Now #2
“Well, I’d like to begin by saying thank you for coming tonight.
I’m thankful for every single person sitting at this table.
I’m very grateful to have crossed paths with all of you.
I know if Ben and Jacob were here, they’d interrupt me by sharing really bad dad jokes.
” Laura pauses, swallowing a lump down her throat.
Looking around the table, I notice how Dani, Noah, and Lizzie start to get teary-eyed with somber smiles appearing on each of their faces.
Laura continues her speech. “We miss you and wish you were both here right now. It’s our first Thanksgiving without my husband, and it hasn’t been easy for me so far, but I know it’s going to be okay because I have all of you here with me.
If it’s okay with you, I’d like to go around the table and say what each of us are thankful for. ”
“Mom,” Noah says. “Can we not do this?”
“Oh, since you so graciously volunteered to go first, I’d love to hear who or what you’re thankful for, Noah Bear.” She smiles at him, showing her teeth off.
Noah grunts. “Okay. I’m thankful for my family, my friends, and my amazing girlfriend. I’m thankful to have a roof over my head and to have all this food in my mouth soon.” He surveys the table. “Who wants to go next?”
“I will!” Lizzie enthusiastically volunteers. “Also, good job livening up the room, little bro.”
Noah sticks his middle finger up at Lizzie.
“Anyway, I’m thankful for my family, my friends, and my new job I will be starting next year. Okay, who’s next?”
“I’ll go,” Celia says. “I’m thankful for my wonderful daughter, the Kaplan family, and this incredible food we’re about to eat.”
Dani hugs Celia from the side. “I’m thankful for my mom, my friends, and the Kaplan family.”
Noah puts his arms up in protest. “Hey, what about me?”
“Oh yeah, I’m thankful for my boyfriend, too.” Dani blows a kiss in Noah’s direction.
“I guess I’ll go next,” Dana says. “I’m thankful for my incredible son, who is always there for me and supports me through thick and thin.
I’m thankful for the Kaplan family who willingly took me in and let me live in their beautiful house.
And I’m thankful to be surrounded by everybody here, new friends and old. ”
“Violet, you’re up.” Laura smiles big at me.
“Okay, then.” My eyes meet Laura’s. “I’m thankful that you came into my life when you did because I don’t know where I’d be and I don’t think I’d be the person I am today without you, Laur.” I turn back around in my seat. “I’m thankful for the friends I’ve made. I’m thankful to be here.”
“We’re happy you’re here with us,” Laura says.
“Is this the try not to cry challenge?” Grayson asks, prompting laughter from everybody in the room. “I’m thankful for my incredible mother, who’s gone through hell and back. I’m thankful for the Kaplan family because you guys became my family, and I’m thankful for my friends.”
“Shall we dig in?” Laura asks everybody.
“Hold on.” Grayson gets up from his seat, leaning on it with his arms. “There’s one person here that I’m more than thankful for because I probably wouldn’t be here without her.”
Dani and Noah exchange confused glances at each other, while Celia and Laura do the same. Lizzie and Dana are anxiously waiting for more of the story to be revealed.
Grayson starts walking over to me, and my heart is about to sink all the way down to my stomach.
Everybody remain calm. It’s happening. It’s finally happening.
“Can I sit here for a second?” he asks Dani.
“Be my guest.” She walks over to Noah, sitting down on his lap. He wraps his arms around her waist.
“I’m thankful for the woman sitting next to me. I don’t know how I survived six years without her in my life, and I can tell you that’s not going to happen ever again.” His gaze meets mine, making me melt like hot candle wax. “I love you, Vi.”
My eyes water as I clear my throat. “I love you more, Gray.”
He cups my face, placing a gentle and sweet kiss on my lips.
“I’m sorry, did we get into a time machine and go back to high school?” Noah asks with shock written all over his face.
Dani gets off of Noah’s lap and sits in the chair next to him where Grayson originally was.
“You really didn’t know?” Grayson asks him.
“I had no idea,” he says.
“I’m so fucking happy for you guys!” Dani shouts across the table.
“Did anybody else think this was going to be a proposal?” Dana asks, her eyes growing wide.
“Me! I was patiently waiting for it to happen,” Lizzie says.
Grayson puts his hand up in front of his face. “Okay Mom, one step at a time here.”
“How long has this been going on?” Dani asks.
“A week,” I say.
“Damn, I knew there was something going on with you two,” she says.
“It’s okay, Sunshine.” Noah gives her a sweet smile. “I don’t know how Xander and I didn’t know.”
Laura claps her hands together twice in a row. “We can talk more about this breaking news while we eat. C’mon everybody, dig in.”
Once my plate is full of food, I take in the sight of all of it. There’s turkey, ham, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed sweet potatoes, and a dinner roll with some spreadable butter.
As I make my way through all the food on my plate, my tastebuds are doing lots of happy dancing as is my body.
“Are you good over there?” Grayson asks me.
“Mm-hm, I’m so happy.”
Grayson decides to sit next to me again, while we all eat dinner.
He kisses me on the cheek and the top of my hand, making me feel like I’m royalty.
“You knocked it out of the park with the stuffing and the green bean casserole.”
“Thank you.” His cheeks get a little red.
“By the way, you know I’m thankful for you, too, right?”
“Yeah, I do.”
We all finished dinner, and I’m so stuffed. I don’t think I can eat any dessert if there is any, which I’m sure there is because Laura has a huge sweet tooth.
Laura, Celia, and Dana head back into the kitchen to wash the silverware and any other things that were used to serve the food.
My eyes take in the detailing on the railing to go upstairs. It’s stained brown, and the steps aren’t carpeted.
I feel someone’s hands on my hips. “Do you want to go upstairs?” Grayson asks, whispering in my ear.
I whip my body around. “We can’t do that here.”
“Of course not. I just want a little bit of alone time with you.” He sticks out his hand, and I slide mine into his. He guides me upstairs, taking me into the guest bedroom.
The bed has a floral pattern comforter along with a white plush blanket as decoration on the corner. The walls are painted a creamy white and have photos of Lizzie and Noah as children hanging up in frames.
He quietly closes the door, snaking his arms around my waist and kissing the nape of my neck.
“What did I tell you about no funny business?”
“Guess I don’t listen very well.”
I still feel like I’m dreaming because I’m here in this house with Grayson, the love of my life. I truly didn’t believe I’d be here because I didn’t think we’d reconcile, but life is full of surprises.
At first, I regretted showing back up in his life without a warning, but it’s one of the best choices I’ve ever made because one of my favorite people in the entire world is back in life.
My boyfriend.
My superhero.
My Grayson.
This is the best Thanksgiving ever.