Magic Hour

He handed her the bottles of wine he’d brought. “Thanks for inviting me.”

At the sound of his voice, he saw Julia look up. She was kneeling beside Alice in the living room.

Ellie took his arm and maneuvered him over to Julia. “Look who’s here, little sis.” With that, she left them.

He stared down at Julia, wondering if she felt as out of breath right now as he did.

Slowly, she stood. “Happy Thanksgiving, Max. I’m glad you could make it. I haven’t had a real family holiday in years.”

“Me, either.”

He saw how she reacted to his confession; the words connected them somehow. “So,” he said quickly, “how’s our wild one?”

Julia seized on the subject and launched into a monologue about their therapy. As she spoke, she smiled often and looked down at Alice with a love so obvious it made him smile, too. He felt swept along by her enthusiasm and caring, and then he remembered: All or nothing.

He was looking at all.

“Max?” She frowned up at him. “I’m putting you into a coma, aren’t I? I’m sorry. Sometimes I just get carried away. I won’t—”

He touched her arm; realizing it was a mistake, he pulled back sharply.

She stared up at him.

“I’ve been thinking about you.” The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.

“Yeah,” she said. “I know what you mean.”

Max had no idea what to say next, so he said nothing. Finally, when the silence grew uncomfortable, he made some lame excuse and made his way to the makeshift bar set up in the kitchen.

For the next hour he tried not to look at Julia. He laughed with Cal and Ellie and the girls and helped out in the kitchen.

At a few minutes before four o’clock Ellie announced that dinner, “such as it is,” was ready. They all hurried around like ants, moving in and out of the bathroom, clustering in the tiny kitchen, offering to help serve.

All the while, Julia was kneeling beside Alice, who stood hidden behind a potted ficus tree in the living room. The child was obviously frightened, and it was literally like seeing magic when Julia changed all that. Everyone else was seated at the oval oak table when Julia finally shuttled Alice to the table and seated her on a booster seat between herself and Cal.

Max took the only available seat: it was next to Julia.

At the head of the table, Ellie looked at them across a sea of food. “I’m so glad you’re all here. It’s been a long time since this table hosted a Thanksgiving dinner. Now I’d like to follow an old Cates’ family tradition. Will everyone hold hands, please?”

Max reached right and took Amanda’s hand in his. Then he reached left and touched Julia. He didn’t look at her.

When they were all linked, Ellie smiled at Cal. “Why don’t you start for us?”

Cal looked thoughtful for a moment, and then smiled. “I’m thankful for my beautiful daughters. And to be back in this house for Thanksgiving. I’m sure Lisa is really missing us all right now. There’s nothing worse than a business trip over the holidays.”

His three daughters went next.

“I’m thankful for my daddy—”

“—my puppy—”

“My pretty new boots.”

Next came Ellie. “I’m thankful for my sister coming home.”

Julia smiled. “And I’m thankful for little Alice here, who has shown me so much.” She leaned over and kissed the girl’s cheek.

All Max could think about was how warm Julia’s hand felt in his, how steadied he was by her touch.