Dar didn’t release her. She pulled her closer instead, feeling the tension wound through Kerry’s body. It was one of the ways she and Kerry truly differed. When she had something happen that was not good, she refused to stress over it, resigning it to the past as something she could no longer change. Her partner was just the opposite, fretting over her decisions sometimes to both of their distraction. “Know something?”
Red Sky At Morning 59
Kerry exhaled. “What?”
Dar leaned forward until her lips were nearly touching her partner’s ear. “I love you.”
The magic words had their intended effect, and she felt the tension dissolve as Kerry slumped against her. Logical arguments seldom distracted her, but goopy romanticism always did, and Dar wasn’t in any mood to argue anyway.
She kissed the back of Kerry’s neck. “So now that that’s settled, let me go and be scandalized. That hasn’t happened since I was eight.”
Kerry chuckled softly. She half turned and kissed Dar on the lips, pulling back to meet the pale eyes watching her. “Thanks,” she said.
“Thanks for being here for me even when I’m being a dork.”
Dar nudged her a little. “You’re never a dork.”
“That’s so not true.”
They untangled themselves and headed for the sliding glass door, leaving the disappointed gulls behind them.
“NEED SOME HELP getting that bird out of the oven, Ker?” Dar called into the kitchen, giving the guests seated in their living room a wry grin. “It’s bigger than she is.”
“It is not! ” Kerry yelled back, having heard her.
Everyone chuckled. Dar was in the single leather chair with her father and mother on the couch across from her, Colleen and Ray on the couch, and Duks and Mariana perching on chairs in the dining room.
“Ah’ll go give it a heave,” Dar’s father announced, getting up and stretching out his six-foot-four-inch frame. The ex-SEAL ambled around the end of the couch and headed for the kitchen.
“Andy, no nibbling,” Cecilia Roberts called after him. The diminutive silver-blonde woman gave the rest of the guests a wry look.
“Not that it’ll help. I used to lose halves of whole meatloaves that way.”
Dar chuckled.
“I thought that you were the vegetarian, Mrs. Roberts?” Ray asked.
“I am. That’s why she’s laughing.” Ceci pointed to her daughter.
“She’d take the other half and leave me with a bowl of peas.”
Dar eased one denim-covered knee over the arm of the chair she was in, and cocked her head in agreement as another round of chuckles sounded.
“My da does the same,” Colleen chuckled. “I have to stop by there tonight, or I’ll never be hearing the end of it.” She turned to Dar. “How was your trip to the Big Apple, Dar?”
“Went all right,” the tall, dark-haired woman said. She sniffed the air as the combined scent of turkey and cinnamon penetrated the living room. “New York’s not my favorite town, but the stockholders were happy; and I got in and out fast.”
“Kerry came back with you?” Ceci asked. “I thought she went out 60 Melissa Good to Chicago.”
Dar got up and stretched, the intriguing smells from the kitchen luring her over. “She ran into weather on the flight up...had some plane problems. They landed in Newark.” Her head poked around the corner of the kitchen doorway. “Ready?”
Kerry looked up from removing baked sweet potatoes off a tray, their tops bubbling with toasted marshmallow. She had on a Dilbert apron, and she met Dar’s eyes with a grin. “Why? Are you hungry?”
Pale blue orbs darted to Andrew Roberts, then back to Kerry’s face.
“Yes.”
“Right nice-looking bird,” he drawled. “Never saw one with slippers on before, though.” He fingered the white frilly caps on the turkey’s leg bones. The bird itself was done to a nice golden brown, and a mound of stuffing spilled out over its breastbone and tumbled down onto the plate. “Good job, kumquat.”
“Yeah,” Dar agreed, licking her lips. Chino poked her head between Dar’s knees and investigated as well, wagging her tail hopefully.
Kerry regarded them fondly, a proud grin appearing on her face.
For her first turkey, it sure had turned out better than she’d dreamed.
“Okay, let’s get it to the table, then. I’ll bring this stuff.” She indicated the side dishes.
Andrew took possession of the turkey tray, lifting its bulk with little effort and heading for the dining room. Dar sidled over and took a fingerful of sweet potatoes, sticking it into her mouth before relieving Kerry of the platter. “Mmm.”
“Know what?” Kerry sucked on the end of her spoon. “I am pretty darn impressed with myself here.”
Dar leaned over and gave her partner a kiss on the lips. “I am totally not surprised.”
Kerry leaned against her. “Thanks.” She licked a bit of potato Dar had left behind off her lip and bumped her partner with one hip. “Better get in there before those are all gone.”
“You can make more.” Dar grinned. “But let me tell ya, I’m damn glad we didn’t’ miss out on this. It’s a blast.” She disappeared with the platter, leaving Kerry to divest herself of her apron and wipe her hands.
She could hear the buzz of conversation in the dining area, and the oohs and ahhs as the food arrived made her grin a little, and blush.
“Ah, and I remember all those horror stories everyone told about their first Thanksgiving.” She leaned back against the counter, enjoying the moment.
Traditions were funny. She didn’t remember Thanksgiving being a particularily enjoyable time in her past, save perhaps for her very youngest years. In the latter ones, it had become a photo opportunity for the press, as her father displayed his perfect American family gathered around a typical loaded table.
Red Sky At Morning 61
She half closed her eyes, a memory of being dressed in pristine starched ruffles and standing against a dark, wood wall as flashbulbs popped in her face coming sharply into focus.
Not attending wasn’t an option. Kerry could remember those endless nights surrounded by preening extended family, stilted conversations and critical remarks. “Damn, I hated turkey.” She sighed, shaking her head at the realization she’d just willingly produced a cooked one of her own.
Traditions here had taken on a whole new meaning, somehow.
“Hey, Ker?” Dar’s head popped back into the kitchen. “You coming out here to take your bows?”
Kerry pushed off the wall and headed into the living room, the chill air brushing against her bare legs and shoulders as she emerged to a round of enthusiastic clapping. She felt a blush color her skin as she took in all the smiling faces.
“Kerry, I have to tell you I never expected to be present at an edible Thanksgiving in this family unless Dar paid off Emeril Lagasse to visit,”
Ceci pronounced, with suitable seriousness. “I certainly never managed one.”Everyone chuckled, eyes turning to look at Kerry’s tall partner. Dar half shrugged, grinning rakishly. “Don’t look at me. I ordered in pizza before,” she assured them. “If anyone here thinks I ever thought I’d see a cooked turkey from that kitchen…” She pointed over her shoulder.
“on that table.” She pointed forward. “You’re nuts.”
So totally different. Kerry welcomed Dar’s encircling arm around her shoulders as she joined the others at the table, remembering where she’d been a year ago this time. “Boy.” She leaned against Dar’s tall body. “This sure beats a chicken salad sandwich at the nut farm, huh?”