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I stare blankly at the computer screen. I've been staring at it for hours; the words make no sense.

This is the second draft of my manuscript and frankly I'm so tired of the stupid thing I'm tempted to scrap it and start over.

But I don't. A lot of time and even love has been put into this.

Plus, my editor would kill me.

My phone vibrates, letting me know I have exactly thirty minutes before it's time to pick up Sophie from school.

Even though I am half brain-dead from the editing process, I am still reluctant to leave my desk. I wanted to have it finished and ready to resubmit by Thursday.

Thursday is Thanksgiving.

Outside the sky's a burnished gray, somehow both blindingly bright and gloomy. I miss summer and its color scheme but at least the outermost fringes are starting to reflect fall, an occasional leaf flaming and lovely.

Sophie is posted up against the wall, her backpack slung on one shoulder. Some boy is standing next to her, talking, and I'm amazed at how …almost flirty they look.

She's eight, for God's sake.

Eventually I put the car in park and step out, cupping my hands around my mouth. "Sophie!"

Her blush is apparent, even from this far away. Boy walks away.

"Hey Mom," she says, tossing her bag and herself into the front seat.

"Hey, love." I kiss her cheek and she kisses mine. "Who was that?"

"Austin Crowley. He's in third."

"Ah. I knew his dad in high school."

"Really?"

"Mhm."

She nods, fingering the little sapphire studs in her ears. They're her birthstones.

"Mom?"

"What's up?"

"Is Jaime coming home?"

"He flew in today." I glance at her, amused at the blush that sweeps across her cheeks. "You excited to see him?"

She shrugs. "Yeah."

"Sophie?"

She looks at me expectantly, her fingers picking at the already frayed hem of her jeans.

"Do you have a little crush on Jaime?" I've wanted to ask for quite some time, but it never seemed appropriate, especially now that Edward and I are together.

She frowns, the blush deepening further. Poor kid's almost purple.

"I don't know. Isn't he… almost like my brother now?"

Nodding, I turn on to our street. "In a way, I guess."

"So that's weird."

"I know, but do you? It's okay if you do."

"Sort of. I mean, he's my best friend. For a boy. Natalie and Chrissa are my best friends but for a boy Jaime is." She rambles in earnest, her eyes darting around.

"It's okay. You guys have been friends for a long time."

"Are you gonna marry his dad?" she asks. I can see her watching me closely out of the corner of my eye.

"I don't know." I shrug. "Maybe… I'd like to, I think. If he asked me."

"Is he gonna ask you?"

"Would it bother you if he did?"

She shrugs. "I don't know. No. Would we have to move?"

"I don't know, Soph. That's a lot to think about for something that might not even happen."

This wasn't the way I'd pictured having this conversation but we're having it and I think it's okay so far.

"I don't really want to move, Mom."


Jaime isn't the same friendly kid I knew.

Sophie and I go to Edward's house so that we can all drive to dinner together, and he'll hardly even look at me. I wonder if Tanya's been whispering in his ear.

He's not rude to me, or even cold, just distant.

Finally I stop trying to engage him in conversation, letting him chat with just Sophie. I'm glad he doesn't target her. It would break her heart, and maybe his.

Edward smiles apologetically at me, grabbing my hand underneath the table. For some reason, that makes me want to cry.

"I'm sorry," he mouths.

I nod, swallowing.

"I love you," he mouths.

I squeeze his hand and trace letters into his palm. I love you.


Thanksgiving Day is brutally cold for November. I wrap Sophie in bright, warm clothing; leg warmers over her leggings, a thick sweater over her thermal, gloves and socks and cute boots.

If I could pull off leg warmers I would but I can't so it's jeans and layers for me.

I arrive at my parent's earlier this year, wanting to help with the pies. There are less people attending dinner than last year, but the friends we do have are some of our closest.

Stepping outside, I sit on the porch swing and think of Garrett. I wonder what he's doing right now and if he ever thinks of me.

Edward is at his parent's place with Jaime. I give him a call, letting him know how much I love him. Maybe next year we'll be together on this day.

He comes by later, surprising me both by showing up at all and because Jaime is tagging along behind him, his mittened hands holding a box.

"Extra pie," Edward winks.

"Oh, we've got plenty," I say, kissing him quickly. "But I love pie."

"Me too. Especially for breakfast."

Jaime shuffles his boots on the porch.

"Come on, let's get inside. Sophie'll be so glad you're here," I say, smiling at him.

He shrugs and nods and smiles a little.

Somewhere between the front door and the place where Sophie is I stop. Edward has stepped into the kitchen to greet my mother and it's just Jaime and me, making our way through the house.

Crouching down, I grab his hand and pray that he will truly hear me. Feel me.

"I miss you," I say, realizing how very true that is.

He gazes back at me, his eyes so much like Edward's.

"I know… you feel weird around me sometimes. I get it. I really get it. But I just want you to know that I'll never try and be anyone you don't want me to be. You're one of Sophie's very best friends, and she's so lucky you guys are still close. And you're Edward's boy, and I care about you both. I just… I don't want you to be upset with me. Or confused. I'll do whatever I have to, okay?"

He reaches out and wipes the tear from my eye and then frowns. "It's okay."

"You sure?"

His frown melts into a small smile. "I'm sure."

Sophie chooses that moment to round the corner. "Jaime! Come look at this!"

And with that, he's gone.

I stand a little shakily, taking deep breaths to calm myself before finding Edward.

"You all right?" he asks, his fingers delicate around the stem of his wine glass.

Walking to the counter, I find a clean, empty wine glass. "Actually, yes. I had a little chat with Jaime. It was okay. I think we'll be okay eventually."

He raises his eyebrows, surprised. "That's good. And, I know you'll be okay; I never had a doubt."

Later, when everyone's gone or asleep, we sit on the floor by the fireplace in my parent's living room, finishing off a bottle of wine and talking endlessly about everything. This reminds me of high school, when we'd do this very thing in this very place, whittling the hours away with conversation.

"Do you think… we'll end up married?" Wine has loosened my tongue.

He turns to me, pulling my elbow until we're both laying flat. The heat of the fire is soothing and I stretch my socked toes toward it.

"Will you marry me?"

My breath catches in my throat. "You mean hypothetically or really?"

"Both. Would you? Will you?"

"Yeah." My face is warm.

"Wow." He rolls closer and embraces me. "Never thought I'd hear that."

"Next year. When things have settled."

"Things will never be settled. But next spring sounds good," he chuckles, kissing me.

"You'll ask officially next spring or we'll do it next spring?" I ask, giddy and awed.

"I don't know." He roots around in the pocket of his jeans and pulls out a rubber band. Then he grabs me by the hand. He loops it around my ring finger several times and kisses me for good measure. "But if you'll have me, I'll keep my promises this time."


So, you can probably see that this is wrapping up. One more chapter? Two? And an epilogue.

Also, I am (super excited to be) participating in the Fandom Gives Back auctions, coming up soon. Stay tuned.

xoxo