Chapter 22 - Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning arrived cold and bright.

Jennifer stood alone in the guest room staring at herself in the mirror for nearly a full minute before moving.

Soft white cashmere sweater.

Brown tweed mini skirt.

Cream opaque tights.

Gray suede knee-high boots.

Her blonde hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, makeup soft and polished, deep red nails catching the warm bedroom light every time she adjusted the sweater sleeves nervously.

Jennifer looked beautiful.

Not “convincing.”

Not “passing.”

Beautiful.

And somehow that frightened her more than anything else had so far.

Because today Ethan was coming home.

—

Downstairs smelled like cinnamon, butter, coffee, and turkey.

Kathy had already arrived carrying pies and immediately stopped dead when Jennifer walked into the kitchen.

“Oh sweetheart.”

Jennifer sighed immediately.

“Please don’t.”

Kathy smiled warmly.

“You look absolutely gorgeous.”

Michelle turned from the stove holding a wooden spoon and froze too.

For just a second her expression softened completely.

“Wow.”

Jennifer folded her arms self-consciously.

“You all need to stop reacting like that.”

Sophie appeared from the dining room instantly.

“Oh my God Jenn, you look SO cute.”

Jennifer pointed accusingly.

“This outfit was your fault.”

“Our fault,” Michelle corrected proudly.

Jennifer rolled her eyes, but inside her chest something twisted quietly.

Because this no longer felt like people dressing her up for fun.

It felt like family helping her get ready for Thanksgiving.

That realization was becoming increasingly dangerous.

—

Around noon Michelle’s phone buzzed.

She smiled immediately looking down at the screen.

“They’re ten minutes away.”

Jennifer froze.

The wine glass in her hand stopped halfway to the counter.

Michelle noticed instantly.

“You okay?”

Jennifer **** herself to nod.

“Fine.”

She absolutely was not.

—

A few minutes later the doorbell rang.

Michelle looked up immediately.

“That’s them.”

Jennifer felt her stomach tighten.

For some reason that made everything suddenly feel real.

Michelle wiped her hands on a dish towel and headed toward the foyer.

A moment later the front door opened.

“Hey.”

David’s voice carried easily into the kitchen.

“Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Happy Thanksgiving,” Michelle answered warmly.

Jennifer couldn’t see them yet, but she could hear the familiar sound of David stepping inside.

Then another voice she didn’t recognize.

“Thanks for having me.”

Jennifer glanced toward the doorway just as Michelle led both men into the kitchen.

David entered first carrying:

* two bottles of wine,

* a bakery box,

* flowers,

* and a six-pack of craft beer tucked beneath one arm.

Behind him was another man carrying a full case of beer.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Maybe early fifties.

Dark hair touched lightly with gray.

The kind of man who looked comfortable anywhere he happened to be.

David set everything on the island.

“Michelle, this is Joe.”

Michelle smiled immediately and offered her hand.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“You too.”

Joe lifted the case slightly.

“I wasn’t sure what to bring, so I figured beer was probably a safe choice.”

Kathy laughed.

“I already like him.”

Joe grinned.

“That’s the reaction I was hoping for.”

David shook his head.

“Don’t encourage him.”

Michelle laughed before turning toward the others.

“Joe, this is Kathy.”

Kathy shook his hand.

“Welcome.”

Then Michelle pointed toward Sophie.

“And that’s Sophie.”

Sophie waved.

“Hi.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Finally Michelle turned toward Jennifer.

“And this is Jennifer.”

Joe looked over.

For a moment his expression remained politely neutral.

Then he seemed to actually see her.

Something flickered briefly across his face.

Surprise maybe.

Then he smiled and extended his hand.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Jennifer shook it.

“You too.”

“David’s mentioned you.”

Jennifer immediately looked toward David.

David sighed.

“Oh no.”

Michelle started laughing.

Jennifer narrowed her eyes.

“Should I be worried?”

“Nothing bad,” Joe said quickly.

“Mostly work stories.”

“Mostly?” Jennifer asked.

David pointed at him.

“You’re already getting yourself in trouble.”

The room laughed.

Joe lifted both hands innocently.

“I’ve been here thirty seconds.”

“That’s more than enough time,” Kathy said.

Everyone laughed again.

For the first time all morning Jennifer found herself relaxing slightly.

The conversation felt easy.

Normal.

Almost comfortable.

Which was dangerous.

Because Thanksgiving hadn’t even really started yet.

