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Their inti twelve: four huels (three each on the side of Good and Evil), and one dog dressed as a turkey, with his bowl of scraps under the table

Miles went for the seat directly across fro look Miles backed o , and Daniel was just about to sit dohen Shelby slid right in S with a little look of victory, Miles sat on Shelby's left, across frouely annoyed, sat to her right, across fro Luce under the table, trying to get her attention, but she kept her eyes on her plate

Once everyone was seated, Luce's father stood up at the head of the table, facing her lass of red wine "I've been known to -winded speech or two this tiry- looking kids before, so I'll just cut to the chase I'm thankful for my sife, Doreen,us" He xed on Luce, drawing his cheeks in the way he did when he was especially proud "It's wonderful to see you prospering, growing into a beautiful young lady with so ain Cheers, everyone To friends"

Luce forced a slances all her "friends" were sharing

"Hear, hear!" Daniel broke the exquisitely aard silence, raising his glass "What good is life without trusty, reliable friends?"

Miles barely looked at hi spoon deep into thefrom Mr Reliable hi dishes at opposite ends of the table to notice the dirty look Daniel directed at Miles

Molly was spooning the Shri heap on Miles's plate "Just say uncle when you've had enough"

"Whoa, Mo Save some heat for me" Cam reached to take the kettle of shrimp "Say, Miles Roland toldthe other day I bet the girls went crazy" He leaned forward "You were there, right, Luce?"

Miles had his fork poised in e blue eyes looked confused about Ca to hear Luce say that yes, the girls--herself included--had indeed gone crazy

"Roland also said Miles lost," Daniel said placidly, and speared a piece of stu ng

At the other end of the table, Gabbe cut the tension with a loud and satis ed purr "Oh my God, Mrs Price These Brussels sprouts are a little taste of Heaven Aren't they, Roland?"

"M an reciting the recipe while Luce's dad went on about local produce Luce was trying to enjoy this rare ti in to whisper that everyone seemed pretty cool, especially Arriane and Miles--but there were too ht have to defuse a bo the stu ng around the table a second time, Luce's ht around your age"

Luce had heard the story thirty- ve hundred tih" Her irls wild in those days, too"

"Yep, the Trojans were twelve and two hed, and she waited for his token line "I just had to show Doreen I wasn't as reat what a strongyet another of Luce's mother's famous yeast rolls "Luce is lucky to have parents who are so honest and open with her and each other" have parents who are so honest and open with her and each other"

Luce's mom beamed

But before she could respond, Daniel butted in "There's much more to love than that, Miles Wouldn't you say, Mr Price, that a real relationship is ames? That it takes some e ort?"

"Of course, of course" Luce's father patted his lips with his napkin "Why else would they call e a commitment? Sure, love has its ups and downs That's life"

"Well said, Mr P," Roland said, with a soulfulness beyond his s face "God knows, I've seen some ups and downs"

"Oh, come on," Callie chi everyone here at face value "You guys ht," Luce'sand hopeful, and you really should just be having fun"

Fun So that was the goal right now? Was fun even possible for Luce? She glanced at Miles He was s fun," he mouthed

That ain and realized that despite everything, she was having fun too Roland was hed for possibly the rst ti to butter her roll, which she declined with raised eyebrows and a shy shake of her head Shelby ate like she was training for a co footsie with Luce underneath the table Sheher butter ies

There was so It was the liveliest Thanksgiving they'd had since Luce's grand to the Louisiana bayou for the holiday So this was her faels, demons, and whatever else they were For better or worse, complicated, treacherous, full of ups and downs, and even at times fun Just like her dad had said: That was life

And for a girl who had had so for which Luce was suddenly overwhelh," Shelby announced after a few more minutes "You know Food Everyone else done? Let's wrap this up" She whistled and et back to that reforo to--um--"

"I'll help clear the table" Gabbe ju a reluctant Molly into the kitchen with her

Luce'sto see the gathering through her daughter's eyes Which was impossible She'd latched on to the Daniel idea pretty quickly and kept looking back and forth between the two of them Luce wanted a chance to show her mom that what she and Daniel had was solid and wonderful and unlike anything else in the world, but there were toothat should have been easy felt hard

Then Andrew stopped chewing on the felt feathers around his neck and started yipping at the door Luce's dad stood up and reached for the dog's leash What a relief "Somebody wants his after-dinner walk," he announced