Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice, Chapter 24 (Truth and Turmoil)

Brandon watched from the living room window as Adalynn stepped out of her car, giving herself a moment to gather her thoughts. Just as she turned toward the house, another car pulled up beside her—Damarae’s. Brandon’s heart sank as he watched her wait for Damarae, who climbed out and walked toward her with a cautious smile. They exchanged a few quiet words, and even though he couldn’t hear what they were saying, Brandon felt his stomach twist at the sight. He forced himself to look away, trying to shake off the sinking feeling in his chest.

In the backyard, Garth stood beside the fryer, staring at the raw, thawed turkey lying on the table in front of him. He couldn’t help but imagine the poor bird was once someone’s beloved pet, a family member with a name. The guilt gnawed at him, and he cast a sidelong glance at Roberto, who was busy adjusting the smoker, blissfully oblivious to Garth’s silent turmoil.

“Hey, Garth,” Roberto said, his tone casual. “Shouldn’t you get that bird in the fryer?”

Garth hesitated, swallowing as he tried to mask his guilt. “It’s… still thawing. Won’t be much longer.”

Roberto shook his head, an amused grin on his face. “You’re putting this off, aren’t you? Thought you were the one excited to fry a turkey this year.”

Garth clenched his jaw, trying to come up with a response, but Brandon’s arrival gave him an excuse to deflect. “Hey, Brandon! Just in time to see the magic of fried turkey,” Garth said, forcing a smile.

Brandon nodded, hands in his pockets as he shifted uncomfortably. He started making small talk, asking about the smoker and trying to ease into the family gathering, but he couldn’t shake the tension in the air. Just as the conversation was starting to settle, Garth cut in, his voice laced with a forced casualness that only made his unease more obvious.

“Roberto… can you tell me where exactly you got this turkey?” he asked, trying to keep his tone light.

Roberto rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. “Not you too. Look, I told you—I got it for you because you wanted to fry a turkey, and I didn’t want you to miss out. Isn’t that enough?”

Brandon looked between the two men, sensing something unspoken simmering between them. Roberto’s frustration grew, his voice rising as he turned back to Garth. “I went out of my way, Garth! You should be thanking me, not grilling me about it.”

Inside, Laura and Jazlyn were busy arranging dishes, though Laura was trying to keep an eye on Jazlyn, whose cheeks were flushed from the Sauvignon Blanc. Jazlyn had been chattering about the stuffing and slurring her words more with each glass. Adalynn and Damarae had just entered, and as they stepped into the kitchen, Jazlyn leaned against the counter, trying to steady herself as she raised her glass in a toast.

“Welcome to the Thanksgiving feast!” she said, giggling. “My husband may be a murderer, but I’m… I’m fine.”

Adalynn froze, her eyes wide as she turned to Laura, silently asking for clarification. Laura waved a hand, brushing off Jazlyn’s statement. “Murdered a pet, not a person,” she said casually, though her tone did little to reassure anyone.

Adalynn looked through the window, her gaze drifting to the backyard, where she saw Roberto growing visibly agitated as he gestured emphatically toward Garth. She frowned, turning back to Jazlyn, who was wobbling slightly as she refilled her wine glass.

“Should I be worried about Garth?” Adalynn asked, concern flashing in her eyes.

Jazlyn grinned, waving a hand dismissively. “The only thing we’re in danger of… is a bad reputation.”

Back in the backyard, Roberto’s patience had finally worn thin. He threw up his hands, switching to rapid Spanish as he ranted at Garth, his words fast and sharp. Brandon tried to step in, hoping to defuse the situation, but Roberto turned on him, pointing a finger and launching into another tirade. Though Brandon couldn’t catch every word, he picked up enough to recognize his name and Damarae’s, and his stomach clenched.

The back door swung open, and Laura, Damarae, and Adalynn walked out, with Jazlyn stumbling behind them, a nearly empty wine glass in hand. Seeing the raised voices and tense stances, Laura stepped forward, clapping her hands to get their attention.

“Everyone, calm down,” she said firmly. “It’s Thanksgiving. Can we all just take a breath?”

Brandon, feeling his frustration build, finally shouted, “What the hell is going on?”