—

The conversation had barely settled when Michelle’s phone buzzed.

She glanced down at the screen.

And immediately smiled.

“He’s here.”

For the second time Jennifer froze.

Michelle noticed instantly.

For a moment Michelle looked like she wanted to say something.

Instead she simply squeezed Jennifer’s arm gently and headed toward the foyer.

A few seconds later the front door opened.

Then came the sound of a duffel bag hitting the floor.

And immediately afterward Michelle burst into tears.

“Oh my God.”

A young man’s laugh filled the house.

“Mom.”

Jennifer’s heart stopped.

Ethan.

For one terrifying second she considered leaving the room entirely.

Instead she stayed exactly where she was.

Frozen.

Listening.

“I missed you.”

“Mom, it’s only been nine weeks.”

“That’s forever.”

Ethan laughed.

The sound hit Jennifer harder than she could have imagined.

She hadn’t realized how much she missed hearing it.

A moment later Michelle appeared in the kitchen doorway with one arm still wrapped around her son.

Jennifer looked up.

And the world narrowed.

Older.

Taller.

Broader through the shoulders.

A little stubble along his jaw.

More confident than the teenager she remembered.

Yet somehow still unmistakably Ethan.

Still her son.

The sight physically hurt.

Jennifer gripped the edge of the kitchen island.

Hard.

Because for one reckless moment she wanted nothing more than to pull him into a hug and never let go.

Instead she smiled.

Because Ethan didn’t know.

To him she was simply another guest in the house.

Nothing more.

David grinned immediately.

“There he is.”

Ethan smiled.

“David.”

The two shook hands.

Joe stepped forward next.

“Joe.”

“Ethan.”

Then Michelle started making introductions.

“You remember Kathy and Sophie.”

Ethan smiled immediately.

“Hey guys.”

Both greeted him warmly.

Finally Michelle looked toward Jennifer.

“And this is Jennifer.”

Jennifer somehow kept her smile steady.

Ethan looked at her politely.

Curiously.

No recognition.

No suspicion.

Just a college kid meeting someone new.

“Hi.”

Jennifer’s throat tightened instantly.

“Hi, Ethan.”

Hearing his name leave her lips nearly broke her.

But Ethan simply smiled.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Jennifer nodded.

“You too.”

For a brief moment they simply looked at one another.

Then Ethan smiled again.

The same smile.

The exact same smile.

And Jennifer’s chest tightened painfully.

Michelle, completely unaware of the emotional devastation occurring three feet away, smiled proudly.

“Ethan is almost finished with his first semester.”

“Surviving it anyway.”

“Same thing.”

The room laughed.

Even Jennifer.

Despite herself.

Because some things apparently never changed.

Michelle finally shooed him toward the stairs.

“Go put your stuff upstairs.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“And don’t make fun of me.”

“No promises.”

Ethan grabbed his duffel bag and headed toward the staircase.

Halfway there he turned back toward the kitchen.

“By the way, if the food smells that good, I’m starving.”

Michelle pointed a spoon at him.

“Well it’s still a while until it’s ready.”

The room laughed again.

Then Ethan disappeared upstairs.

Jennifer watched until he was completely out of sight.

Only then did she finally exhale.

—

The doorbell rang again.

Ethan frowned.

“Who is that?”

Michelle smiled.

“Go answer it.”

Ethan headed toward the foyer.

A second later the house erupted.

“No way.”

“Look who’s home.”

“You’re ugly.”

“Screw you.”

The laughter started immediately.

Jennifer looked up as Ethan walked back into the kitchen with two young men behind him.

Both looked around Ethan’s age.

Both carrying the easy confidence of lifelong friends.

“Apparently these idiots heard I was home.”

One of them pointed.

“Your mother told us.”

“Traitor.”

Michelle laughed.

“You boys are only staying until dinner.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jennifer’s breath caught.

Because she recognized one of them immediately.

Ryan.

Tom’s son.

The little boy she had coached in Little League.

Except he wasn’t a little boy anymore.

He was a grown man now.

College-aged.

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ethan.

Time had kept moving.

For everyone.

Even when it felt like Jennifer’s life had stopped.

Michelle made introductions.

“Guys, this is Joe.”

Handshakes followed.

Then she pointed toward Jennifer.

“And this is Jennifer.”

Ryan smiled politely.

“Nice to meet you.”

Jennifer somehow smiled back.

“You too.”

No recognition.

No hesitation.

Just another adult in Michelle’s kitchen.

Nothing more.

