“Or maybe it’s exactly the same,” I said, taking a fortifying sip of wine. “Maybe we justknow.Right,Daniel?”
Daniel pursed his lips like he was fighting not to smile. “Definitely,” he said. “Sometimes someone comes along and your life just does a complete one-eighty. You can’t fightit.”
Mama set her fork down on her plate with a click. “Is that what happened for you,Daniel?”
Daniel grabbed a roll from his plate and split it in half with his thumbs. “With Julian?Absolutely.”
“And before Julian? Before you moved here? How did you spend your Thanksgiving last year?” She swept her long hair behind her back and stared at him like she was daring him to answer. Her voice was acerbic,biting.
Best behavior, myass.
“Mama,” Ibegan.
But Daniel cut me off. “Down in the city, as a matter of fact. I ate at Loredo Kitchenin…”
“In Chelsea!” Marina squealed from beside him, grabbing his arm just as she had in the living room. “Omigod, I’ve been there! We have so much in common, Daniel! I wonder if we know some of the samepeople!”
Daniel smiled patiently. “I really doubt it,” he said. “There’s a bit of an agedifference.”
Marina pouted and sank back in her seat while I cheeredsilently.
“And who did you spend the day with?” Mama continued. “Your parents? Brothers? Sisters? Surely your family’s missing youtoday.”
“I’m an only child,” Daniel said, giving her a small smile. “And I don’t like to talk about my folks much, if it’s all the same to you. We’re not all fortunate enough to have such a wonderfulfamily.”
Mama blinked. Polite refusal, couched in a compliment? My mother wasn’t used to direct opposition and wasn’t sure how to handle it. The cheering in my head grewlouder.
“And how are you adjusting to life in O’Leary, Daniel?” Teresa asked. “If you lived in the city, this must be a cultureshock.”
“A bit,” he agreed. “O’Leary’s different than I’d thought it wouldbe.”
“I wouldn’t think you’d knowwhatit’s like, since we hardly ever see you in town,” my mother said. She smiled tightly. “You’ve hardly given any of us a chance to knowyou.”
“Mama,” I said again. “This isn’t the SpanishInquisition.”
“It’s fine, Jules,” Daniel said easily enough. He turned to my mother. “I came here as a sort of sabbatical. I wasn’t sure how long I’d be here and I didn’t plan to put down roots. I definitely didn’t plan to meet Julian.” He smiled at me and took a huge bite of hisdinner.
Meanwhile, I reached for my wineagain.
He hadn’t planned to put down roots? I’d never really considered that, though maybe it should have been obvious. He certainly hadn’t gone out of his way to meet anyone or establish anyties.
How long did I have before something called him back to the city or to somewhere else entirely? Would he make an effort to keep in touch when he left, or would he be as close-mouthed about his time in O’Leary as he was about his time in NewYork?
“Can we have dessert early?” Con asked, apparently attempting to change the subject. “Mitch asked if I could do a little patrolling around Weaver Street this evening.” He gave us all an apologetic shrug. “Overtime, you know? Can’t sayno.”
My mother’s fork hit her plate with a sharpclinkthat suggested he probably should have saidno.
“Since when does Mitchell Turner require his auxiliary officers to patrol the streets of O’Leary on a day when every decent person is at home celebrating aholiday?”
I noticed Sam’s eyes were carefully fixed on her plate and my annoyance with my mother rose. “Cooking a turkey doesn’t make you a decentperson.”
My mother pursed her lips, refusing to debate thematter.
“Hen Lattimer’s missing some stuff again. Second time the thief has hit the hardwarestore.”
“The thief?” My aunt reached for her throat like she would have clutched her pearls, had she been wearing any. “Whatthief?”
“Some petty criminal,” I said, waving a hand. “Or some kid who thinks he’s funny, looking forattention.”
