Oh what a Thanksgiving

 

Okay, maybe Jay didn't have any better ideas. But the bed was warm and it was still dark. He knew the way. After all, he'd lived over Minnie's garage, but it was locked up and too damn cold anyway.

Of course, he hadn't been in her bed five minutes before she turned on the lamp. And she practically kicked him in the gut. He should have remembered she was that way.

Minnie winced hard, "I should have figured you would show up." She wasn't that nervous girl he remembered from long ago. Well, she was married now with three kids and a husband who obviously was not home.

"I knew you'd miss me," he cracked a smile.

She swelled a frown as if whatever was between them so many summers ago was a forgotten memory. Somehow, he thought that the best summer he ever had when he was fourteen, but obviously, she was bitter. Not that he had ever brought it up. After all, he was with Ivy then but now..now was just a little nostalgic.

"People are wondering where you are," she got to the point as if she was not significant to him in any way. "You know Ivy's been through so much already.. and she's worried sick." She got up and reached for a comfy cardigan.

"Don't call her." He hadn't come here to find her. He just wanted to be home and this is where it was. With Minnie. "I just need some time."

"Oh, you've had time, plenty of time." She was straight lipped. 

Jay couldn't help but laugh. "You know, you've changed, but not really." He told her she got mad over the funniest things.

"Well, this isn't funny," her eyes lit. For a moment, he thought she might throw him out, but she made coffee instead and fried him some eggs and bacon. 

"You know, you'll let me stay," He smirked once she put the food on the table for him. "After all, I am your first love."

"Yeah, as if," Minnie winced hard as she took a sip of her black coffee. "You had a lot of first loves."

"I did not." He looked her straight in the eye. It was not a lie.

"So what do you plan to do?" she asked. She had Thanksgiving to tend to. Jay mentioned Alaska, but he had to admit he was a little out of it after being in the prison hospital for so long with COVID.

She only nodded and said her husband Josh was sick in the hospital and she didn't know exactly how he was doing but she was going to help Omaha with his smoked turkey and all the trimmings. She always spent Thanksgiving with her almost relative in town.

"But we're Indengious," Jay looked at her blankly. "What do we have to be thankful for?"

"Just go back to bed," she winced. "I'm not talking to you." Minnie's face tensed.

Jay smiled more. He knew where to come to all along. He was certain Minnie was waiting for him.