The aroma that was traveling through the house smelled amazing. The cinnamon used in Aunt helen’s pies was strong and mouthwatering.
For the first time since I had woken up I didn’t have a feeling that something was missing in my life. I was enjoying my time with my family and I couldn’t be more grateful that I had a second chance at life.
Chapter 10:
The next morning we all woke up and ate pie for breakfast while the floats in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade meandered across the TV screen.
Around noon, the doorbell rang. Ronnie’s family joined us in front of the TV. They were all dressed to impress. Ronnie looked absolutely adorable in his tailored suit. An aura of joy filled the house. Even Aunt Helen had a smile on her face.
A little while later there was another knock at the door. Everyone looked over in my direction and I stood up and took a deep breath. When I opened the door, there Luke stood.
“Hiya!” He said wearing the same wrinkled blue polo and khakis I remembered him wearing when he first met my family.
He pulled a bouquet of sunflowers out from behind his back with a grin. “For the Greys family, thank you for having me as your guest.” He took his other hand and wrapped it around me to pull me in for a hug.
I brought Luke into the living room where the station had changed to football. “Luke this is everyone. Everyone this is Luke!” I said. Everyone waved and said hello.
My mom stood up and hugged him. “So glad you’re joining us.”
“For you guys.” Luke handed her the flowers.
“Oh my gosh, thank you so much; let me put these in a vase.” My mom scurried into the kitchen.
“Luke!” Gia shouted, running towards him wrapping her hands around his waist.
“Hi, Gia! Long time no see!” He hugged her back gently.
We joined everyone in the living room and Luke talked football with my dad. For a moment I felt like I was on the outside looking in on my life and I couldn’t think of a better feeling than I had right then. I was alive. I was surrounded by the people I loved and I was happy.
“Hey, your dad invited me to help him and the other guys with the turkey. Do you need anything?” Luke asked. I looked at him for a minute. Could he be any more perfect?
“I’m all set. Have fun and good luck.” I giggled.
I looked out the window and watched all the guys gathered around two boiling pots of oil. They yelled back and forth trying to figure out the perfect contraption using rope and a tree branch to drop the turkeys into the oil.
“Good thing we know someone who works at the Pizza Shack.” My mom whispered in my ear. I giggled.
“We might have to make him sneak in and whip us up a few pizzas depending on how this goes.” I agreed.
We decided to set up a few picnic tables back to back in the yard, covering them in a few mismatched Thanksgiving tablecloths to make one long table. We set it and lined the center with all of the parts of Thanksgiving dinner.
Somehow the turkeys came out perfectly golden brown and they looked delicious. All eleven of us gathered around the table and sat down to enjoy a nice meal.
My mom insisted that we prayed before we ate. Everyone nodded and held hands. “Dear Lord, thank you for all the blessings we have today. Thank you for allowing us to be surrounded by loved ones. Thank you for allowing us to be in good health and especially, Lord, thank you for allowing Sutton to be here with us.” She started to get choked up a little bit. My dad rubbed her back and Luke squeezed my hand. “We truly have a lot to be thankful for this year.”
We all dug in and the food was delicious. It was the biggest meal I had eaten in a long time and I enjoyed every bit of it. We all sat at the table together, laughing and smiling, and it may have been the best Thanksgiving I could remember.
Ronnie’s family went home after dinner and everyone was exhausted. Every year after Thanksgiving dinner we all gathered in the living room to watch Christmas movies. It was my mom, Gia and I’s absolute favorite time of year. I quickly glanced around the room.
My dad snored with my mom’s head tucked into his side. Gia’s head laid on her lap. Aunt Helen was asleep in her wheelchair, her mouth hanging wide open. Reagan and Shane both laid on the floor next to Luke and I. They were passed out too. Luke and I were the only ones awake. He laughed at “Elf” which was playing on the TV.
Last year, my mom, Gia and I were sitting in our house, just the three of us, watching “Frosty the Snowman”. I was a senior in high school, super eager to graduate the following May and I wouldn't ever have imagined my life ending up the way it was right then. It’s crazy how things can change in a year.
“Want to go on the hammock?” I whispered to Luke.
“Sure.” He said with a smile, standing and pulling me up beside him.
I grabbed the blanket we were tangled in and brought it outside with us. We laid on the hammock covered in a sea of fabric.
Luke held me close to him. “So now what?” I said looking towards him. So many memories
