“Gee, thanks,” Wade said with a wan smile. “Remind me not to try to keep up with those two buffoons.” He gestured to Landon, who was showing off his backflip skills. “If I did that right now, I’d puke all over the place.”

“Not like you to get loaded.”

“Maybe it’s more like me than you think.”

“Wade . . . That’s not going to make anything better.”

“Actually, for a short time last night, it did make things better. I was with the chick magnets and had just enough booze in my belly to forget about why I wanted to get drunk in the first place.”

“Did you meet someone?”

“Nah. Nothing like that. It was fun, though.”

“I’m glad you had fun.”

“Not so fun today, though. Can’t remember the last time I was this hungover.”

“Thanksgiving dinner will soak up the booze and make you all better.”

“I’m counting on that.”

They were sitting down to dinner an hour later when Max came in, seeming upset. “Am I too late for dinner?”

“Right on time.” Molly jumped up to get another place setting while the others made room for him at the table. “How’s the baby?”

“He’s great.”

“And Chloe?”

“Miserable as usual lately. Motherhood hasn’t changed that.” He loaded his plate with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole and the other sides. “I’ve got to be back in an hour. I don’t want to talk about her. But I’ve got lots of new pictures.” He passed his phone around so everyone could see the pictures.

“He’s a beauty,” Elmer said proudly.

Max put down his fork, bent his head and seemed to be trying to control his emotions.

“Max, honey,” Molly said. “What is it?”

“Chloe’s being impossible. She doesn’t want to take care of him, but she doesn’t want me doing it either.”

“What do you mean she doesn’t want to take care of him?” Hannah asked.

“She doesn’t show any interest. She says she’s in pain and she’s tired.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “But everything I do for him is wrong. I had to get out of there for a minute. Now I’m thinking I shouldn’t have left. What if she ignores him the whole time I’m gone? And how will I leave them to go to work not knowing if she’s going to take care of him or not?”

“Don’t worry about work,” Colton said. “Not now. That’s the last thing you need to think about.”

Charley, who was sitting next to Max, put her arm around him. “She’s probably freaking out, but she’ll get it together. What choice does she have?”

Max drew in a long deep breath, seeming to summon the fortitude he needed for the situation. “I should get back to the hospital. They’re letting her stay for one more night because she’s in such bad pain.”

“Do you want to take dinner back to her?” Molly asked. “I could have it ready in a minute.”

“Sure, thanks, Mom.”

“We’ll be here in Burlington for as long as you need us, son,” Lincoln said. “You’re not alone in this.”

“Thanks,” Max said, his jaw tight with emotion. “I appreciate you guys moving the holiday over here on my account. Sorry I can’t stay longer.” He looked over to Will and Hannah. “Hope you have fun on the trip and at the wedding.”

“We will,” Hannah said, “but we’ll be checking on you, too.”

Max nodded, then accepted the bag that Molly handed him and a hug from her. “It’s all going to work out fine. I promise.”

“I sure hope so.”

“We’ll be over to check on you in the morning, and I’ll borrow a phone to check in with you later.”

“Okay.”

After he left, the gathering was considerably more subdued.

“I hate that he’s so torn up when this should be the happiest time in his life,” Will said.

“You speak for all of us,” Colton said. “It sucks. What is it she wants from him anyway? He’s been right by her side through it all.”

“She probably doesn’t know what she wants,” Molly said. “In addition to the fact that she’s twenty-one, she’s full of hormones and her family has turned its back on her. I can’t imagine what she must be going through. What’s important is that Max is doing the right thing by her, even if she can’t see it at the moment.”

“Mom’s right,” Lincoln said. “As long as he’s doing all he can to support her and the baby, his conscience can be clear. And we’ll be here for at least a week to make sure they have everything they need.”

Ella helped clear the table and pack up the leftovers before she went into her room to grab her stuff. To Charley, she said, “I’m going to head back to Butler now. Do you want to come or hang here for a while?”

“I’ll go back later with Will and Cam. Good luck with everything tonight. I hope the surprise is a huge hit and that you have a great trip.”

Ella hugged her sister. “Thanks for the support and for covering for me at work.” After saying her good-byes to everyone else, Ella headed off to Butler, pressing a little harder than usual on the accelerator because she was so eager to be with Gavin.

CHAPTER 22

God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each

of us—in the dreariest and most dreaded moments—can see a possibility of hope.

—Maya Angelou

It had been an odd Thanksgiving for Gavin. He’d spent most of the day wishing Ella were there to make everything better, but his parents were also different today. Sure, his mom was scurrying around making the traditional turkey dinner, but they were also packing for their trip to Turks and Caicos in the morning. Apparently, they were on the same flight from Boston with Hannah, Nolan, Will, Cameron, Hunter and Megan. They’d even hired a limo to transport them all from Vermont to Logan Airport.

His parents were excited about the trip, excited for the wedding, excited about everything lately, or so it seemed to him.

“Too bad you couldn’t get away to come with us, Gav,” his dad said while they watched football before dinner.

“Things are nuts at the yard,” he said, as he always did.

“You know . . . No man lies on his deathbed wishing he’d spent more time at work.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know what it means.”

“You ever run your own business, Dad? No, I didn’t think so.”

“Point taken. However, you have excellent employees who are more than capable of covering for you for a few days so you can get away. Everyone needs a break once in a while. That’s all I’m saying.”

It was nothing Gavin hadn’t told himself, repeatedly, especially after the invitation had come for Dylan’s wedding and everyone began making plans to go. He’d never had any intention of going for reasons that were his and his alone.

By three thirty he was standing in front of the window that looked out over the driveway watching for Ella. He and his parents sat down to eat at four, and as it did every year, Caleb’s glaring absence left an empty space across the table and in Gavin’s heart. He missed him so much—every day, but more so on days like this that were set aside for family, and he was forced to confront how small his family had become.

Over dinner, his mom said she wanted to talk about what they were thankful for. “I’ll start,” she said with a warm, happy smile. “This year I’m thankful for my husband and son and what we’ve managed to weather together. I’m thankful to have been Caleb’s mother, to have the incredible blessing of his life to cherish for the rest of mine.” She took a deep breath, dabbed at her eyes and continued. “I’m thankful for the inn that Hannah started, which has given Dad and me all new purpose this year and for the grandbaby she will soon bring into our lives. I’m thankful for your beautiful smile, Gavin. I’ve missed it, and it’s nice to see it back again. And for that, I’m most thankful to Ella, who has given you reason to smile again. That’s my list.”