TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT - THANKSGIVING

Welcome! This week the word prompt is "Thanksgiving." We have another snippet from "Renovating the Billionaire." Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful holiday. 

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   As mornings turned chilly in September, Jess’s thoughts turned to Thanksgiving. Just once she’d like to celebrate in that drafty old mansion. She'd imagine the huge dining room table filled with her Pine Grove friends. Every year, Jess would make up a fictional menu.

   Lying on the sofa in the early morning hours, nursing coffee, she’d dream of the sideboard groaning under the weight of the exquisite dishes she’d concocted for the hungry audience. Homemade cranberry orange relish, a Brussels sprouts and cheese casserole, and her own recipe for stuffing.

   As her mind took flight, her stomach would get into the act and growl. Even though it shouted for turkey, gravy and sweet potatoes, she fed it a couple of slices of toast. Time was a wastin’ and she had pies to bake.

   Discarding her dreams, she pushed up and headed for the kitchen. This year, Thanksgiving would be the same as always. A big chicken, a can of cranberry jelly, packaged stuffing, a couple of baked sweet potatoes and one of her secret-recipe pumpkin pies. Every year Jess rationalized not spending money for a turkey. They’d be only two and could never eat it all. She refused to throw away food. 

   As she prepared the pie filling, she pondered a way to make the holiday special. Thanksgiving hurt her heart. They didn’t have much to be thankful for, and many worries plagued her, but not her brother. 

   Recalling Will’s enthusiasm brought a smile to her lips. That boy was relentlessly cheerful. Maybe she did have something to be thankful for –having him. This year, she’d splurge and buy Brussel sprouts, Will’s favorite veggie, and make that casserole with cheese. Making one dream come true and surprising him lifted her spirits. She hummed as she filled pies and slid them into the oven. This year would be better, she’d see to that.

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