Primary Colors (10 page)

From behind,
Matka
said, “They are lovely.”

“How about you, Donuta?” Rafe smiled at her mother. “Would you like to pose?”

“No, no, leave it for the children.”

“I’m done, too.” They all looked to Jonas. Nia stood as he turned the portrait around. Her hand clapped over her mouth. “Oh, my God.”

The air seemed to still around all of them, though
she could hear the background noise of people entering the fair
.

Rafe said, “Jonas.” His voice was hoarse
.

“It’s fitting, I think. Do you like it Nia?”

She stared at the three people he’d drawn, close to each other. The sketch was stunning, of course, with details that stood out: Sal’s shy expression, Rafe’s strong nose, the curl of her hair. Jonas had also portrayed a tenderness on
each of the faces that was almost palpable.

“Mommy, it’s you, me and Rafe.”

“I know, baby. Jonas, thank you so much. It’s…” Unable to bear the emotion swirling around her, she turned to her mother. “Could you watch the boys, please?” She strode away before she cried in front of the whole school.

Rafe found Nia at the end of a corridor in the school, staring out a window
at the darkness. Cold emanated through the glass, but that wasn’t what caused her body to tense. A longing to hold her and tell her everything would be all right rose within him. “Nia?”

She stiffened even more. Without facing him, she said, “I’m fine, Rafe. Go back inside.”

“No way.” He took her by the shoulders and turned her around. “You’re not fine.” With his fingers, he swiped away
the wetness from her cheeks. “Neither am I.”

Peering up at him, she shook her head. “How could you be?”

She shivered, so he rubbed her arms up and down. She wore a fuzzy dark pink sweater with jeans and boots. The color highlighted the rosiness of her cheeks but made her appear fragile. Too fragile. “This isn’t your fault. You did nothing intentionally. It just kicked in to some insecurities
I have.”

Brow furrowed, she studied him. For long moments. “Oh, shit, your mother. You told me how she turned hot and cold and how hard that was for you.”

What could he do? He shrugged.

Lifting her hand, she cupped his jaw. Her touch felt so good,
he
wanted to cry. “I’m sorry for that. I know I couldn’t help it, but I’m sorry that my reaction opened old wounds.”

He stared into
eyes so full of feeling that he caught his breath. And realized something. “You know, we have the same problem. The past’s grip on us.”

“I never thought of it that way.” Her eyes lit…with anger? “And I hate it. For both of us. Why does life have to be this hard?”

“I don’t know, honey.” And suddenly, Rafe was mad, too. Why couldn’t the one woman he connected with be free from the horrible
things that had happened to her? Why did her actions have to kick into his insecurities?

“Damn it,” she said forcefully. “I want you in my life. And Sal’s.”

“We could try being friends again,” he suggested. “See how that goes for a while.”

She took in a deep breath and let it out. “That would be good enough for now.”

“Then it’s a deal.”

To seal it, he drew her close. Her scent
filled his head, the silkiness of her hair caressed his cheek. With her body aligned to his, Rafe knew he couldn’t let go of her without giving this new hurdle his best shot.

Before the house started to buzz with the excitement and the busy-ness of Thanksgiving Day, Nia slid a belt into the loops of the corduroy pants that Sal wore with a light blue button-down shirt and new
shoes. “You’re so handsome, young man.”

“Aw, Mom.” Reaching out, he grabbed a fistful of her hair, which trailed down her back. “I like your hair this way.”

Why on earth don’t you ever wear this down?

“Thanks, honey. I do, too.” She stood. “Are you glad Rafe’s coming today?”

While she and Rafe were in the hallway, trying to come to grips with their feelings, apparently
Matka
and
Sal had invited him and Jonas to Thanksgiving dinner at the Ludzecky home. Nia was happy about it, now that there was a truce between her and Rafe.

“Yeah. I like Jonas. My teacher said all the drawings he did for the school are worth money. Is that why you framed the one of us three?”

“No, honey. I didn’t frame it. Aunt Paulie did.” She’d also framed the one Rafe had made of her the first
time he came out here. Though Sal’s first lesson had been only five weeks ago, it seemed like eons.

