Peyton leaned up between the seats, looking at Eli's profile.
"I think this is where people are supposed to make one of those 'band-aid' comments. But I am going to appeal to your stomach. I swear I can smell the turkey from here. Plus, Coop is freaking out," she added, making me aware for the first time that he was scratching at the window in the back. Which was weird; he was always good in the car.
"Let's go," Eli agreed, tone a bit dead, making my stomach tense.
It was good we were here.
But it wouldn't be good if he went in there all hollow, like he had been when he got out of prison.
Though, maybe they wouldn't even notice, being too overjoyed with his presence at all.
I reached for my door as Peyton fought with Coop so he didn't launch himself out without her.
She had chosen against the 1950s get-up Eli had actually seriously suggested to her. Instead, she was surprisingly subdued in a long, roomy deep teal, heavy-knit sweater that went slightly off-shoulder and came almost halfway down her thighs. She had black tights on underneath and a pair of camel-colored knee-high boots. There were three necklaces hanging down her chest in varying lengths; her hair was pulled in a side braid, and her makeup was mostly just some mascara.
She was naturally almost painfully gorgeous even if she preferred to usually go a little crazier with her makeup and clothes.
As for me, I struggled with my outfit for almost an hour, trying on one after another in front of Eli before he finally lost patience, jumped up, and went into my closet himself.
He came back with a white sweater with elastic on the waist and sleeves, tight deep brown skinny jeans, and a pair of brown flat, calf-height boots.
And, well, it was leaps and bounds better than anything I had chosen. Because he picked it out, too, I knew it was the right kind of outfit for his type of family functions. I didn't know if it was a dressy-dressy thing or a casual thing. This was something in between. Comfortable, seasonable, but put-together.
I left my hair down, did a little mascara, clasped on some studs, and called it a day.
"Breathe," Peyton said behind my shoulder as she got a hold of Coop, and Eli rounded the hood of the car.
He came up to me, reaching down to link his pinky with mine, then leading us toward the back of the house where there was a giant deck meant for entertainment, and sliding glass doors.
He didn't knock.
He didn't ring.
Hell, he didn't even pause.
I wondered if maybe he was worried he wouldn't be able to do it if he didn't just charge right in.
I squeezed his pinky as he pushed the door open, then stepped inside.
I lost his pinky, having to follow in behind him.
We stepped into a massive kitchen dominated by giant stainless steel appliances, an obscene amount of cabinets, and an island that would make Martha Stewart jealous.
The scents assaulted me all at once.
Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, broccoli, rolls.
Despite swearing I was too nauseated to eat, my stomach growled as I followed Eli as he went toward the incredibly loud sound of what had to be at least two dozen people down a hall where the walls were lined with collages I wanted to see, but was too worried to stop, following behind as he broke into the doorway, moving to the side to allow me to step in too.
"Oh, my God," Dusty managed to exhale even as her breath sucked in.
"No fucking way," one of the men said. Judging by the tallness, black hair, ice blue eyes, and perfect bone structure, one of his brothers.
All eyes turned, even kids who clearly didn't know what was going on.
But then one child stepped forward.
Well.
She wasn't a child at all, was she?
She was maybe eleven or twelve, tall, thin, black-haired, green-eyed, and almost unfairly pretty even so young.
Her lips parted as she looked at Eli.
And Eli, well, he looked gutted.
Eviscerated.
His insides were all sliding out.
Oh, God.
She must have been five or six when he went away.
From the looks of things, she was likely the only one who might remember him.
"Uncle Eli?" she asked, eyes just... devastated.
After her words left her lips, there was utter silence.
And then there was a click of heels as a woman came in from a doorway that must have led to the living room.
"Why is everyone standing around all quie..." she trailed off as she looked around.
She was gorgeous. Tall and lean, but with curves any woman would envy. She had sharp features, long black hair, and keen hazel eyes.
Eyes that landed on Eli.
And stayed.
It was a good couple of seconds of nothing before, surprisingly, it was Eli who broke the silence.
"Mom," he said, voice thick.
She almost staggered back a step before her heels clicked again as she charged across the room, stopping a foot or so in front of her long-lost son.