62. Thanksgiving
SIXTY-TWO
Thanksgiving
TARA
Helen Bailey was a pro when it came to large family gatherings. The whole family would brag about how she had it down to a science. When it came to Thanksgiving meals, everyone else seemed an amateur by comparison. In no time, they were all loading up their plates, buffet-style, with everything from turkey and mashed potatoes to stuffing and marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes. Tristan laughingly explained to Steve that they had to have an obligatory green bean casserole, complete with the fried onions on top, otherwise they wouldn’t be true Midwesterners. Steve could only laugh while dishing a healthy portion onto his plate.
An overwhelmed Nick stood next to Tara while they filled their plates. His eyes went wide at the bounty of food on the kitchen island in front of him. “I’ve never seen a Thanksgiving like this,” he said in a whisper, as if he were frightened to be heard.
Tara leaned in with a soft voice. “Just take as little or as much as you want, Nick. You can always go back for more. Don’t worry. We’re going to have more of the same for dinner tonight.”
He rewarded her with another shy smile.
Tara’s eyes met Steve’s, receiving a grateful smile just before he wandered into the dining room to find his spot at the table. Helen had just set down a fully loaded plate in front of Tara’s dad, who couldn’t yet stand long enough, even with a cane, to fix his own.
Tara made sure Nick had everything he needed, fixing her own plate alongside him. She made sure to recommend that he at least take a decent-sized spoonful of her mom’s homemade mac and cheese.
“This should be its own food group. It’s delicious. You’ll never want to eat boxed mac and cheese again.”
With the same playful grin, they both dropped a healthy portion on their plates and joined Steve who was already at the dining room table.
Nick took the seat in between Steve and Tara. They all waited to start eating until Helen and Theo sat down.
“Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.” Helen’s face burst into an enormous smile filled with warmth.
Tara loved growing up in this house full of love and friendship. She always enjoyed how her family all loved each other, but they liked each other as well. They had grown from familial relationships to actual friendships as she and her siblings grew up. Earlier that morning, they’d all had a chance to Facetime her older sister, Tiffany, who, like Tristan, served in the Navy. She was based out of Norfolk on the opposite coast.
“Too bad Tiffany couldn’t be here,” Tara said while scooping some stuffing onto her fork.
“She’ll be home in a couple of weeks.” Ken smiled, cutting a bit of turkey that his oldest son, Tristan, had stepped in and carved for them. Ken’s left hand and shoulder were getting stronger. He no longer needed someone to help cut his food for him, not that he’d need it with Helen’s culinary magic, but he wasn’t ready for carving duty.
“This turkey melts in my mouth,” Emily said with her eyes closed. “It’s delicious.”
“Thank you,” Helen gushed. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Tara said you and Nick haven’t lived in the same place for a while. When’s the last time you were able to spend Thanksgiving together?” Tristan asked just as Steve stuck a large forkful of green beans in his mouth. He chewed as he stole a glance toward his brother.
Tara gave her brother a tight-lipped smile and a subtle shake of her head to let him know that wasn’t the best of subjects to bring up.
Nick stiffened and lowered his fork to his plate. His hand started tapping on the edge of the table. She glanced to her side and saw Steve nonchalantly reach his hand behind Nick and start rubbing circles on his back to help keep him calm. With his other hand, he wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“I was barely out of high school the last time we were together for Thanksgiving.”
To her right, Tara’s mom hesitated a split second. It was the only outward sign that her heart was breaking at the thought of Steve and Nick’s not having been together in so long. “Well, I’m glad you’re both with us today,” Helen said.
Tara shared a grateful smile with her mom.
Picking up on her cue, Tristan continued. “Yeah. We get it. Between college,” he nodded toward Theo, “work, and the Navy, we haven’t all been together for Thanksgiving since I was in the Academy. Speaking of which, the Army-Navy game is coming up.” He took a sip of his iced tea. “It’ll be on at Jo’s. Think you can be there, Steve? I mean, it’s not the same as PB Shore Club back in San Diego, but it runs a close second.”
With this, Steve smiled. Tara could see him visibly relax.
“Wouldn’t miss it. There are a couple of Army guys at the station. It’s still a couple of weeks out, but we already have a wager planned.”
Steve shared a friendly rivalry between two of his fellow firefighters who served in the Army. Tara didn’t know all the details, but their wager had something to do with chores they had to do while on shift at the fire station.
“We’ve got quite a streak going.” Tristan grinned. “I’m sure the Army will go down again this year.”
Steve held up his glass. “To the Midshipmen.”
“Midshipmen.” Tristan tipped his glass with a nod.
Tara exchanged warm smiles with her parents.
“So, Tara.”
Tara’s eyes shot to her youngest brother, Theo, while still enjoying a full bite of mashed potatoes. “Hmm?”
“How did your Ohio author thing go? Was there a good turnout?”
Happy to talk about the family bookstore in which the whole family had a vested interest, Tara sat up and took a sip of tea. “Yes!” She smiled at her brother. “It went amazingly well.”
“That’s great. Sorry I couldn’t make it up here. I had a group project and a research paper due.”