Paulina still didn’t know what had happened between her and Rafe that dreadful afternoon. When she’d asked, Nia didn’t want to dredge up the whole thing again. Talking about the day made her relive it emotionally and physically. Her stomach twisted in knots and her head hurt. Besides, she didn’t
want her sister to worry about her at such a happy time in her life. So she decided to keep quiet. Maybe someday she’d tell Paulina.

“Okay, let’s go set the tables.”

The dining room in the Ludzecky home was long and wide, so places could be set for twenty people. They’d put up the tables in an L-shape last night, so now Nia and Sal added tablecloths. They were getting out the silverware
when Ana came through the garage door, into the kitchen. “I need help carrying in the food.”

Matka
cooked the two turkeys, but the rest of the meal was provided by the siblings. Nia went to the doorway and kissed her sister on the cheek. “You okay, Ana? You look pale.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She turned and walked outside. Nia followed her. Ana turned to her at the rear of the car. “I had another
row with Jared. I wanted to pick up Opal after dinner and bring her here.” Opal was Ana’s nine year old daughter.

Though mention of the man who’d divorced Ana during the worst period of their family’s lives made her angry all over again at him, Nia hid her reaction because she didn’t want to add to Ana’s distress. “She was here last Thanksgiving and he didn’t do that.”

“I know.”

“She
lives with you all week, honey, though you have joint custody. He covets his time with her.”

Ana shrugged and popped the trunk.

“Holy cow. This is enough food for an army.”

“I overdid it. I always do when I’m upset.” She shook her head at Nia. “You know, you’re right. I shouldn’t be mad at Jared. Don’t tell anybody I was upset, okay?” As they made trips into the house, Ana asked, “Anybody
else coming today?”

“Who knows who Lizzie might bring. Remember the biker that one Thanksgiving?”

“I thought Luke was going to bust a gut.”

“Nobody else said they were bringing a guest. Adam’s dad isn’t coming because he’s spending the day with his female friend’s family. But Sal and
Matka
asked Rafe Castle to come.”

“The guy who’s giving Sal lessons? The one I think
you
like.”

“He’s a generous, kind man. I do like him.”

“Watch out. They all have an underside.” Poor Ana. She’d lost the love of her life, not to death, like Nia, but to betrayal.

Back inside, she helped Ana put the food in the oven and the fridge respectively, then the three of them joined Sal in the dining room. They put rich rust-colored napkins on the pretty flowered tablecloths. They added
deep orange candles, lining them up down the center, like little soldiers. Right in the middle sat the lovely flower centerpiece in Thanksgiving colors that Gerald had sent
Matka
. The hominess of their surroundings cheered Nia up. Most people weren’t as cursed as the Ludzeckys had been by death and tragedy, but most didn’t have this solid, strong, loving family, either
.

Luke, Kelsey and the
girls arrived from Binghamton an hour later. Kelsey looked peaked and Luke harried. Nia knew taking care of little ones (he had twin six-year-old girls) was hard with both parents working. Though they were teachers, the demands of a job in education went further than the classroom

The rest of the clan arrived in succession. Lizzie came alone, thank the Lord, sporting a tight miniskirt and
laced-up boots. Sofia brought one of the teachers at her school, and Magdalena arrived by herself. Adam, Paulina and the boys came from the city, where they’d gone last night and stayed the morning to catch some of the Macy’s parade. Caterina and Aidan were having Thanksgiving with the O’Neils this year.

The kids had gone to the playroom and the adults were seated in the family room while
food heated up and the turkeys cooked. Every year, they made sure
Matka
stayed off her feet for a while, which Gerald was helping with. Nia was sipping her wine and listening to Lizzie tell about some odd things happening at work when the doorbell rang
.

“It’s Rafe.” She heard Sal race to the foyer from the kids’ playroom. He ignored the directive not to answer the bell alone, but today she
thought it was okay.

A door opened and closed, then Sal, leading Rafe by the hand, returned to the family room. Nia’s spirits lifted even more at the sight of Rafe. He looked magnificent, dressed in a navy sports coat and light blue dress shirt. It happened to be the same color as Sal’s
.

Then Jonas came into view.

Elizabeita gasped. Nobody had told the pistol of the family who else
was attending, because with her art background, they’d wanted to surprise her. “Oh, my God, Jonas Crane?”

“Wow!” Magdalena added.

