First love, heartbreak, tough luck, big mistake

 

It hadn't been bad seeing Rafe. And Maddie thought she might fall apart if she ever saw him again.  If that wasn't enough, there was Rainy with Harley. All her exes at Mercer's play. 

Actually, it was a fun night with friends. There was lots of catching up. It felt like it should have been Friendsgiving, even if it was only pizza and a mega salad bar. Maybe this was a great way to start the Thanksgiving holiday. 

It was good being with Boone and no one mentioned Lily. Of course, there were promises to get together again during the holidays, but no real set plans.

While on the other hand, all Junie could talk to her about was her Thanksgiving plan.

"I'm going to make the turkey all by myself," she announced at the circulation desk when it was just Maddie and her at the children's checkout.

Maddie sighed, "You don't even know how to use the microwave properly." Her brow furrowed as if Junie, barely a teenager was making it such a big deal. "You can just have Thanksgiving with us."

Maddie had been waiting for a Thanksgiving like this for a long time. It would be a crowd at Boone's parents. She was sure they would be happy to see one more.

"But..but I want to be with Darry," Junie scrunched a frown in protest.

"OK, maybe Darry can come too," Maddie shrugged.

"No can do," Darry sneaked up behind Junie. "My family always serves Thanksgiving Dinner at the mission."

Junie was in a pout.

"Oh, that's so great," Maddie told him she liked his family tradition.

"We don't have Thanksgiving dinner until after seven in the evening," he said.

"After seven?" Junie barked back as she looked at him.

Maddie could hardly hold in a laugh.

"See, you can dress up and go to, I dunno Thanksgiving with me and lord knows where," Maddie knew Junie wasn't thinking about food, but fashion.

Junie only sighed in a huff.

Darry put his arm around her and gave her a half hug, "We could spend the day together. You could help out at the mission too."

Maddie knew it was a lot for Junie to think on, but of course, she said, "OK."

But now I am a man and I know that there's no time to waste

 Mercer had a few nights to get through the play's run-throughs. He felt he was living and breathing his character that Cowan created. Yes, a part of him left that other life behind. No thoughts of Cade bringing him down came to mind. He just let it be.

There was his support behind the scenes. Nicky, head of props always giving him the heads up about every tiny thing on stage. It was as if he had a personal assistant and didn't know it. She would always swing by a pick him from home. It was as if he was going on stage, no matter what.

He hated to tell her he wasn't helpless, but there she was with food and drink as if she was his biggest fan. Still, he knew he shouldn't count on her so much, but there she was, blue hair and all. She was like a pixie fluttering around.

"And why haven't you been in a play yet?" He'd asked a few weeks ago, while taking a break during rehearsals. After all, she knew everyone's lines.

"It's just not the part for me," she shrugged about the matter. "I'm not sure there is a character for me."

"But when you're an actor, you just-" Well, he hadn't finished that line. He'd left it alone. He certainly didn't want to nag. But maybe someday she'd shine on stage too. After all, she was so charming and a bit of a dynamo if she didn't get her way. Of course, it just left him with a laugh in his throat.

He knew who he was leaving with every night because she was his driver. 

But it was different that evening, all his friends showed up. It was quite a crowd. He was so happy to see them after the show. Maddie brought him roses and Harley was there with someone new. Well, he knew who everyone was. Even Rafe and Ruby. 

They wanted to take him out to dinner. He looked back to find Nicky, but she was nowhere in sight. It was as if she was just a part of his imagination. 

"What's wrong?" Harley asked.

"It's nothing," Mercer kept smiling. After all, they were taking him out for pizza.

"Are you sure?" Rafe was all smiles. Everyone kept smiling. Suddenly, he felt he was in a new play himself. Although, he wasn't certain if it was method acting or not. But he had to keep going. His friends were here. 

"Are you OK?" Izzy and Cowan were here for backup.

Mercer nodded. Still, he felt so alone. Everyone else was a couple, but him.

Thanksgiving blues

 

"But Ma!" Junie called from her room. She was in no hurry to meet her mom halfway in the livingroom. After all, her mom was getting the laundry out of the dryer in the basement.

Of course, no answer. Junie was certain her mom couldn't hear. 

"MA!" She kept calling until she thought it might be tragic. What if she went down to the basement and found her mom on the floor. After all, she was a nurse that worked most nights.

"What is it?" Her mother finally shouted back and Junie was slightly relieved that it was nothing serious, but still, she wanted to have more conversations with her mom, but it just didn't seem to happen these days.

They met in the kitchen.

"I want a nice Thanksgiving," she said. "A real Thanksgiving."

"Oh really?" Her mom gave her a serious look as she had the basket of laundry at her side. "You know I have to work and your dad, doesn't like turkey."

"For starters, he's not even my real dad," Junie hugged herself.

"What brought that on? You've known him all your life," Her mother May rolled her eyes at Junie's revelation.

Junie was in a huff. "I have a boyfriend, and I want to dress up." Junie was sad about it. She felt neglected. Even if she didn't really want anything, but a family dinner.

"Well, maybe you can go to his house," she said.

"Ma!" Junie scowled.

"Fine, you and Darry make dinner here, then."

Her mother was so tiny she could even wear Junie's clothes. She wished they could just find time to be a family. She'd been in daycare until she was old enough to be on her own. She made her breakfast anyway, but she'd never made a turkey before.

She pressed her lips tight. She hoped things were better at Darry's than here.

Thems the Brakes

 It was only Wednesday the 13th, but Rafe was between a rock and hard place. He missed coming in five minutes on his first day at UPS and was axed. How could that be? Didn't they consider the traffic? Evidently, he hadn't. 

"Well, you still have the bakery," Boone shrugged and went to get him coffee.

But he couldn't help to be sad as he crammed the banana and walnut muffin in his mouth. "It's more than that that." His muffled voice said. He wasn't sure if Boone knew. Rafe's brother broke up with Mercer.

"And it's all Lily's fault!" Rafe snapped before he could even get to the creamed coffee.

Boone only sighed. Nothing was going to rattle him evidently, he sipped his coffee in thought. 

"Maybe, your brother had other reasons too. It might have been an excuse," Boone said ever so calm.

"Yeah, well, he just set a fire, you know. God, I feel bad for Mercer," Rafe swelled a frown as he stood in the back of the bakery kitchen drinking his coffee.

"I guess he had to get it done," Boone sighed. 

"But it's Mercer," Rafe thought he might be at the point of crying. "He was my friend too. We all knew each other since third grade."

Boone nodded and said that was a long time. 

"I don't want my brother seeing anybody but Mercer," Rafe's frown was in a pout and Boone laughed at him.

"You know, it doesn't work that way. If you said that to Cade, you know he'd never get back together with Mercer. Just leave it alone." Boone then said that he and Maddie were going to see Mercer in his play. His brother and his wife were going to. "But we got room in the car, for you and Ruby if you want to tag along."

"Just the four of us?" Rafe was serious.

"Just the four of us," Boone nodded.

Ruby had been after him for a while about them not going out with friends. He winced. Hopefully, Maddie was down with this. And he hoped he found something more prospering than being a UPS guy, but he thought he'd look mighty fine in an UPS uniform. Evidently, not.