“Don’t be, Theo.” Tara waved him off. “You’re going to love what we’ve done to the shop.” Tara grinned. “For starters, we took over the space from the boutique clothing store next to the shop. Then,” she smiled over at Steve, “Steve and some of the other guys from the station pitched in to help move some furniture down from the top floor of Hyler and repaint it.”
Tara took a drink, loving the expression on her little brother’s face. He was hanging on every word. “There was so much stuff upstairs, including a bunch of pictures that Mom and I framed and hung up along one wall.” She rubbed her hands together in excitement. “It looks like a museum exhibit in there. I’d love to put a mural on the opposite wall.”
“You should talk to Emerson about that,” Steve suggested between bites. “He paints on the side. Doesn’t talk about it much, but I hear he’s pretty good.”
“I will. Thanks!”
Nick leaned toward Steve and whispered something. Tara couldn’t hear what he said, but her mom guessed what it was about
“Help yourselves to more, boys.” She smiled. “There’s plenty more where that came from.”
Steve and Nick grinned like little kids, both rising for seconds while Tara kept talking.
“Anyway, it was kind of small, only about eight total authors, mostly romance and mystery, but we’re going to plan it again for next year. We should be able to double that with more advanced planning.”
“Definitely.” Ken joined in after handing Steve his plate to refill with seconds. “Tare Bear did a terrific job pulling this off. Considering it was all planned at the eleventh hour, we sold a lot of books.”
“Although,” Tara said with a giggle, “we’re not going to invite that one author back.”
“Which one, honey?”
Tara gave her mom a sideways glance. “You remember the one who kept ogling the chest of every woman who walked in? I think he even asked a few out.”
Her mom pursed her lips. “I remember him.”
“Yuck,” Emily chimed in with a grimace. “I wonder if any said yes.”
“I hope not. He was pretty skeevy.” Tara shuddered. “That guy aside, Mom and I have already signed up a couple of authors for individual book signings to coincide with their next book releases right after the new year.”
“Sounds like the shop’s doing well,” Tristan said.
“Yes,” Helen agreed. “The shop’s doing much better since Tara came back.”
Since she came back.
Tara spent a fleeting moment thinking about actually being back rather than visiting. She dismissed the thought as quickly as it came, shooting an almost guilty look toward the kitchen where Steve and Nick were fixing seconds.
“Dad,” Tristan asked while standing up for seconds, “have you heard from that publisher again about the editing job?”
Tara perked up. “Editing job?”
Ken waved her off. “It’s nothing. I get offers like that all the time.”
“Sounded like more than just a generic offer, Dad.” Tristan sat back down. “You seemed pretty interested in it the last time we talked.”
Tara looked back and forth between her parents. “What kind of editing job?”
“One that offers a lot of money and is completely remote, too. He wouldn’t have to move.” Tristan said. “Wouldn’t have to be on his feet all day.”
“Tristan,” her father said in a stern voice ending the discussion.
Tara directed her gaze to her father. Her mom changed the subject meaning her questions would have to wait until later.
“Anyway, foot traffic is increasing,” Helen said. “Tara and Celeste have been working hard with the GCWBA to promote all the women-owned businesses along the square, which has helped all of us. And Lydia’s enthusiasm for romance novels is giving us a romance book club starting in December.”
A crease formed in Theo’s brow. “GCWBA?”
Tara wiped her mouth with her napkin before she answered. “Grant’s Crossing Women’s Business Association. It’s a new organization Celeste and I started up since there are so many women-owned businesses and women-managed businesses in and around the square.”
“That’s cool,” he said before digging back into his meal.
“Ooh,” Emily perked up. “What book is first for the book club?”
“One of the new Mustang Ridge novels by Summer Knight that just came out this year,” Tara answered. “Historical romance. Have you read those yet?”
“Not yet,” Emily shook her head, “but I’ve heard of them.”
Tara fanned herself. “Those McGarrett brothers are hot.”
Theo and Tristan rolled their eyes while their dad hid a snicker, pretending to busy himself with his food.
“Don’t laugh, boys,” their grandmother said with a perky smile. “Everybody likes to read some steam every now and again.”
Tara glanced over at Steve, who stared at her with one arched brow as he sat down. She giggled, knowing full well she’d hear about this later.
“You’d be surprised how appealing romance novels are to both women and men,” she said, thinking of Tim, the tallest and beefiest Grant’s Crossing firefighter. “It’s the most widely read fiction genre. I can recommend some for you to read, if you’d like.”
“So, who all is helping with the shop tomorrow?” Helen asked.
Emily waved her off. “I’ll be writing all day. My next book goes to my editor in two weeks.”
Tristan smiled at his wife. “She won’t want me in her hair, so count me in.”
“Me, too.” Theo raised his hand. “But I won’t be in before noon.”
“Our new GC savings passports are out with coupons good at various stores around the square. I think we’ll have a great turnout.” Tara’s eyes lit up with excitement. “We’re already receiving a fair amount of inquiries on our new social media pages.”
“That’s great, Tara.” Tristan smiled with obvious pride for his sister.
“Thanks.” Glancing at Steve and Nick’s plates, Tara stood up and grabbed her plate. “I’m gonna get some more mac & cheese before it’s all gone.”
“Don’t worry. I have another whole casserole dish in the fridge in the garage.”
“You’re the best, Mom,” Tara called over her shoulder as she dished up a plate of seconds.