* * *
Supper was great—all the trimmings—Mom really out did herself, but I could tell she was kind of disappointed Izzy wasn't there. I think super was meant more as a peace offering than Thanksgiving although now that I think of it, in Mom's mind it was probably the same thing. Even tough I was stuffed, she set a piece of pumpkin pie, piled with whip-cream, down in front of me. It was really good, even better than the cobbler back in Forks.
"What's bothering you?" Mom said, getting up and walking over to get me another glass of milk. "You seem preoccupied. That's not like the living in the moment Jason I know."
"I'm not really sure, something's just off—out of sync."
"You sure your not just tired? Besides the long trip and time change, you've been dealing with weeks of emotional stress."
"I guess."
She set the glass of milk in front of me and then sat down in the chair next to me. "We've always been honest with each other. You know I won't judge—what's wrong?"
"Something Alex said."
"Oh good, he caught up with you then. I wasn't sure you were really there."
"Yeah, I was there."
"So what was it he said that's bothering you?" She patted my arm.
"Well, he didn't actually say it, Lisa did. She said me and Izzy have a fatal attraction." I took a gulp of milk and swallowed. "Do you think that?"
She thought for a moment before answering. "Is Lisa the blonde—the cheerleader?"
"Yeah, that's her. She came over when I had the chickenpox."
"I thought so. Seems to me she had her eye on you. Sounds like a little case of jealousy."
"Yeah," I said relieved. "That sounds just like Lisa—jealous—sure, that's all it is."