A few moments later Michelle looked around the crowded kitchen.

Then pointed toward the living room.

“Okay. All men out.”

“What?” Ethan laughed.

“You heard me.”

Michelle waved her spoon.

“Go watch football.”

Joe immediately headed for the refrigerator.

“Now we’re talking.”

He grabbed a couple of beers and tossed one to David.

Ethan and the boys each grabbed one as well.

Michelle pointed toward the living room again.

“Go. The ladies still have dinner to finish.”

David raised an eyebrow.

“That feels sexist.”

Michelle pointed toward the football game already playing on television.

“You have beer, football, and a couch.”

David nodded.

“Fair point.”

Within seconds the entire male population of the house had disappeared into the living room.

The sound of football commentary immediately filled the house.

Michelle smiled.

“Much better.”

Kathy laughed.

“Look at that. Peace and quiet.”

—

About twenty minutes later Michelle looked towards Jennifer.

“Can you bring the guys a few fresh beers?”

Jennifer immediately narrowed her eyes.

“Why me?”

Michelle smiled innocently.

“Because you’re closest.”

Across the room Kathy suddenly became very interested in hiding a smile.

Jennifer pointed at her.

“Stop whatever you’re thinking.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were about to.”

Still, Jennifer grabbed several beers and headed toward the living room.

The game was in full swing.

Ethan and his friends occupied most of the couch.

David and Joe sat in recliners discussing something football-related.

Ethan looked up first.

“Thank God.”

Jennifer laughed despite herself.

“You people are unbelievable.”

She handed beers around the room.

Joe accepted his.

“You’re a lifesaver.”

Jennifer rolled her eyes while smiling.

“Enjoy your game.”

Then she turned and headed back toward the kitchen.

The room stayed quiet for a few seconds.

Joe watched her disappear back toward the kitchen.

Then took a sip of his beer.

“So.”

David groaned immediately.

“Oh no.”

Joe laughed.

“What?”

“I know that tone.”

Joe pointed casually toward the hallway.

“What’s Jennifer’s situation?”

David shook his head.

“I knew this was coming.”

“I’m serious.”

“As far as I know, she’s single.”

Joe raised an eyebrow.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Huh.”

That genuinely seemed to surprise him.

Joe glanced toward the hallway again.

Then back at David.

“That’s hard to believe.”

David laughed.

“Why?”

Joe looked at him like the answer was obvious.

“Come on.”

He took another drink.

“She’s attractive.”

David nodded reluctantly.

“Yes.”

“Smart.”

“Yes.”

Joe shrugged.

“And I’m not blind.”

David already knew where this was headed.

“Joe…”

“What?”

Joe grinned.

“She’s got a cute ass.”

David nearly spit out his beer.

Joe laughed.

“I’m just saying.”

From somewhere on the couch came a muffled laugh.

Then another.

The younger guys were very obviously listening now.

David pointed toward them.

“See what you started?”

Joe looked over.

“What? You all have eyes.”

That earned another round of laughter from the couch.

David shook his head.

“I hate this conversation.”

Joe ignored him completely.

“So nobody’s dating her?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

Joe leaned back in his chair.

“Interesting.”

David immediately recognized that expression.

“Oh no.”

Joe smiled into his beer.

“Oh yes.”

From the couch came another suppressed laugh.

Joe pointed without looking.

“Don’t encourage me.”

Which only made the laughter worse.

—

Halftime arrived as the late afternoon light began to fade.

Ryan stood and stretched.

“We’ve got maybe thirty minutes before it gets dark.”

His friend nodded.

“Football?”

“Football.”

Ethan was already up.

“Obviously.”

Joe pointed with his beer.

“Now you’re speaking my language.”

David laughed.

“Careful. These kids are about to learn middle-aged man strength.”

The room erupted.

Ryan shook his head.

“Middle-aged man strength isn’t a thing.”

“Oh, it absolutely is,” David said.

“It’s mostly ibuprofen and poor decisions.”

Even Joe laughed.

The boys grabbed jackets as Ryan looked toward the kitchen.

“What about you ladies?”

Jennifer looked up.

For a moment, the answer came naturally.

Of course.

She used to do this all the time.

Thanksgiving football.

She started to rise from her chair.

Then she looked down.

Cashmere sweater.

Short tweed skirt.

Cream tights.

Gray suede boots.

Fresh manicure.

The reality of how she looked settled in again.

Jennifer paused halfway up.

Michelle noticed immediately.