Ana, Sofia, and Kelsey joined in with similar exclamations
.

And Jonas quipped dryly, “It’s nice to know I can still catch the eye of beautiful women.”

“Did you enjoy the dinner, Rafe?”
Matka
asked as they sat around the tables after
the meal.

“Yes. I’m as stuffed as those turkey were. Thank you again for inviting us.” It was obvious he took great joy in being a part of this family meal. During their time at the O’Neils’ pub, he’d told her he’d never had family dinners, even on holidays. His mother hadn’t cooked many meals and Jonas was a bachelor, except for a brief foray into marriage with Rafe’s foster mother, so their
Thanksgivings together had been dinner out.

Jonas smiled at Rafe like a father would to a kid who’d said the right thing. “I add my thanks.”

“You look a little tired,” Rafe noticed
.

Again, Nia knew he worried like crazy about Jonas’s bad heart, though the doctors said after every checkup that he was doing fine. She’d suggested he go with Jonas the next time, just to make sure.

Laughing, Jonas quipped, “I take a nap about this time every day.”

Sal tugged on Jonas’s sleeve. Her son had insisted on sitting between the two of them. “You wanna take one in my room, Jonas?”

“You know, I may. I can tell Rafe isn’t ready to leave yet.”

“First, though, we must say what we are each thankful for this past year.”
Matka
scanned the table, catching the eye of each of her
children. Her look said
This is not a time for joking
. “And as is our custom, the Ludzecky gratefulness has to be about something besides each other, because that is expected.”

“I’ll start,” Kelsey offered
.

Everyone turned to the beautiful woman Luke loved. She took his hand and put it on her stomach. “I’m thankful for the new little one we’re going to have.”

Luke’s jaw dropped.
“What?”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

Their two little girls bolted from their seats and rushed to their mother. “Is it gonna be a girl, Mommy? Please, have another girl.”

The family laughed at their request. Luke leaned in and whispered in her ear. Nia felt a longing in her womb. Had things been different, she would have had another child. Maybe two more.

Chaos erupted when the news sunk
in and all the sisters got up and embraced their brother and beloved sister-in-law
.

Paulina grabbed Adam’s hand. “Our turn. I’m thankful that Adam and I set a wedding date. Christmas Eve.”

Another round of hugs and kisses. Seated next to Nia, Paulina took her hand. “Nia, I—”

Nia clasped her sister’s fingers tight. “I’m delighted for you. I told you that a zillion times before.”

“I know, but…”

“No buts.” She kissed Paulina on the cheek. “You can tell us the details later.” Again, Nia thought of how she would be losing her twin. She, Adam and the boys would move into the city, the cousins wouldn’t be together, so much would change. But she
was
happy, so she pushed the downside thoughts away
.

When that discussion died down, Elizabeita sat forward. “I’m thankful for
the promotion I just got.”

Sofia thanked God for her continued health and the prosperity of her yoga studio.

Once again, Magdalena was grateful for her success in work she loved.

Unabashedly,
Matka
and Gerald said they were grateful for finding each other this year.

Ana, who always rose to the occasion and dismissed her problems on Thanksgiving, said she was grateful for daughter’s
health and happiness and the joy she brought to Ana’s life. No mention was made of her absent ex-husband, who’d shared years of Thanksgivings with them.

Then came Nia’s turn. The group as a whole started to tense. Every year since Peter and Donnie died, Nia’s gratefulness was for having her husband with her for eight years. Nia raised her chin. “I’m grateful for having Rafe Castle in Sal’s
life.”

“That’s what I was going to say, Mommy.”

“It’s okay. We can both be grateful for the joy he’s brought you.” Now she looked Rafe in the eye. “To both of us.”

Rafe’s face was lit from within. He took his wine glass and saluted her
.

“Jonas, would you like to participate?”
Matka
asked.

“Of course. I’m eternally grateful to fate for bringing Rafael into
my
life twenty-five
years ago. I love you, son.”

Rising, Rafe crossed behind Sal, bent down and gave Jonas a hug. His arm around Jonas’s neck, he said, “I feel the same way, Jonas. I’m grateful for you.”

Nia sighed. There was much to be thankful for around this table. Her gaze caught on Rafe’s again. Very, very much.