It was only 8 am at the Dunphy household and Claire was already feeling exhausted. Like every year she was in charge of organizing Thanksgiving for the whole family. She had always relished the defy in the past but this time she felt overwhelmed.
With the kids in college or working Phil and her should enjoy their well-deserved rest instead they were taking care of Haley, Dylan, and their young twins which meant the house was constantly filled with babies' screams. She was too old for this life.
When Haley announced she was pregnant, Claire was shocked and worried because neither Haley nor Dylan were responsible adults who felt capable of caring for one kid even less two. She had been proven right when they couldn't afford a house safe enough to raise two kids forcing them to move back with the Dunphys. Here they were 8 months later and not only were they still living with Claire and Phil but Claire in her forties had to spend all day caring for these twins instead of just being their grandmother.
The babies were cute but the noise and mess was overwhelming.
Every day she glanced at the mantle where old family photos hung seeing her younger, carefree self, smiling at the camera. In those days Phil used to tickle her relentlessly making her laugh until she cried.
Now they didn't have much time for themselves and today was worse. With Alex and Luke back for Thanksgiving every room in the house was occupied, Claire descended the stairs to find an already full kitchen. She didn't have time for a cafe she was already met with demands from Alex and Luke while Haley was trying to feed her twins who were crying and throwing their pureed fruits.
Claire sighed and started to make breakfast for the rest of the family.
Phil walked into the kitchen trying to be helpful but only getting in the way. "Out of the way Phil," Claire said in an exhausted tone. "I need some space here."
Ten minutes later Phil and the kids stuffed themselves with food while Claire avoided the sight by going upstairs to pick up the dirty clothes and do the laundry. Claire was in Haley's room picking up clothes on the ground, forgetting that she hadn't seen one family member that day. She was reminded of his existence when she lifted her head to find herself facing the towel-clad groin of Dylan fresh off a shower.
Claire froze for a second, shocked at the intrusion of the younger man's body into what had been until then, her personal space. "Dylan!" she shrieked. "What are you doing here?"
"It's our bedroom, why are you here Mrs D? " He asked while she tried to back up from him.
She placed her hands behind her getting ready to leave the room but Dylan stood there with only a towel around his waist. Her eyes caught his toned abs and for a second, she forgot why she wanted to leave the room.
"Oh, um, nothing," she stuttered as she realized that she had been staring. "I, uh, just came to pick up the laundry."
Dylan blinked at her for a moment before he moved out of her way. "Oh, yeah, sure," he said as he watched her gather up the clothes in a hasty manner.
"If you two were cleaner I wouldn't have to do it for you." She justified herself while trying to avoid his body.
"It's okay Mrs. D," he chuckled. "It's just my torso," right on clue his towel accidentally fell revealing the huge cock he was packing underneath, it was much bigger than Phil. Between two moments of panic, Claire couldn't help but look, thinking of how lucky her daughter was and wondering how her small body could take such a monster dong. "Oops, sorry," Dylan said, quickly grabbing the towel and covering himself.
" It's okay," Claire replied with a nervous smile, trying to make it seem like she hadn't just had a peek at the man's naked body. " I'll just be on my way, okay?"
" Okay, Thanks Mrs D," he replied. His mother-in-law fled the room and left the dirty laundry behind her.
Claire walked back down the stairs, trying to shake the image from her mind. She had never been attracted to anyone other than Phil. It was confusing how seeing Dylan naked made her feel.
Her family was still present in the kitchen, Claire tried to push what happened very far in the back of her mind by focusing on cooking the Thanksgiving dinner. It worked, at least until Dylan joined them, kissing Haley on the cheek and taking the twins in his arms. Flash of him naked quickly rushed back to Claire's mind.
"Okay, everyone we have a big day ahead so go get dressed while I begin to work on Thanksgiving dinner," she said trying to get everyone out and focus on something else.
Alex, Luke, and Dylan listened to her, they went upstairs while Claire remained in the kitchen. The moment they were alone, she took deep breaths trying to calm down. Sexual attraction to her daughter's husband was not something she wanted to feel or think about.
"Claire, can I help?" Phil's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"No, Phil, I can handle it. Just go and make sure everything is ready upstairs," she replied.
He nodded and went upstairs, leaving Claire alone.
As she worked on the turkey and the stuffing, her mind kept wandering back to Dylan and the sight of his naked body. She kept reminding herself that those feelings were inappropriate, that she was his stepmother and he was supposed to be her son-in-law. But it wasn't just a matter of family concerns. She had been married to Phil for over two decades, and he was her soulmate. She couldn't imagine being with anyone else.
The family came back and the noise started again just adding more stress to Claire. Haley and Alex were trying to help but they weren't very effective. They were peeling and chopping vegetables but Claire's mind was always coming back to the same thing, even the potatoes in her hand suddenly looked like a penis, "but not as big as Dylan's," her treacherous mind thought.
She tried to focus but it was impossible, ever since the accidental encounter that morning she couldn't stop thinking about him, his body, his Schwarzenegger-esque physique, and that impressive package hidden underneath the towel.
Air went out of the room as Phil walked in, "What's wrong?" he asked noticing the look on his wife's face.
"Um, nothing," she responded, trying to avoid him.
"Hey, which shirt would Jay like the most in your opinion?" Phil asked showing two shirts looking the same to Claire. Even at nearly fifty, he was still desperate for her dad's approval.
"Whatever you want honey," she said absently.
She kept cooking, searching for peanuts, "Mom you can't use peanuts, Andy is allergic." Haley said interrupting her thoughts.
