Chapter 13: Thanksgiving Eve

It was Tuesday, and Thanksgiving was two days away. Samantha was beginning to pack for her trip home. She hadn’t seen her Dad since last year and he was getting up in age. Her brother and sister would be in town. She was looking forward to seeing all of them again. She knew her Dad would bring up her not being married, but this time she had Fred’s ring. Dad would be pleased.

Annie sat on the bed by the suitcase. She and Samantha were talking as Samantha packed. Fred looked in on them. He knew Annie was sad that Samantha was going, and he knew the two reasons. She loved Samantha and Annie had no family to visit, anytime.

Fred didn’t have a family either and would be home with Annie. He knew that there were some things that he could not fill in Annie. He knew how she felt. Fred hated the holidays, but lived through them every year, alone. At least this year he would not be completely alone, to a point.

It was so unlike Samantha, but she went to Annie’s drawer where she kept her undies. Without saying a word, she took out a pair and laid them in her suitcase. Annie looked at Samantha and a tear gave away what her face was yelling.

“Hey, you don’t think I can go away and not take part of you with me, do you? I love you and need you with me.”

Annie jumped into Samantha’s arms quietly sobbing. She knew she loved Samantha, but the reality of how much was crashing in on Annie’s tender heart. Samantha clutched Annie to her breast. Samantha was the closest female Annie had in her life for quite a while.

Fred came in and saw the girls holding each other. “May I interrupt?”

They looked at Fred and smiled. “Sure, Annie said,” holding back more tears.

“Samantha, be careful. People tend to celebrate during the holidays and turn into idiots. We want you to get there safely, have a blast, and come home to us safely. You are loved by your family I know. You are loved by your family here.”

Fred went over and hugged them, and kissed Samantha. When Samantha latched the suitcase, Annie jumped at the sound. Fred held Annie tight to his chest. Samantha kissed them and gave Annie a firm hug. She headed for the door, walked through the doorway, and quietly closed it.

Annie started crying and sobbing. She buried her face in Fred’s chest. He held her close and rubbed her back. Fred felt sick for her. She was hurting. He walked with her to the couch and sat down next to her.

“Annie, tell me everything. Get it out of you, tell me what’s killing you inside, baby.”

Jeff gave Annie a handkerchief for her tears and nose. She was sobbing so hard, that Fred didn’t know what to do or how to help her. He had to find out what was eating away at her heart. Annie settled down enough to start to talk, in spurts.

“You met my Mom and Dad once when I had just moved in. My Dad didn’t die. He left Mom. She was a cruel woman. I loved my Dad and my sister Ella. After Dad left it wasn’t long before she left. I was all alone with this, this mad woman. I ran away.”

Annie continued, “I got a job in a factory and a lady gave me a place to stay. She was very good to me. I gave her what I could for rent. She met a guy, they got married and she moved. I met a guy and stayed with him. We were getting along very well. After a couple of months, he met another girl and they moved away. Then I met Phil, and you know how that turned out.”

“Fred everyone I cared for has left me. I’m scared to death I am going to lose you and Samantha, and I could not live if that happens.” Annie was crying her heart out.

Fred put his knuckle under Annie’s chin and bushed her face to where she could see his eyes.

“Annie, we will never leave you. I gave you and Samantha those rings as a promise to both of you. I look at those rings as if they are a marriage vow to both of you. You belong to us, and we belong to you alone.”

Annie fell into Fred’s arms and clenched his shirt in her hands as though her life depended on it. In a way it did. Every hope she ever had was in her desperate hands even though it was only cloth.

“I have wanted to talk to you about Thanksgiving. I don’t remember the last time I had a turkey dinner with someone. How about if we get a turkey breast, that stuffing you do in a saucepan, a couple of jars of gravy, and candles?”

“I haven’t had a turkey dinner since the one before Dad left. Fred, I would love it.” Annie’s voice had happiness again. “Can I make out a shopping list? Will you go with me?”

“Yes, you can. This will be the first Thanksgiving dinner to be together. Maybe one year, Samantha will be her, but for now, you and me, forever.”

Annie jumped up and went to her small desk where she kept pencils, pens, paper, and the like. Then she went to her chest of drawers to put on a clean tee shirt. She had makeup all over hers as she tried to dry her tears.

In her top drawer was a folded piece of paper. Annie read it: “Take care of Fred for us. Remember I love you. Samantha.” With an imprint of her lips. Annie folded it carefully and placed it in a small box that held small pieces of happiness from her life.

Now it was late Tuesday afternoon. Annie and Fred walked into the grocer, Fred got a shopping cart. Annie opened her shopping list and the hunt for Thanksgiving began. Annie carefully checked prices and then crossed the items from her list. They were in the canned goods aisle, Fred gently grabbed Annie’s arm and kissed her. There were two other shoppers in the aisle, they giggled at the site. Annie looked at Fred. She was blushing.

Annie found the smallest turkey breast for them and crossed it off of her list. They were walking by the liquor aisle, Annie slowed at looked at Fred. He pointed down the aisle and they stopped in front of the champagne. Annie looked sheepishly at Fred. He grabbed a bottle and started to put it in the cart. Annie looked at the price and tried to stop him.

“Honey, it’s Thanksgiving. Our first Thanksgiving. Let’s enjoy it. Annie jumped in his arms and kissed him. An older lady passing by them smiled, I was young once and had my husband. Don’t ever stop loving each other. And she walked away. Annie hugged Fred very tightly and he kissed her again.

The lady at the checkout was very nice. When she saw the champagne, she smiled at Fred and Annie.

“The first Thanksgiving is always the best.” She finished their sale and wished them happy holidays.