by Dover, L. P.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the curtains shift in the bay window. Logan is there and waving excitedly at Kyler. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” Taking his hand, I pull him toward the door. “Come on, let’s eat.”
When we get inside, both of our fathers talk football at the dining room table, and our mothers are exchanging recipes in the kitchen. Logan rushes over and hugs us both. “Happy Thanksgiving, Kyler.”
Kyler hugs him back and ruffles his hair. “Happy Thanksgiving to you too, buddy. Want to play some football after dinner?”
Logan beams. “You know it.”
“Is everyone ready to eat?” my mother calls out. She sets the turkey in the middle of the table, and we all gather around and take our seats. Once we’re all seated, she smiles at us all. “Since we’re celebrating Thanksgiving this year with new people, I thought we could start a new tradition.”
I lean in close to Kyler. “I have no clue what she’s doing,” I whisper to him. He grips my hand under the table and squeezes.
My mother continues. “I thought we could go around the table and have each person mention something they’re thankful for.”
Kyler’s mom gasps. “What a lovely idea.”
My mom flourishes a hand toward her. “Anne, why don’t you start us off then.”
Anne stands and holds a hand over her heart. “I’m thankful to have another wonderful year with my family. Who knows, maybe us all getting together for Thanksgiving will continue again next year.” She grins at Kyler and me, and I can’t help but smile.
Kyler’s dad holds up his glass of sweet tea. “I agree with my wife. I’m thankful to have another year on this earth to spend it with my family, but I’m also thankful for football.”
My father taps the table. “Here, here.” We all laugh, and my father stands. “I’m just grateful to have my daughter and grandson close by. If I could have a Thanksgiving wish, it would be for them to stay.”
I look over at Logan, and he nods. “I wish that too, Poppy.”
My mother raises her hand. “Me too. Although I am thankful for the time you’ve been here with us,” she says to me.
Everyone looks in my direction, and I shake my head. “You guys sure know how to put me on the spot.” I tug Kyler’s hand, and he stands up with me. “When Logan and I moved back here, it was only going to be temporary. That is until an unlikely someone threw my world in for a loop.”
Kyler chuckles. “The same goes for you. You made it so difficult on me.”
Everyone laughs around us. “I’m thankful for a lot of things this year. My parents are happy and healthy. I have a wonderful son who brings joy to my life,” I say, blowing a kiss to Logan, “And I have you,” I say to Kyler. “I never thought happiness like this existed. You have truly made me see life in a totally different way.”
Kyler drapes an arm over my shoulders. “I never thought I could be this happy either. And I’m thankful to get a second chance. I look forward to seeing where it leads us.”
I kiss his cheek and smile. “So do I.”
Everyone claps, and my mother has tears in her eyes. “Let’s dig in, everyone. And for dessert, we have pumpkin pie and carrot cake.”
Logan pumps his fist in the air. “The best Thanksgiving ever.”
Kyler looks at me, and I nod. “Yes, it is. The first of many.”
* * *
After dinner, Kyler and Logan played football until the sun went down. I helped my mom clean up the kitchen, and before we left to head to my house, she gave us an entire carrot cake and a pumpkin pie.
My stomach can’t take anymore, but I scoop the last bite of pumpkin pie and whipped cream onto my fork. “You can do it, Mom,” Logan teases.
Kyler laughs and watches my struggle. “I can’t let it go to waste,” I say, trying to take a deep breath. “I got too full watching that last episode of Cobra Kai.”
Logan jumps off the couch and kicks his legs in the air like he’s the karate kid. “That show is freaking awesome. I can’t wait for the next season.”
Kyler agrees with a nod. “Me too, buddy. Thanks for letting me watch it with you and your mom. I know it’s yours and her thing.”
Logan shrugs. “I don’t mind. It can be our thing now.”
Seeing them interact makes me want to cry. I finish the last bite of my pie and set the plate on the coffee table. “It’s getting late, sweetheart. Why don’t you get ready for bed?”
Logan grumbles but then comes over and kisses my cheek. “Fine. Goodnight, Mom.”
I kiss his forehead. “Sweet dreams.” He fist-bumps Kyler and hurries off down the hall. “It was a good day today.”
Kyler pulls me in closer to his body, and I rest my head on his chest. “Yes, it was,” he agrees. “I still can’t believe our mothers were in cahoots together.”
“Exactly. I wonder what would’ve happened if I still hated you and you showed up to dinner.”
Kyler chuckles. “I would’ve ended up with gravy all over me, or maybe a pie in my face.”
“Probably,” I laugh. “But then again, I wouldn’t have wanted to waste a perfectly good pie on you.”
“Oh yeah.” He tickles me, and I try to fight him off, but he presses me into the couch. Leaning in close, he whispers in my ear. “What do you say we end Thanksgiving right once Logan is asleep?”
“I think that’s a great idea.”
He cups my cheek and kisses me. “Hopefully, we have many more Thanksgivings together.”
“I hope so too,” Logan yells from his bedroom.
Kyler laughs, and I shake my head. “Go to bed, young man!” I shout.
Logan giggles. “Okay, okay. Goodnight.”
He shuts his bedroom door, and I look up at Kyler. “He’s a handful. There will never be a dull moment with us.”
Kyler’s smile is something I’ll never get tired of. It’s another thing I’m thankful for. “I’m looking forward to it, Maeve. Maybe one day, when you’re ready, we can take things a little further. Hopefully, it’s something you might be open to. I would love to be in it for the long haul with you and Logan.”
I know exactly what he’s talking about. A few months ago, I would’ve said no to another marriage, but I’m not opposed to it after being with Kyler. Especially when the time becomes right, which I have no doubt it will.
I brush a thumb over his lips. “When you’re ready to ask me, I’ll be ready to answer.”
He kisses my thumb. “That’s all I wanted to hear. I love you, Maeve. Thank you for making this Thanksgiving one I’ll never forget.”
Tears well up in my eyes. “I love you too, and it’s only the beginning.”
THE END
RECIPE TIME with L.P. DOVER!
You can’t have Thanksgiving dinner without homemade biscuits! I LOVE making homemade biscuits and my family looks forward to them at our gatherings. Who am I kidding? I look forward to making them, especially with a ton of butter melted inside. I’m also including my favorite cranberry salad recipe.
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups All Purpose Flour
3 tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
¾ cup Crisco All-vegetable shortening
1 cup Buttermilk to start but I always add more until I get the right consistency
Extra cup of flour to roll the biscuits in before baking
NOTE: A lot of times, I half this recipe if I’m only cooking for my husband and daughters. It makes 6 HUGE biscuits. Doing the full recipe will double that.
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease the pan.
Put aside a plate or a sheet of parchment paper with about a cup of flour on top so you can roll the dough around in it.
Measure out the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Mix them all together. Add in the shortening, and this time, use your hand to incorporate the mixture into it. (This is the messy part) Next, you’ll add in t
he buttermilk and mix by hand. If the dough is still dry, add in a splash of buttermilk until the dough is sticky and wet, but not runny. I don’t like dry tasting biscuits. Once the dough is ready, grab a handful and set it on top of the flour. Roll it around until it’s covered and place it on the pan. If you want crunchy edges, then separate the biscuits so that when they’re baking, they don’t touch. However, if you’re like me, place them semi-close together so that the middle biscuits on the pan have the soft, fluffy edges.