanted straight out of school rather than work her way up.
Voices filtered in from the living room. She headed that direction and joined everyone, including Katie, as they stood around her uncle and his girlfriend, who happened to be wearing a ring on her left hand. It looked like her mom’s guess was correct. She was going to have a new aunt.
She couldn’t wait until she found her Mister Right. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to wait until she was middle-aged like her uncle.