Strings of the Muse by Kristi Ayers

Author:Kristi Ayers [Ayers, Kristi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-26T05:00:00+00:00

~*~

The next day was Thanksgiving. I timidly went upstairs and found everyone awake and busy with various things. Everyone except Max. Alice was working on food for dinner, but she stopped to bring me a steaming, heavenly, and much needed cup of coffee.

“Good morning, Holland. Did you sleep well?”

I didn’t want to tell her I’d spent half the night obsessing over her son, so I said, “Yes, thank you.” I saw Douglas in the other room playing on his game, categorically dead to the world around him.

“Help yourself to the toast and jam on the table.” It looked like everyone else had already eaten and started their day. Alice went back to the food where her eldest two daughters were assisting and wearing matching turkey aprons. The two younger daughters were at the bar table with bottles of glue and a dangerous amount of glitter.

Markie beamed at me. “We’re making placemats for dinner tonight!” She had gold glitter all over her fingers and face.

I giggled. “That looks fun.”

“Come join us,” Mae offered and already placed a blank piece of construction paper at the seat beside her.

The little girl in me buzzed with nostalgia, so I took my coffee with me and proceeded to outline a turkey, pumpkin, and falling leaves with the glue. It took me directly back to the most enjoyable times of my youth. Mom still had all my creations stored away in a box, undoubtedly one big heap of cotton balls, yarn, and pipe cleaners between glittery construction papers by now.

After two more cups of coffee and a few more designs, including a cornucopia, we had a pile accumulating.

“Max, you’re back,” Alice said, and I immediately turned to look at him. “We’re going to have a light lunch, just some cheese, crackers, and a veggie plate.”

He stood leaning against the door frame and looked inconceivably amazing in a dark navy dress shirt, dark jeans, and boots. His hair was pulled back, except for an errant strand by his forehead that lay down his temple. His gaze, inscrutable, was focused on me, and for the life of me, I couldn’t read him. His features were relaxed, almost poker-faced. “I was able to run my errand. It will be ready in the morning.” Alice gave him a thumbs-up. He squinted and observed what I was working on, then glanced at his sisters, amused, only to return to me a moment later, his eyes softer now. “Ma, do you need any help with anything?”

“No, I think we are all set. You could try and get Douglas off his game, though. I’m sure he’s hungry by now.”

Markie noticed Max looking at me and piped up, worried. “Max, don’t take Holland away. We’re very busy right now.”

Mae agreed. “Yeah, and these placemats won’t make themselves.” That sounded like a line she got from an adult and I giggled softly.

Max looked between his sisters and finally smiled. “I won’t take her away yet, but you will have to share. She’s my…” He glanced at me and blinked away.

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