Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice, Chapter 18 (Secrets and Thanksgiving Miracles)

Brandon stood in the doorway, his mind spinning. The image of his mother, Laura, and his stepmother, Jazlyn, locked in a passionate embrace on the couch was burned into his memory, leaving him stunned. He tried to process what he’d seen, but the words failed him as Laura and Jazlyn broke apart, both women blushing deeply.

Laura cleared her throat, breaking the tense silence. “Brandon, sweetheart… I suppose you deserve an explanation.”

Jazlyn nodded, brushing her hair back awkwardly. “Yes, it’s probably best we’re honest with you.”

Brandon remained frozen, his eyes darting between the two of them. “So… how long has this been going on?”

Laura sighed, sharing a glance with Jazlyn before responding. “It’s been a few months now.”

“A few months?” Brandon repeated, his shock replaced by a creeping sense of betrayal. “And Garth and Roberto have no idea? You’re both… cheating on them with each other?”

Jazlyn winced, the guilt evident on her face. “It’s… complicated, Brandon. We didn’t intend for this to happen. It’s just… one thing led to another, and here we are. We both care deeply for our husbands, but we found something here that we never expected.”

Brandon’s jaw tightened as he absorbed their words. “So, it’s just this big elephant in the room that you’re both avoiding? That doesn’t seem fair to them. They deserve to know.”

Laura glanced down, fiddling with her bracelet. “You’re right. We should have told them by now, but it’s hard, Brandon. We’ve both been avoiding the truth. And I suppose,” she added with a sad smile, “you and I have that in common.”

Brandon felt his frustration begin to ebb as her words hit home. He realized he wasn’t the only one struggling to be honest about his feelings. He let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of his own emotions press down on him again. “I guess this isn’t really the best time to talk about my own issues. Maybe I should just go…”

Laura reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. “No, stay. If anyone understands what you’re going through, it’s us.”

Jazlyn nodded, offering him an encouraging smile. “Please, talk to us. We’re here to listen.”

Brandon hesitated, but the warmth in their eyes gave him the courage to open up. “Alright,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s Adalynn. I’ve had feelings for her for a while now, and… I messed up. On the drive back from the festival, she asked if I was dating, and I panicked and told her ‘dating’s not in the cards.’ I blew my chance to tell her the truth.”

“Oh, Brandon…” Jazlyn said, her eyes softening. “That must have been tough.”

“Yeah, and I’ve been trying to fix things ever since. I called Damarae earlier to talk it through, but he rushed off the phone, saying I should just rip the Band-Aid off and ask her out. So I called her, and she said she was ‘out with a friend’ and couldn’t talk right then.”

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling up as he continued. “I drove over to Damarae’s place to talk it out, but his car wasn’t there… and Adalynn’s was. Now I can’t shake this feeling that maybe… maybe she likes him instead.”

Jazlyn and Laura shared a look of understanding, each woman placing a reassuring hand on his shoulders. “Brandon, I don’t think you’re seeing the whole picture here,” Laura said gently. “If Damarae encouraged you to ask her out, he wouldn’t turn around and go after her himself.”

Brandon shook his head, doubt clouding his face. “Then why did he rush me off the phone? And why did Adalynn say she was out with ‘a friend’? If she was with Damarae, why not just say so?”

Jazlyn’s expression softened, and she squeezed his arm. “Listen to yourself, Brandon. You know Damarae. He wouldn’t do something like that behind your back, and Adalynn wouldn’t either. If there’s anything going on, it’s probably nothing more than a favor.”

Laura nodded in agreement. “It sounds like you’re just overthinking it, sweetheart. Maybe Damarae knows how you feel and was trying to help in his own way. He’s probably just the best person Adalynn could talk to about how you feel.”

Brandon took a deep breath, their words gradually sinking in. “You’re right,” he said, nodding slowly. “I’m probably just letting my jealousy get the best of me. I… I don’t want to mess this up any more than I already have.”

Laura gave him an approving smile. “Good. Now that you’re here, why don’t you help us with the Thanksgiving arrangements? It’ll keep your mind off things.”

Brandon agreed, grateful for the distraction. They spent the next hour preparing the menu and going over seating arrangements, each detail helping to calm his nerves. He even found himself laughing at some of Jazlyn’s suggestions for a “fancier” table setting, her eyes twinkling with excitement at the idea of an all-out Thanksgiving feast.

As they finished up, the front door burst open, and in strode Garth and Roberto, both men grinning like schoolboys who had just won the world’s greatest prize.

“Thanksgiving is saved!” Roberto announced, holding up a large, plump turkey as if it were a trophy.

Garth clapped a hand on Roberto’s back, laughing as he recounted their victory. “You wouldn’t believe it! We went through three rounds—carrying Dutch ovens, eating mashed potatoes, and finally a Thanksgiving trivia contest! But we got it, and Roberto here took home the grand prize!”

Brandon forced a smile, though his mind was still heavy with his own problems. “Sounds like quite the adventure.”

Garth’s brow furrowed as he studied Brandon’s face. “You okay, son? You seem a little… out of sorts.”

Brandon hesitated, the memory of catching Laura and Jazlyn’s kiss and his own unresolved feelings for Adalynn tugging at him. He glanced away, feeling the weight of his secrets settle on his shoulders. “It’s nothing, really.”

Laura shot Garth a reassuring look. “Don’t worry about him, Garth. Jazlyn and I have it under control.”

Roberto’s eyes gleamed as he thumped his chest with pride. “Good, because Garth and Brandon are going to help me prepare the best smoked turkey anyone’s ever tasted!”

Brandon glanced over at Roberto, noting the victorious glint in his eye. Garth, who had been unusually quiet, gave a nod but looked as though he still had more to say.

“Alright, let’s get this bird ready for the smoker,” Garth said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

As they moved to the kitchen, Brandon caught a look in Roberto’s eyes—a brief flicker of something that seemed almost like regret. Roberto’s expression softened as he looked between Garth and Brandon, and his usual smugness melted away, replaced by a rare sincerity.

“I’m… sorry, Garth,” Roberto said quietly, his voice surprisingly gentle. “I know you wanted a turkey too. And Brandon, I know this Thanksgiving’s been a lot to handle with everything going on. I’m grateful to have you both here to share it.”

Garth gave him a nod, his face softening as he placed a hand on Roberto’s shoulder. “We’re family, Roberto. This Thanksgiving will be one for the books, turkey or no turkey.”

The moment was almost tender, but just as quickly, Roberto’s mischievous smile returned, and he nudged Garth. “But lucky for us, there is a turkey. And I’ve got a few ideas to make it the tastiest, smokiest bird this family has ever had.”

Garth chuckled, rolling his eyes. “You know what? Go ahead. Smoke it to your heart’s content. Next year, though, I’m frying one. No contests.”

Roberto laughed, giving Garth a firm pat on the back. “Deal.”

The three men worked together in the kitchen, each taking turns basting, seasoning, and preparing the turkey for its smoky debut. Brandon found himself gradually relaxing, the comfort of family easing his worries. Laura and Jazlyn joined them, throwing in their own advice, sharing in the laughter as Roberto boasted about his turkey-smoking skills.

As they finished prepping the bird, a sense of warmth and gratitude filled the room. Brandon couldn’t help but feel that, despite the chaos, everything might just come together in the end.