Weeks passed and a month later everyone was staring the holidays straight in the face. In only a few days Thanksgiving would be upon them, then a month later, Christmas. Sam had always loved both holidays and this year they would be very special. She didn’t know why she felt everything was falling into place, but she knew God had a very large part in that.
She had finally gotten her house exactly the way she wanted it. Everything she bought at the consignment shop was in place along with a few other various artful pieces. The ceramic cats figurine she purchased in the small country shop on her way to Connecticut was in its perfect spot, in the corner of her bathroom. She had every intention of doing what her mother did every year. She would put up a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. She would also decorate most of the house, especially the outside so people could see the lights as they passed by. She couldn’t wait. She was more than excited about all of it. Sometimes she would think about Chris and Tonya, and she missed them terribly, but she knew in her soul they would want her to be happy. She was certainly beginning to feel more happy and content with her life. Acceptance had been a hard part, but doing so made her stronger.
She continued to see her cardiologist regularly, exercised, and took her medicines. She tried to eat healthy, but with the holidays upon them she knew eating healthy would be a struggle.
As she walked through the diner and observed the cleaning crew she couldn’t help but feel more gratitude, more love for God, and more pride in herself. She kept a tight lid on her pride, but she knew she deserved a little. She owed everything good in her life to God and she was fully aware of it. She also knew and fully believed that the work came from her and that God gave everyone special gifts. He blessed everyone with a dream and as people came closer to seeing that dream happen, He wanted to give them the results, but they had to earn them. She felt that deeply within her soul.
“Everything is looking incredible!” She beamed at the crew as they finished up for the day. “We are almost ready.”
She told everyone they could leave for the day. She knew most of them had shopping to do and more to get ready for the big day on Thursday. Families would be arriving and some of them had large dinners to prepare. When they all left, she stood alone in the middle of the dining room, a very spacious area where she would be able to allow up to one hundred customers to dine at a time. Her smile covered not only her entire face, but her heart as well.
Sam knew she wasn’t alone in the room. God was with her as He always was. Looking up at the ceiling she raised her hands and praised His name.
“Thank You, Jesus! Thank You for all You have done for me! None of this would be happening if it wasn’t for You! I love You Lord! Thank You!”
A tear escaped her right eye and she let it fall. Happy tears and ones of true gratitude were the best. As she walked into the kitchen she knew it would be a couple of months before her dream would officially happen. There was still a lot to do and prepare for. The only reason she had the cleaning crew in there now was to be rid of the excess dust and debris that had built up over time since it was abandoned.
She would need to have a little renovating done and new booths installed. All the equipment would need to be inspected to be sure they all worked properly. She wanted new chandeliers installed and she had some serious shopping to do for art work. That was only the light side of what needed to be accomplished. She wasn’t in a hurry. There was plenty of time. She did want to start interviewing for staff and working on her menu soon. It was all slightly overwhelming, but in a very exciting way.
When she walked out of the diner she looked above the entrance and grinned at the sign that held the words, ‘Arriving Soon! A Bit of Taste and Some Tasty Bits!’
She decided to change the name of the diner from what she had originally thought of. It had a ring to it that she felt would attract customers. It looked beautiful above the door and she couldn’t stop smiling at it.
Finally, she walked to her car and drove home. Snowflakes were falling and clouds had moved in to cover the once clear sky. The weatherman was looking like he would be right again and snow was on its way for the holidays. Thankfully, it wasn’t supposed to be a horrendous amount. She had plans for Thanksgiving and she prayed they wouldn’t be prevented due to bad weather.
It would be her first Thanksgiving in her new home and she had invited guests for dinner. She would be preparing some of her favorite dishes in the manner she knew how to cook them. Junior would be there, of course, and she asked Bill, Clara and their kids over. She invited Chris’s family but they all declined for different reasons. Her parents would be there and she looked forward to seeing them again. Her mother was thrilled to see her house, but more importantly to hear about the development in her relationship with Junior. Her dad would probably want to sit and watch football with Bill and Junior. She laughed and was perfectly fine with the men doing the man thing.
Thoughts of her growing relationship with Junior touched more than her heart and soul. It moved every part of her. Since they had the conversation about Chris and where he got the money, she was able to accept things as they were. She prayed hard about it and talked more with Clara, who had been a huge help, and she turned it all over to God. She was a work in progress as was their relationship. When she was with Junior, she felt her love grow with every moment. Neither of them had allowed themselves to go too far. They agreed going slow would be the best route. At times when they touched, kissed and snuggled it was difficult, but they stood by their decision. Things would move to the next level when the time was right.
***
Thanksgiving Day arrived and Sam’s house was full of incredible aromas. She paced back and forth, dicing, chopping, stirring, and smiling the entire time. Excited was an understatement. Junior went to the airport to pick up her parents, and Clara, Bill and their kids would be there in a few hours. It was a beautiful day and beauty was what she felt. A couple of times during her morning while she was getting pumped for the day she had to stop and praise Jesus for all He blessed her with. In her life, there were so many things. When she thought about her blessings she couldn’t stop the tears.
She checked on the turkey in the oven and basted it again so it wouldn’t be dry. She looked at the time and thought about the best time to start boiling water for the potatoes. The pies were cooling and she started making her homemade cranberry sauce. She wasn’t about to have canned anything in her house on the first holiday celebrated there. She would be making biscuits from scratch, too. Her father would love knowing about those. By the time she had everything complete there would be a feast to devour. She knew Clara said she would be bringing something too, but forgot what that would be.
