The Accidentals(61)

I hold the door while Alice, my grandfather, and the caterer make trip after trip from the van into the kitchen.

Frederick stands munching cookies and watching. “Mom,” he says. “How many people did you invite over tonight?”

“I have my open house every year,” she replies. “If you ever came home, you’d remember. As it happens, I believe it will be very well-attended this time, seeing as there is a new guest of honor.”

My stomach twists at this idea. I don’t want to be the guest of honor.

My father studies me, then turns to his mother. “Maybe Rachel doesn’t feel like being your show pony. Couldn’t you keep it small?”

Alice’s lips make a tight line. “She has the right to meet her extended family,” she says. “If it happens to spotlight nearly two decades of your stupidity, there’s really nothing I can do about that.”

He takes another cookie and leaves the room.

I taste something bitter in my mouth. “I’d better go upstairs and change.”

When I walk past Frederick’s door, I hear only silence.





The first guest to arrive is Alice’s sister Anita. “Oh! Let me look at you,” she gasps. “Of course Frederick’s child would be beautiful. That boy gets the best of everything.”

“More than he deserves,” Alice adds.

It’s the beginning of a long night of compliments that I didn’t know how to handle. I look between Alice to Anita. “Are you… twins?” I ask. The resemblance between them is striking. Anita’s hair is more gray, but otherwise they’re so similar.

My great-aunt laughs. “Bless you, Rachel. But there’s a few miles more on this model.” She taps her own chest.

Anita has four children, and three of them come to Alice’s party. And those three children bring their children. Before an hour is through, I’m dizzy from trying to remember the names of my second cousins, who range in age from twenty down to six.

And everyone stares at me. The women are effusive, the children curious. The men circle the food. Meanwhile, my heart gallops at unusual speed. Every few minutes Alice makes a disparaging remark about Frederick’s absence and then glances toward the stairs.

He finally wanders down when the house is full of people. And even though he’s abandoned me here all evening, I’m still happy to see him. He looks sharp, in a nice shirt and a leather jacket.

“Freddy!” someone calls. It’s Anita’s son…Vic? I can’t keep track.

Frederick is swarmed by well-wishers. It’s clear to me that A) he wasn’t kidding when he said he doesn’t come around much and B) they love him anyway. One of his cousins fetches him a beer.

“Let’s hear you, then,” Anita says, pushing him toward the piano. “How about something Christmassy.”

“Because I’m known for my holiday spirit,” he says, winking at me.

“It wouldn’t kill you,” his mother adds.

Frederick throws a leg over the piano bench. “The scene of the crime,” he says. “My mama got me piano lessons because she thought a little classical music might make me smarter. I think she regrets it now.” He puts his hands on the keys and begins to play. The song is bouncy and familiar, but it takes me a minute to place it.

“Grandma got run over by a reindeer…” Frederick sings.

There’s a huge guffaw at his choice of tunes. And Alice turns red.

I eat a few of the catered appetizers—tiny spinach turnovers and pigs in blankets. When I take my plate out to the kitchen, the back door opens.

“Ernie!” I haven’t seen him since August, and I didn’t know whether he was in Kansas City to see his folks too.

“Hey, kid!” He stomps the snow off his boots, smiling. He wears a knit cap over his bare head.

It’s good to see a familiar face. I go over and hug his cold jacket. “It’s kind of intense here,” I whisper.

He claps an arm around me. “So I hear. I’m sorry, kid.” He nods toward the music in the living room. “She’s got him singing?”

“Under duress.”

“No wonder he texted me.”

In the living room, Ernie kisses Alice on the cheek and accepts a beer. I stand with them behind the piano bench.

“I’ve been wondering,” Grandma Alice says to me, after Frederick finishes playing, “whether you might have any more family on your mother’s side?”

“My mother had a little sister,” I say carefully. “But we’re not close.”

Alice’s eyes get wide. “You have an aunt? I feel terrible. I would have invited her to visit. We’ll call her tomorrow.”

I shake my head. “Maybe another time.”

“Honey!” Alice throws a hand over her heart. “Family is everything. It’s hard to appreciate when you’re young and healthy. But it’s so important—”

“Mom,” Frederick warns. “Rachel doesn’t have to see anyone she doesn’t want to see.”

Alice’s eyes narrow. “Think about what you just said, Frederick.” She stares him down. “How did that policy work out for your daughter?”

There is a horrible silence while Frederick works his jaw. “Wow,” he says at last. “And you wonder why I don’t come here more often.” He puts his beer bottle down on the piano. And then he heads for the door. After another awkward moment, Ernie trails him.