Before Jennifer could answer, Michelle smiled at the group.

“I don’t think any of the ladies are interested in breaking a nail today.”

Kathy held up her hands.

“Absolutely not.”

Sophie glanced at her outfit.

“I’d die.”

Ryan laughed.

“Fair enough.”

Joe glanced briefly toward Jennifer.

Just long enough to notice something.

Before he could place it, Ethan was already opening the front door.

Cold November air rushed inside.

“Let’s go.”

The boys headed outside.

David followed.

Joe right behind him.

Soon the front yard filled with laughter, shouting, and a football arcing through the fading sky.

Jennifer drifted toward the kitchen window.

Outside, Ethan was laughing.

Ryan was talking trash.

Joe had already claimed he was still faster than everyone else.

And David was proving that middle-aged man strength apparently involved shoving people when they weren’t looking.

The scene looked warm.

Easy.

Familiar.

Jennifer rested a hand against the window frame.

For a moment, she could almost see herself out there.

Not watching.

Participating.

Instead she stood in the kitchen and watched Ethan laugh from the other side of the glass.

—

The front door opened a few minutes later as the football game spilled back inside.

Cold air followed them into the house along with laughter and arguments.

“You were out of bounds.”

“There are no boundaries in backyard football.”

“That’s literally the definition of football.”

Ryan pointed accusingly at David.

“You cheated.”

David immediately pointed back.

“Veteran move.”

“Cheating.”

“Veteran move.”

Joe grabbed a beer from the refrigerator.

“He has a point.”

Ryan looked horrified.

“You too?”

Joe twisted the cap off.

“Age and experience.”

“That’s not what happened.”

“That’s exactly what happened.”

The room laughed.

Ethan dropped onto a stool at the kitchen island.

“I haven’t run that much in months.”

Ryan looked at him.

“That’s because you’ve been sitting in a dorm eating pizza.”

“Fair.”

Michelle emerged from the dining room carrying a serving bowl.

“Good. You’re all sweaty.”

The boys looked confused.

Michelle smiled sweetly.

“That means dinner is almost ready.”

A collective cheer went up.

“Finally.”

“We’re starving.”

“Good.”

Michelle pointed toward the appetizers.

“Then my timing was perfect.”

The room laughed again.

A few minutes later Ryan checked his phone.

Then sighed.

“Damn.”

His friend looked over.

“What?”

“We should probably go.”

Ethan immediately frowned.

“Already?”

“My mom’s going to kill me if I’m late.”

“Same,” his friend admitted.

Ryan nodded toward the dining room.

“Thanksgiving waits for no one.”

“Unfortunately.”

The boys laughed.

Then the easy goodbyes started.

The kind that only happened between people who’d known each other forever.

“Good seeing you.”

“You too.”

“See you over break.”

“Definitely.”

Ryan pulled on his jacket and looked toward Michelle.

“Thanks for having us.”

“Anytime.”

Then he looked around the room.

“Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.”

A chorus of replies followed.

Jennifer smiled politely as Ryan headed toward the door.

For a brief moment she still saw the little boy she’d coached years ago.

The kid running drills at practice.

The kid whose helmet always seemed too big.

Then the front door opened.

Ryan stepped outside.

And the little boy disappeared again.

Just another young man heading home for Thanksgiving dinner.

Time kept moving.

The door closed.

The house immediately felt quieter.

Smaller.

More intimate.

Michelle clapped her hands.

“Okay everybody.”

She pointed toward the dining room.

“Dinner’s ready.”

The family slowly began making their way toward the table.

—

A few minutes later everyone gathered around the dining room table.

The table looked beautiful.

Candles.

Good china.

Far too much food.

Exactly as Thanksgiving should.

People began sorting themselves into seats.

Ethan dropped into a chair beside Sophie.

Michelle sat down right next to David .

Jennifer was reaching for her chair when Joe stepped forward.

Without a word he pulled it out for her.

Jennifer froze.

For half a second she simply stared at him.

Then slowly sat down.

“Oh.”

Joe smiled.

“You’re welcome.”

Jennifer felt heat immediately rush into her cheeks.

“Thank you.”

Across the table Kathy’s eyes widened dramatically.

“Oh, look at that.”

Jennifer closed her eyes.

Kathy pointed.

“Nobody’s ever pulled my chair out.”

Joe looked horrified.

“Well we can’t have that.”

Before anyone could stop him, he stood and hurried around the table.

Kathy burst out laughing.

