One Little Chance (Sweet River)

Chapter 18

THANKSGIVING 2023

Orlando

happy turkey day, sorry you’ve fallen in love with a guy in a Turkey Trot family

you got me feeling thankful

that is thankful I’m in bed right now while you’re out running a 5k

Me

my greatest wish is you fall in love with someone who wakes you up every morning for a 5k

T he air was cold, our breath coming out in misty clouds as Jordan and I jogged up the sidewalks to the Turkey Trot gathering point in Downtown Sweet River. Decorative turkeys and colorful autumn leaves hung from street lamps and shop windows.

“You guys made it!” Pat said as we joined the family’s circle. She wrapped an arm around me. Trees with leaves in golds and reds dotted downtown.

“Five minutes to spare!” Carson tapped his watch.

“Ready to build up an appetite?” Cody asked, slapping Jordan on the back in greeting. “Last year, I did it in twenty minutes while Jordan lagged behind at twenty-two minutes. I think this year, the winner should get a whole pie to themselves.”

“Well, we were almost down a pie last night!” Jordan let out a low whistle. Everyone’s eyes were on us, full of questions.

“How’s that?” Pat asked.

“I caught my apple pie on fire last night. I was distracted.” I sighed. Looking at Jordan’s family, I desperately wanted the walls between us to drop, and I knew, as with any relationship, you had to give what you wanted to receive. So the first step would be to drop my own walls. “Actually, I was overwhelmed. It was a rough work week that had me working late every evening, including yesterday. I was distracted trying to throw the pies together, and I way overfilled my apple pie. So it spilled over while baking…and I had a small oven fire.”

Jordan gave me a supportive shoulder squeeze but couldn’t hold back his laughter. Cody grimaced. One of Sarah’s hands flew over her mouth.

I place my hands over my face. “We were able to clean the oven!” I said muffled through my mittened hands.

“Just took a couple hours.” Jordan winced.

“Sophie! You were up last night with an oven fire ?” Pat’s eyes were wide. Fellow Turkey Trotters were swarming around us, ready for the race to begin. Stretching and shouting to other members of their group.

“You know my girl. She cleaned it up and still made two delicious-looking pies last night. And now, she’s here today ready to win the race.” Jordan was my eternal pep squad of one.

“It was not that smooth.” I chuckled. The countdown began from the loudspeakers set up outside of Coffees and Commas.

I glanced up at the stage before noticing Sarah step over to me. “You should’ve let us know. We could’ve helped!” she said, touching the back of my arm.

“And after a full day at the school,” Pat said, pursing her lower lip. “You could’ve told us you were too busy to bring any pies. The menu is too stacked as it is.”

“I wanted to help,” I said. “I really did.”

“Did you still make both pies?” Jenna said, eyes downcast. She’d been the one to push for the pumpkin pie. Her husband was running ahead with their little ones in a double stroller they questionably fit in.

I nodded. “After the fire, and the tears, and the cleaning…it was actually kind of fun. Jordan was over to help. It’ll be a funny memory now.”

A horn bellowed, and the crowd began to move forward, people racing off. I got in position, but Jenna grabbed my hand.

“Wait?” she asked over the noise.

People weaved around us. A few runners shot us frustrated looks. Christmas music was blaring through the speakers downtown.

“You don’t need to feel…” Jenna started but stopped. She looked over at Sarah, who was standing beside us. Everyone else had left. “I hate that you spent last night crying and overwhelmed trying to make pies you didn’t have time to make because we made you feel…”

The three of us were holding up traffic. “You made me feel like you two really don’t want me around,” I finished the sentence.

“No, no.” Jen shook her head. “We want you around, Sophie.”

“It’s not a matter of if we like you or not. We were just feeling…hesitant,” Sarah said, rubbing her gloved hands together. “I’m so embarrassed we were making you feel bad.”

“We were trying to be the flashing yellow light to slow things down, I guess,” Jenna said with her shoulders raised apologetically.

“Why?” I said, trying to speak over “Santa Baby” blaring through downtown. My breath was still coming out in foggy bursts. “You don’t trust me? Last time, I was eighteen, and I was?—"

“It’s not that we don’t trust you. It’s that…you’re Sophia Rogers . We know firsthand the effect you have on our brother. You’ve held his heart in the palm of your hands since you were kids. You could crush it.” Jenna said.

“You could crush him ,” Sarah said as the song came to an end. Her words were the only thing hanging in the air.

“I won’t crush him,” I said with my whole chest.

“We know how he feels for you. I mean, come on, we’ve never seen him more broken than when he thought he lost you.” Jen swallowed then added, “And he’s never been happier than when you moved back to Sweet River.”

“It’s because of that, I think we were trying to be cautious. Like we were dealing with dynamite. Mom was almost as ecstatic as Jordan himself, Cody thought it was a given you two would reunite, and there was us. We weren’t trying to be rude. Just careful,” Jenna said.

“But we were kind of rude,” Sarah whispered. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not our place to decide if you should be careful or jump in, anyway,” Jenna said. “I know that. Maybe it’s my mom instinct coming out. I don’t know.”

“I appreciate it, but trust me, I’ve given Jordan’s heart more thought and consideration than you can imagine. You can breathe easy knowing if I’m showing up to family dinners and Turkey Trots, I’m here to stay,” I said.

Both of them nodded, huddling together for warmth.

“We’re not pumping the brakes anytime soon. You’re just going to have to accept that and accept me ,” I said in the same steady tone I use in the classroom.

“Sophie, you’re already accepted!” Sarah exclaimed.

“You’re basically family. We’ll have your back from now on.” Jen leaned her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry. No more tears over us.”

“I’m sorry, too.” Sarah leaned her head on my other shoulder.

The Christmas speakers paused, and then, “PLEASE KEEP MOVING IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE TROT!” boomed through the speakers. We broke into a giggle and raced off together, running off arm in arm.

O ur two families spent Thanksgiving together, sharing food and stories. Mine and Jordan’s past, once packed away like an old memory, was now affectionately brought back to life around the Silk’s dinner table lined with pumpkins and sunflowers.

My heart felt aglow within my chest as my mom and Pat took turns telling their perspectives of mine and Jordan’s first date.

Pat’s eyes glistened as she said through laughter, “I heard what sounded like some sports announcer on the TV, but it was coming from the bathroom!” She leaned in closer to the table, enjoying everyone’s attention. “I walked back to find Jordan giving himself a pep talk in his bathroom mirror. ‘ You’ve known this girl for years, buddy. You know she likes you! You’ve got this, J Man.’ ”

The table howled with laughter, plates of my mom’s tiramisu and my unburned pies in front of them.

“J Man?” I said to Jordan, cocking my head to the side.

“Oh, well, I’ve got one.” My mom patted the table. “Remember how they got a flat tire on the way home from prom? I got this late call from them, and I’m rushing to find them, assuming they’ll be waiting for me in the car all scared and unsure of what to do. No, not our kids. I drive up the backroad to find the two of them changing the tire in the mud —and yes, of course, my daughter with her prom dress hiked up all muddy there on the ground.” She shakes her head.

“Prom was over. I could mess up my dress then!” I defended myself.

“Two peas in a pod, these two.” My mom’s eyes twinkled as she took a sip of her apple cider.

I was thankful for this past outlined in gold, but I was even more thankful for how it led me straight to this future I was stepping into.