Garth turned to him, his expression caught between guilt and exasperation. “Roberto… took Monty Sparks’s pet turkey! That’s what’s going on!”

Roberto’s face twisted in indignation. “How many times do I have to say it? I didn’t steal anyone’s pet turkey! Just because I said I’d ‘get that bird’ doesn’t mean I was serious. We won a turkey at the contest, Garth. Why would I actually go back and take Bermuda?”

Garth crossed his arms, his expression unyielding. “You said it as we were leaving the farm, and now the turkey’s missing from Monty’s place. It’s too convenient, Roberto!”

Jazlyn, her voice slurred, looked up at Roberto, a mixture of curiosity and frustration in her eyes. “So where did the second turkey come from, huh?”

Roberto’s shoulders slumped, and he let out a heavy sigh, clearly exhausted from defending himself. “Fine. I’ll tell you. I went out of town and paid $400 for this stupid bird. I didn’t want to say anything because I felt like an idiot spending that much on a turkey, but I wanted to make it up to Garth. Happy now?”

Garth’s mouth dropped open, and for a moment, there was silence as everyone absorbed the news. Finally, Garth rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “I’m sorry, Roberto. I just… couldn’t shake the feeling.”

Jazlyn, still wobbling, glared at Roberto. “You spent $400? On a turkey?”

Before Roberto could respond, Damarae stepped forward, about to chime in, but Brandon cut him off, his frustration finally boiling over. “If you’re really telling the truth about Adalynn, then why has her car been parked in front of your house the past few nights?”

Damarae turned, his expression shifting from calm to incredulous. “Are you serious right now, Brandon? You’ve been spying on me?”

Adalynn’s eyes widened, and she looked at Brandon, shocked. “My car has not been parked in front of his house.”

Damarae blinked, and his face lit up with realization. “Estrella Miles drives the exact same car as you, Adalynn. That’s probably who you saw, Brandon.”

Brandon felt his stomach twist as he processed what they were saying. His face flushed with embarrassment, and he glanced down, unable to meet their eyes. Adalynn, still trying to understand, folded her arms, looking at Brandon with a mix of frustration and disbelief.

“I’m not dating Damarae, Brandon,” she said, her tone firm. “It would feel like dating my brother.”

Brandon looked up, his voice barely a whisper. “Then… who were you with the other day?”

Adalynn’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she shook her head. “I already told you—that’s none of your business. But if you must know, it was a client of my boss’s. I was tasked with preparing the briefs for their trial.”

The color drained from Brandon’s face, and he opened his mouth to apologize, but before he could get the words out, Jazlyn spoke up, her voice louder than necessary.

“Well, if we’re all airing our dirty laundry… Laura and I are having an affair!” she announced, swaying slightly as she clinked her empty wine glass against the table.

The backyard went silent, everyone staring at Jazlyn in shock. Roberto let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing his temples. “Oh my God, we know, Jazlyn.”

Jazlyn’s mouth dropped open. “You… you knew?”

“Yes,” Roberto replied, his tone resigned. “That’s why I made those comments about honesty the other day.”

Garth, who had been standing in stunned silence, finally let out a long breath, glancing from Jazlyn to Laura, his face pale. “Wait, you two… are having an affair?”

The entire group looked at each other, guilt and shame casting a pall over the gathering. Garth shook his head, shock giving way to hurt as he took a shaky breath.

“I need… some air,” he muttered, turning and heading inside.

Everyone else stood there in silence, regret etched on their faces. A moment later, they heard a car door slam and the sound of an engine starting. Brandon’s eyes widened as he turned, watching Garth’s car pull out of the driveway.

“I need to go after him,” Brandon said, his voice shaky as he glanced at Damarae and Adalynn. “I’ll drive. You two… can come along if you want.”

“Of course,” Adalynn replied, worry flashing in her eyes. “Let’s go.”

Damarae nodded, and they quickly made their way to Brandon’s car. Just as Brandon climbed into the driver’s seat, he paused, looking at them both with genuine remorse in his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “For everything.”

Adalynn offered a small, reassuring smile. “We’ll talk about it later. Right now, let’s find your dad.”

With a nod, Brandon started the engine, determined to make things right.