“Joe, what are you doing?”

“Correcting an injustice.”

He pulled Kathy’s chair out.

Then gave a small gesture.

“There.”

The room erupted laughing.

Kathy immediately sat a little straighter.

“See?”

She looked directly at Jennifer.

“This one has manners.”

Jennifer nearly died.

Michelle buried her face in her wine glass.

David shook his head.

“The **** is talking.”

Joe looked offended.

“I have barely had two beers.”

“Or ten.”

The laughter only got louder.

Jennifer lowered her eyes toward her plate.

Still blushing.

Which unfortunately only seemed to amuse everyone else even more.

Then David picked up his wine glass.

Sophie immediately pointed.

“Speech.”

David rolled his eyes.

“It’s not a speech.”

“That’s exactly what people say before speeches.”

The table laughed.

David shook his head.

“I just wanted to say something before we eat.”

The room gradually quieted.

His expression softened.

“I’m sure you have all heard from Michelle that we had a really good month at work.”

Several people nodded.

David glanced briefly toward Michelle.

Then Jennifer.

“And a lot of people only see the finished result.”

He took a breath.

“The deal gets done.”

“The contract gets signed.”

“The project gets approved.”

“But nobody sees all the work that happens beforehand.”

Jennifer already looked uncomfortable.

David ignored her.

“Jennifer.”

Every head at the table turned toward her.

Jennifer froze.

David smiled.

“I don’t think you get nearly enough credit for everything you do.”

Jennifer immediately looked down.

“Research.”

“Organization.”

“Details.”

“Keeping people moving when they’d rather be doing literally anything else.”

The room laughed softly.

Even Jennifer.

David lifted his glass slightly.

“A lot of good things happened in the last few months because of you.”

Jennifer felt her throat tighten.

“And I think the people doing the work behind the scenes deserve recognition too.”

The room grew quiet.

David raised his glass.

“To Jennifer.”

Everyone immediately followed.

“To Jennifer.”

Jennifer blinked rapidly.

“Thank you.”

Her voice almost cracked anyway.

Then David looked toward Michelle.

And something shifted.

His smile softened.

His voice too.

“There’s one more person.”

Michelle immediately lowered her eyes.

Already knowing.

David laughed quietly.

“See?”

The room smiled.

“I didn’t even say anything yet.”

A few chuckles moved around the table.

Then David looked directly at her.

“You know, people ask me all the time how we got that deal done.”

Michelle shook her head slightly.

“David…”

“No.”

He smiled.

“They do.”

The room laughed softly.

David looked back at the rest of the table.

“And the truth is it never gets done without Michelle.”

He glanced back at Michelle.

The room grew quieter.

“She’s not just somebody I work with.”

Michelle’s eyes immediately filled.

“And she’s certainly not just a friend.”

A long pause.

David smiled.

“She’s the person I call first.”

The room became completely silent.

“The person I trust most.”

“The person I bounce every important decision off of.”

“Every stressful day.”

“Every late night.”

“Every success.”

He shook his head.

“I honestly can’t think of a single important thing that’s happened this year that she wasn’t with me helping make happen.”

Michelle covered her mouth.

Across the table Jennifer felt her own throat tighten.

David never looked away from Michelle.

“Most people see the result.”

“I get to see the work.”

“The sacrifice.”

“The patience.”

“The support.”

His smile softened even further.

“And trust me.”

“I would not have gotten through this year without her.”

By now Michelle was openly crying.

Sophie was wiping her eyes.

Even Kathy looked emotional.

David finally raised his glass.

“To Michelle.”

Everyone immediately followed.

“To Michelle.”

Michelle laughed through her tears.

Then reached over and rested her hand gently on top of David’s and glanced in his eyes and quietly mouthed “thank you.”

The gesture was small.

Natural.

But nobody missed it.

David turned his hand over and squeezed hers softly.

For a moment nobody spoke.

Nobody needed to.

The room felt warm.

Safe.

Full.

Jennifer looked around the table.

At Ethan.

At Sophie.

At Kathy.

At Michelle and David.

At Joe quietly watching from beside her.

And for the first time all day, she was not thinking only about everything she had lost.

She was thinking about what was still here.

Maybe that was enough.

For tonight.

It was enough.

Then Michelle wiped her eyes, laughed softly, and picked up the carving knife.

“Okay.”

She looked around the table.

“Now somebody eat this turkey before I start crying again.”

The room erupted.

And Thanksgiving dinner finally began.