Chapter 7 - Thanksgiving Happened Anyway
The following year, Thanksgiving arrived again.
This time, I didn't organize it.
I didn't book anything.
I didn't pay deposits.
I didn't create spreadsheets.
Mom did.
She rented a large house.
Amanda paid for the food.
Uncle Richard handled transportation.
Jenna arranged activities.
Everyone contributed.
When Mom sent the final group message, she wrote:
Everyone pays their share. No exceptions.
I smiled.
Then came another message.
Claire, what are you bringing?
I replied:
Dessert.
That was it.
One dessert.
One pie.
No $18,000 weekend.
No emergency planning.
No sleepless nights.
When we arrived, Mom opened the door.
She hugged Lily.
Then Noah.
Then me.
“I'm glad you're here.”
“Me too.”
She looked nervous.
“Your room is upstairs.”
I smiled.
“Thanks.”
“No sleeping bags,” she said.
I laughed.
“I figured.”
Amanda came around the corner.
She was carrying a tray.
“I made the stuffing.”
I stared at her.
“You cooked?”
She rolled her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Who are you?”
Everyone laughed.
The weekend felt different.
Not perfect.
Different.
People argued.
The teenagers complained.
The dogs stole food.
The turkey was slightly dry.
But nobody pretended.
Nobody expected one person to carry everyone else.
On Saturday night, Mom asked me to step outside.
Snow was falling softly.
“I want to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Do you still have the lake house?”
“Yes.”
“Can I see it sometime?”
I smiled.
“Of course.”
She hesitated.
“I want to tell you something.”
“What?”
“Your father was right.”
I looked at her.
“He told me once that I was going to lose you if I didn't learn to appreciate you.”
My throat tightened.
“I didn't believe him.”
“Mom…”
“I thought you would always be there.”
I looked toward the house.
“I almost wasn't.”
“I know.”
She hugged me.
For the first time, it didn't feel like I was comforting her.
May you like
She was comforting me.
And that mattered.