Thirty minutes passed and she heard the front door open. Seconds later she was engulfed in her father’s and mother’s arms and her cheeks were covered with kisses. Her grin was matched with tears and voices of happiness from both. Her mother quickly took her coat off and wanted to join her in preparing the rest of the meal, but Sam put a stop to that immediately.
“Mom, please. This is my first chance of doing this in my first official house. It’s my turn so let me do it, please.”
Without any hurt feelings, her mother sat at the table looking out of place, and gave in to Sam’s wishes. Sam saw her mother was disappointed and gave in, but only a little. She told her she could make the biscuits if she wanted. Her mother was on her feet in a second with her smile once again on her face, wrapping an apron around her waist. Sam laughed at her and shook her head.
Her father and Junior were hiding in the living room waiting for the first game to start and were staying out of the ladies’ way. They knew the risks of interfering and didn’t want the consequences. Junior did manage to sneak a fast kiss from Sam before retreating to safety and joked with her about it. Sam poked him in the side making him jump further away and causing more laughter.
Before kickoff, Clara and Bill were knocking on the door and within seconds the house was full of gleeful cheer and kids talking loudly. In some homes, people would find it slightly irritating, but to Sam, she couldn’t have found more peace and happiness than in those moments. Clara brought her bean casserole and fresh cole slaw, both of which looked delicious.
When the biscuits were pulled from the oven, Clara helped by setting the table and carrying the food out. Before she allowed anyone to sit Sam took a picture from her cell phone and cried.
“My first Thanksgiving dinner in my home,” she blubbered and wiped her eyes.
“It’s gorgeous, honey,” her father told her and kissed her on her cheek.
“Thanks, Dad. Okay, everyone it’s ready, but don’t touch anything yet,” Sam instructed. “We have to give thanks to the One who blessed all of us with this. Daddy, will you sit at the head of the table and say the blessing?”
Taken aback by his daughter’s request and touched by the honor, her father gladly agreed and said he would. Once everyone was sitting and holding hands, he began.
“Lord, I want to say first that I am honored to be sitting here today with my family and new friends in front of the beautiful meal You have provided for us. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for all You do for us. Without You, there would be nothing and we would be nothing. I want to thank You, Jesus, for everything You have done to make my little girl healthy and happy again. Thank You for blessing her with a fine young man who adores her. She deserves nothing but happiness in her life. I ask that You bless this incredible meal and make it healthy for us and that we don’t eat so much we have to be hospitalized. In Your glorious name I pray, amen.”
When he was finished, the adults snickered at the part about being hospitalized. Sam asked Junior to carve the turkey and he did as he said it would be an honor. Throughout the meal there was much talk of their blessings. The kids talked about the new game they hoped Santa Claus would bring them on Christmas Day. Laughter filled the house as joyous tears were shed. Chris entered Sam’s mind during the meal and she smiled up at the ceiling with thoughts of peace. She would always love him, but she knew he would be happy for how things had gone for her since his passing.
***
Junior
After dinner, they chose to wait on dessert as they were all stuffed to the brim. The kids played with their handheld games while everyone else drank coffee and watched the football game. They had so much to be thankful for and had no problem acknowledging that fact. During half-time Junior asked Sam’s father if he would walk outside with him for a moment. With their jackets on and as they looked out onto the massive back yard lightly covered with snow, Junior looked at Sam’s father.
“What’s up, Junior? You okay?” Sam’s father asked before he had the chance to begin talking.
“Yeah, I’m good, thank you, sir. I’m real good to be honest. Before I start I want to say I’m glad you both could be here. I know this means a lot to Sam.”
Leaning on the banister and allowing his eyes to travel over the yard, Sam’s dad agreed.
“I know it does and I’m very proud of my girl. She’s been through hell and back over the past two years and made it through, plus finished school. I would be a pretty sorry excuse of a father if I wasn’t.”
“True, very true, sir.”
“Now, I know that wasn’t why you wanted to get me out here and talk. What’s on your mind?”
Taking his place beside Sam’s father and leaning on the banister, Junior took a deep breath and was as straight forward as he could be.
“I asked you out here because I want your blessing to ask Sam to marry me. I’ve been in love with her since the day I laid eyes on her.”
Sam’s father didn’t blink an eye. He didn’t look at Junior. He simply closed his eyes and breathed. Junior didn’t know what to think by the sudden quiet from him, but he stood and waited. A painfully long minute later her father asked, “Will you be by her side no matter what? Even if her heart fails her again? You will never leave her?”
“I would never in a million years leave her, sir. Ever, I promise.”
Her father turned and stared at Junior and asked, “Did she know you loved her all those years she was with Chris? Did he know?”
Shaking his head, Junior answered, “No. I had too much respect to let on about it. I loved Chris like my brother and wouldn’t do anything to hurt either one of them.”
“So you were willing to go on forever loving her and possibly never being with her?”
“Yes, sir.”
Her father took those words into consideration before speaking another word. When he did he looked at Junior again and smiled.
“I’ll give you my blessing on one condition.”
“Anything.”
“Tell me why you love her so much. Tell me why you want to spend your life with someone who might die with a bad heart at any moment.”
Junior wasn’t expecting a question with such depth, but without having to think about his feelings for her, he answered honestly and without hesitation.
“There’s not one particular reason. There are many reasons. I love her enough to marry her because she’s the strongest person I know. Because she’s determined to live no matter what. At least until God calls her home. She loves Jesus more than life itself. Because she’s goal driven and knows what she wants out of life. She has overcome more in a short time than most people in a lifetime. I love her laugh. Her smile. I love the way she thinks. The fact that she listens and forgives. Her sense of humor…” he laughed and stared out into the yard, grinning. “I love everything about her, sir. I always have and I know in my soul I always will. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make her happy.”