The sun was coming up when she finally realized the answer to her problem was smack in front of her nose. Gregg. He was somebody she knew and liked. He was a man with principles, a man who cared about family. Why, he’d left a perfectly good job in Pennsylvania to come here just because his brother’s wife was having a baby. A man who’d do a thing like that would definitely be a good daddy for Annie. And since he and Darla Jean already seemed crazy about one another, that would make it all the easier.
That evening when they were gathered around the dinner table, Ida brought up the subject of Thanksgiving.
“I’m planning to make a turkey with all the trimmings,” she said. “Cranberry sauce, candied sweet potatoes, everything.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Gregg said. “I’d hate to miss a meal like that, but since I haven’t been with family for the past two years, I thought it would be nice to spend it with Phil and Ginger.”
Ida gave a cagey grin. “I agree wholeheartedly. I was thinking maybe they could join us.” She went on to say with Ginger expecting a baby in less than a month, she’d likely welcome the chance to let someone else do the cooking.
Gregg gave a nod. “That’s probably true. I’ll call and ask.”
As it turned out, Ginger had her mom driving up from Florida to spend the holiday with them. Without a flicker of hesitation, Ida suggested Ginger’s mom come along.
“All the better,” she said. “I’ve already ordered a twenty-six-pound turkey, and I don’t want to end up with a refrigerator full of leftovers.”
Once it was agreed that Phil, Ginger, and her mom, would all be there for Thanksgiving dinner, Ida counted up the number of people—a total of seven. Since there were eight chairs circling the dining room table, she also invited Homer Portnick.
By the time Thanksgiving Day arrived, the sideboard was loaded with cakes and pies, and there was not an empty spot to be found in the refrigerator. When everyone gathered at the table, Ida was beaming. It was exactly as she hoped it would be.
“Best turkey I’ve ever tasted,” Gregg said.
Homer Portnick stuck another forkful of stuffing in his mouth and nodded.
Conversations crisscrossed the table, and the sound of happiness was everywhere. Ginger patted her stomach, claiming it felt as though she were having triplets. She then had to reassure her mom such was not the case.
“Dr. Ellsworth said there’s only one heartbeat, Mom; I think I’ve just eaten too much turkey.” She gave a sheepish grin and laughed.
Gregg told of how it was beginning to look as though Mrs. Davis would not be returning from her maternity leave.
“I think the school may offer me a permanent position,” he said then gave Suzanna a wink. “If that happens, I’ll be looking to buy a house and settle down here.”
“Buy a house?” Ida said. “When I’m counting on the income from your rent?”
That wasn’t true, but she needed him to believe it was. It happened too quickly, and claiming to need the rent was the only thing she could think of at the moment.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Parker. I’d never leave you in the lurch. Anyway, I may not know for sure until next spring. If it does happen, I’d need a year or so to find a place and I’d stay until you’ve found a renter to take my place.”
A year? A year can fly by in almost no time. That’s why Bill wanted to warn me.
The look of shock on Ida’s face faded, replaced by a forced smile. “Although I’m delighted to hear you’ll be a permanent member of our community, I’m selfishly glad that you won’t be leaving here for a while.” A long while, she thought. Hopefully forever.
Anxious to move on, she turned to talk of the holiday, saying it was a time when everyone should stop and count their blessings. She began to recount hers, and they were all related to Darla Jean and Annie. Once she’d finished, the others at the table joined in, each telling of something they were thankful for.
Edna, Ginger’s mom, flashed a radiant smile and said that in two weeks she’d be a grandma for the first time.
“I’m going to sell my place in Florida and move to Barston,” she added happily. “That way I’ll be nearby and can spend time with my grandchild.”
Sitting next to Edna, Homer plopped a third helping of mashed potatoes onto his plate.
“I don’t have any children or grandchildren,” he said glumly, “but I’m sure enough thankful to have finally passed the Motor Vehicle Department test and have a driving license.”
“And I’m thankful you’re less likely to back into my car again,” Gregg quipped.
Everyone laughed.
Phil and Ginger smiled at one another and spoke as one voice.
“We both come from small families,” he said, “so we’re overjoyed to have Ginger’s mom and Gregg here to share in the excitement of our first child.”
Annie rattled off a list of a dozen things, including her new doll, her friend, Lois, Grandma’s cookies, her canopy bed, and the fact that they’d left Earl behind.
Suzanna cringed at the mention of Earl, then quickly took over.
“That’s enough.” She gave Annie a playful pat on the head, then said, “What Annie meant to say is that we are grateful beyond belief to be here, have a family, a place to call home, and a job I can count on.”
The big surprise came a few minutes later when she gave them her news. “And on top of everything else I have to be happy about, Colette is featuring me as the lead model in the holiday fashion show at the Barston Country Club.”
Ginger’s eyes lit up. “That’s the biggest event in Barston. Colette usually brings in one or two models from Atlanta to work the holiday show.”
“It really is
