CLOSED / @ryderxaeron LOCATION: Rowan and Andy’s house
For a few years, Thanksgiving hasn’t felt right. She’s been spending the holiday at her mother in law’s house since she was eighteen years old, surrounded by family that was far from perfect but at least it was hers. But now she and Rowan are following in Rhea’s footsteps, taking turns hosting the holidays that aren’t spent at the lake house and as much as Reina wants to be fine with the fact that everything has changed so drastically in the last few years, part of her hates that everything is so different. At least Rhea had been up to joining them today and she’s got her mother there with her to sit and talk shit with along with her sister, and of course she’s got bold opinions about everyone who walks through the door today — one person in particular being Ryder. Obviously, he’s part of her in law’s family but Reina hasn’t seen the kid since she yelled at him to get the fuck out of her house after the revelation he’d dropped on her just a few weeks ago, he certainly wouldn’t be there if she’d been the one in charge of the guest list.
Realistically, she knows what happened to her isn’t Ryder’s fault. As dramatic as Reina can often be, she’s trying to be better these days, and while once upon a time the poor kid may have found his head on a stake the second he hold her the truth, the new and improved Reina is attempting to be more rational. And since she’s had time to think all of this through, she really can’t blame Ryder for simply following his boss’s orders. But that doesn’t mean she’s completely over it and she’s not thrilled to be stuck in the living room with just Ryder and the younger kids, having to force a smile on her face for their sake. “You know, I’m sure Ro or Andrew could put you to work literally anywhere other than here,” she says through a smile just as Benny brings her a toy, knowing full well there probably isn’t a shot in hell Ryder is going to leave to go be useless in the kitchen, but she can try. “Can’t imagine they’re all that interested in letting a domestic terrorist hang out with the babies.”