Chapter 94

A moment later, Frank came into the room. "Where do you want it?" Frank asked, looking at the turkey on the table, confused.
"Back in the oven," Roxanne repeated. "The stuffing has to cook."
He lifted the turkey and placed it back into the oven effortlessly, planted a kiss on his wife's cheek, and headed down the hallway. "Hey! What did I miss?" he yelled to the guys as he continued down the hallway.
"Roxanne, are you happy?" I asked as I cleaned up the baby and took him out of his highchair. Immediately, he laid his head on my shoulder and started drifting off to sleep as I rocked him back and forth.
She looked at me with a puzzled look on her face. "What brought that on?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. Just thinking, I guess."
She nodded as she scrutinized my face. She sat down across from me as she absentmindedly started shucking corn as Alanna mulled over her plan of attack. "Yes; of course I'm happy. Frank and I have been married for fifteen very years now. Three kids later, I wouldn't have stayed with him all this time if I wasn't."
I nodded as I handed Caden to her and took over shucking corn. After a few seconds of watching me, Alanna dug in and it was as if she had been shucking corn her whole life.
"Why do you ask?" she asked, rubbing her son's back as she rocked him back and forth.
The rest of the conversation in the room stopped as they awaited my answer.
I shrugged. "Just curious."
The other ladies in the room went on with the work of preparing Thanksgiving dinner, but Roxanne watched me attentively. I could tell that she wasn't buying it. I was sure that she sensed that something else was going on with me.
We spent the afternoon working together, enjoying preparing the meal. There was nothing like working with a bunch of women to put together a big meal. Before long, Roxanne announced, "Okay, everyone! Dinner's ready!"
"Yippee!" her eight-year-old son yelled, rushing in, followed by their six-year-old daughter, and the other children in the house.
The parents in the room helped their children to get settled at the "kids table", while the adults settled at the huge wooden table that stretched from one end of the wall to the other. Frank had set up two tables and pushed them together, and we covered them with Thanksgiving tablecloths-a burnt orange, decorated with turkeys and pilgrims along the edge. The food sat in the middle of the table and wine glasses were set by every place setting.
"You sit here," Roxanne said to a woman, sitting her next to a single man, coordinating the seating. "Curt! You and Alyssa are over here"
"Don't mind if I do," Curt said to me in a low voice as he held out the chair for me, and then slid into the seat next to me. Then, he reached under the table and held my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Did you have a good time, watching football?" I asked as everyone settled in.
He shrugged. "I would have rather spent the time with you. But, yes, it was fun."
I blushed, smiling as I looked down.
Alanna sat down on the other side of me and smiled, then took a sip of her wine.
Frank clanked a spoon on the side of his crystal wine glass, attracting our attention. "As we all know, today is Thanksgiving," Frank said, as he squeezed Roxanne's hand on top of the table and she smiled. "And it's a day to stop and reflect on all of the things we are thankful for. Everyone, let's bow our heads." Everyone joined hands and bowed their heads. "Dear Lord, thank you for this wonderful food and for all of us being together, and please bless our loved ones who are not here with us." My heart tugged in my chest as I remembered Logan, my parents, and Greer. "Thank you, also, Lord, for this wonderful food and help us to be grateful for everything in our lives, even the struggles, because it is the struggles that helps us to learn and that makes us who we are. Amen."
"Well," Roxanne said, flipping her napkin and laying it across her lap. "That was a bit unconventional, but I loved it." She reached over and gave her husband a kiss as everyone chuckled.
"Let's eat!" Frank said, as he started carving the turkey and everyone started passing around the dishes filled with mashed potatoes, corn, dumplings, cranberry sauce, green beans, and so on. The list went on and on. Everyone passed their plates to Frank for the turkey. It seemed like organized chaos, but it was home. Suddenly, I thought of my parents and vowed to call them when I got home.
The meal continued until everyone was stuffed to the gills.
"I have to go," Curt said in a low voice.
"Must you?" I asked, truly enjoying his company. "You haven't had dessert yet."
He laughed. "I'm so stuffed as it is that I'll need to let out my pants."
"No way," I said as I leaned in for a quick kiss. "You look fabulous."
"I have to get out of here before I blow up like a balloon."
I laughed as I took another sip of my wine.
"Frank, Roxanne," Curt began, claiming their attention, "I hate to say this, but I have to catch a flight."
"Must you rush off so soon?" Roxanne asked, her eyebrows pulling together in concern.
Curt laughed. "I don't think I've been rushing anywhere." Everyone laughed. "Thank you so much for having me. The food was delicious."
"Well, I can't take all the credit," she corrected as she looked around the table. "It really was truly a joint effort."
"Thank you, ladies," Curt said, rising from his seat, and then said to me in a low voice, "Walk me out?"
I nodded as I rose from my seat.
Frank got up and walked around the table to Curt. "Thanks for coming. It was a pleasure to meet you," he said as he shook Curt's hand. Then, he looked over at me. "I hope Alyssa brings you back. Don't be a stranger."
Curt nodded as he released Frank's hand. "I appreciate that. This was the best Thanksgiving I've had in a very long time."
Frank nodded. "I'm glad you had a good time."
Curt said his goodbyes to everyone and then I walked him out.
Outside, Curt slipped into his coat. "I'm so sorry that I have to leave so soon."
I smiled. "I'm glad you came. Your visit was quite a surprise."
He wrapped his arms around me as I snuggled into his coat, feeling his warmth, his masculine scent wafting toward me. "Well, I'm full of surprises," he teased.
I laughed as I started to shiver. "Of that, I have no doubt."
He laughed.
"Thank you so much for coming," I said, looking in to his eyes. "I really had a good time."
"So did I," he replied, his voice merely a whisper.
"Promise me it won't be long before I see you again," I said sincerely.
"Well, that just depends on when you're coming to New York." Then, he tenderly kissed my neck.
"This is coercion." My breathing quickened, enjoying this a bit more than I should, especially since he was leaving.
"I'm counting on it," he breathed against my skin as he moved up to the hollow just under my ear. "Promise me."
"I'll see what I can do," I said, but my resolve was waning.
He smiled against my skin. "Not good enough," he said as he softly kissed my cheek.
I let out a deep breath. "Okay," I whispered.
His lips descended upon mine as my heart pounded within my chest. It was a good thing that he was leaving because my resistance was fading. His lips were soft against mine at first, and then fierce as passion filled us both. All too soon, he pulled away. "I really must go," he said, and then gave me one last sweet kiss.
He waved at me over his shoulder as he headed toward the car. I waved back, and within minutes, he was gone.