It must be Thanksgiving

 

"I just wish Thanksgiving wasn't about food," there Izzy said it before Harley could admit it.

"But there is so much to love about Thanksgiving," Harley shrugged back as if she was not going to make a big deal about the holiday. They were out thrifting before the old Thrift Store closed for the holiday. They'd waited forever for Brooklyn to join them, but she was a no-show. 

Basically, they had the store to themselves so they must have tried every couch and every hat in the store. Both knew they were probably going to have to disinfect before they got home.

"I never much cared for the holiday," Izzy shrugged. "Mom would cook. Dad would sample. I was just there wishing I wasn't there. So much stress." She figured it would be the same this year, but she was with Link and he was busy doing some things with his family. She would spend Thanksgiving at his house this year.

"Yes, we always went for a walk after the big meal when I was little," Harley said her mom said it was German thing. Although, she wasn't sure they were that German. "I guess she did it when she lived there when she was little. Her mom was a military brat. "Of course, sometimes we didn't get very far if it snowed."

They both talked about winter for a while. Wondering if they were really ready for it. Would their fellow keep them nice and toasty?

"Brick is pretty scrawny," Izzy pointed out.

"What's wrong with that?" Harley looked at her. "Link isn't much better. Believe me, my dad used to be the skinniest thing. It's hard to believe now."

Izzy smiled back wondering if they would still be having conversations like this ten years from now.

"You have to stop feeling guilty," Cade said to Mercer as they were on their way to Lily's grandmother's for a Thanksgiving dinner. It would be just the two of them, Lily and Rafe and Doris invited a friend of her husband's friend who had no where to go for Thanksgiving. Of course, Thanksgiving night Lily and Doris would be at Lily's family, upstairs. But tonight it was quaint. And Cade had to hurry Mercer along with the green bean casserole and marshmellowed sweet potatoes. They spent a good portion of morning in the kitchen watching bits of the Macy's Thanksgiving parade.

"I don't feel guilty about anything." Mercer looked at him puzzled, but a bit like a doe that might scamper to the forest if one got too close.

Cade practically rolled his eyes at him. "You know, what I mean. Stop thinking you ruined Brooklyn's life."

"I didn't." Now Mercer looked at him wide-eyed. "It's like I didn't know her at all..and..and what hurts worse is that..I know now she didn't know me either."

"I wish you'd stop thinking about it." Cade got busy with packing the food so they could carry it to Doris in warm containers. He zipped up one of the carry-alls for the casserole and then found another for the sweet potatoes. They were bringing extra rolls and soda pop, too.

Cade's dad was on a business trip and his mom was off visiting her sister who just had a baby. So they were home alone. Cade worried he hadn't shut off the oven and stove. Naturally, he wanted to load up the dishwasher before they left too. One less mess to come home to, because after dinner they were playing basketball with Matty and his brother and Brick too. Matty's brother Kevin said he knew someone from work who might come too. There might be enough for a real game.

"Well, I know you." Cade looked at Mercer who knew he was an overthinker. "Let's just be happy we are here and we can enjoy Thanksgiving together."

"I dunno about that basketball game, though," Mercer said on the way out. "I'll be the shortest one there."

"Quit saying that." Cade winced back. He took Mercer's hand then. Mercer almost smiled. He hadn't forgotten who was the most important to him.

Jay wished he was home with Slater and the others for a festive Thanksgiving which might as well have been a block party. Slater and Omaha smoked meats so they had plenty to bring with them when they went to visit his mom. Lindy's dad would be there.

It felt like going into a den of fear. He had no idea what to expect. Yet they were so happy to see baby Hope. Honestly, Lindy couldn't believe how her father could smile so much.

"I don't think it's all Hope's doing," he told Lindy while the folks were cooing over the grandbaby with gifts and sweets. 

Jay cringed at the thought of Hope having an upset stomach. She was only a toddler and barely at that.

"Um, they look happy," Lindy nodded as if she guessed it was possible. Their parents had finally found happiness and they were in Jay's mother's one bedroom apartment. Granted they were new apartments here on the Rez. Probably the best living space his mom had ever had. 

"I guess they deserve it," he sighed with a smile. Lindy agreed. She liked seeing her dad with Jay's mom.

"Well, we can't let them get ahead of us, now can we?" Jay said as he put his arm around Lindy. Just maybe they'd get married before the year was over.

"Go ahead," Lindy said ever so brightly to their parents. "You're young. It's time to start a family." They said they were just going to live together. There was no sense in messing up a good thing.