Stacey’s eyes widened and she slapped her forehead. “You did what?”

“I said we’d all come over to Cecelia’s for Thanksgiving,” Brad replied.

“We’re spending thanksgiving at the Greens’?”

“Yep.”

She closed her eyes. She’d been avoiding Jax since he came back from Atlanta, and now Brad had committed them to spending the entire day together for Thanksgiving. How could her heart heal if she had to keep running into Jax Green everywhere she went?

“It’ll be nice.”

“We told Momma we’d spend Thanksgiving here with her.” She swept her arm around the kitchen of Brad’s apartment.

He shrugged. “Momma can come too. I mentioned it to Jax, and they don’t mind. He said they’re trying not to think too much about his dad being gone. So be considerate – think about their feelings, not just yours.”

Stacey bit the inside of her cheek. Brad was right – if their presence helped Cecelia, June and Jax to forget about the empty space at the head of the table on Thanksgiving, then who was she to say no? “Fine. You’re right, it’ll be nice. I’ll call Momma and let her know.”

As she padded to the living room to hunt for her cell phone, she wondered what Momma might say. Whatever the outcome of their conversation, it made sense for them to all spend the day at the Greens’ house. After all, Jax was Brad’s best friend, she and June were friends, and they all needed comfort after their recent loss. Hopefully Momma would understand.

The doorbell chimed, and Jax hobbled to answer it. Mom and June were fussing in the kitchen, and after Mom had tripped over his crutches for the third time she’d shooed him out of the room. He couldn’t help much with cleanup, since his physical therapist had made him promise to keep his foot up as much of the day as possible. So that left him sitting in the den, waiting for the doorbell to ring, reading a book about Brett Favre. He’d never spent so much time on his backside in his life. At first it had bothered him, but slowly he was learning to adjust.

When he opened the door, he smiled at Stacey, Brad and Heather, all in their Sunday best. Heather even had a little makeup on her weathered face and a skirt that reached below her knees, the subtlest thing he’d ever seen her wear. “Welcome! Happy Thanksgiving – come on in,” he said, stepping aside to let them pass. They came in, hung their coats and scarves on the coat rack and wiped their shoes on the mat. He kissed Heather on the cheek and shook Brad’s hand.

When Stacey stepped closer, his heart jumped. Now that he knew how she felt about him, he couldn’t wait to talk to her alone about it, but when they’d get chance, he couldn’t guess. He leaned close and kissed her gently on the cheek, lingering a moment to savor her scent, lavender and vanilla. His fingertips caressed her cheek briefly and she glanced his way, surprise and confusion on her face. “Happy Thanksgiving,” he whispered with a smile.

She nodded. “And to you. Are you okay?”

“I’m great.”

He followed them into the kitchen where they greeted Mom and June. Brad set a casserole dish on the counter, and Heather added a plate of roast chicken cut into thick slices. The entire house smelled heavenly and Jax’s stomach growled. He’d been tempted to sample the food laid out on platters on the counter and dining table, but had been chased away by Mom wielding a ladle like a club.

“You’re all just in time – the turkey’s ready,” declared Mom, lifting the bird from the oven and carrying it to the dining table, setting it in the center.

The scent wafted over Jax, and he grinned. “Great job, Mom. That looks and smells delicious.” He helped move the food over to the dining table, letting June and Brad – who had the advantage of using both hands – handle the larger platters.

Everyone took their seats, chattering about their lives. He watched it all with a wide smile. When Stacey sat next to him, he itched to take her hand. There was something so special, so inspiring about families coming together to eat, share life and offer gratitude for the year past. Then his gaze landed on the empty chair at the head of the table and he swallowed. If only Dad had been here … he would’ve loved seeing them all together. He’d often prayed for Heather, Brad and Stacey as well over the years.

Mom tapped a spoon against her glass. She smiled and her eyes glistened. “Thank you to the Murphys for coming to join us as we celebrate Thanksgiving. We’re so glad to have you with us. It’s been a difficult year for us as a family, and having you here helps us to remember that even though our lives have changed and Frank is no longer with us, we have friends to help us through and a life to live together.”

“Hear, hear,” added Jax. There were several nods around the table.

“So let’s pray together and eat.” Mom led the group in prayer. Jax listened and silently added his own prayer of thanks to hers. He was grateful. There were so many reasons why he could spend this day in a funk, mired in self-pity over everything that was going on. But he’d learned early on in life that every attitude was his choice to make, regardless of circumstances. One more thing Dad had taught him.

It was the reason he’d succeeded at the level he had. There were other players who were better than him, had more raw talent, were faster, could jump higher. But he’d succeeded where they’d failed because every time he had a setback, whenever things didn’t go his way, he didn’t let himself get stuck in a fog of despair. He chose to believe things would improve. He chose to be happy. He chose to go on.

And today was no different. He missed Dad, and thinking about him made it hard to speak or even breathe. But then he’d remember how much Dad loved life and loved him and he’d resolve within himself to keep going. He could focus on his football career screeching to a halt when he’d barely gotten the chance to start it, that his injury might take him out of the game forever. Instead, he chose to focus on the family and friends surrounding him. They loved him and he drew strength from them.

And Stacey loved him. That new knowledge kept him in a state of joy in the midst of his pain and suffering. He knew that with her in his life he could face anything that came, even the looming months of painful rehabilitation.

He glanced at her and caught her staring at him in curiosity. He smiled and her cheeks flushed pink. “So, Stacey – what are you grateful for this year?”

Her cheeks darkened further and she piled potato salad onto her plate, avoiding his gaze. The rest of the table fell silent as they passed around food and listened. “I’m grateful for Brad and my new job. I’m thankful for you and having a place to live.”

“Are you coming back home soon?” he asked, his head cocked to one side.

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and met his gaze for a moment. “I don’t think so.”

“Oh. Okay.” A few days ago that would’ve dashed all his hopes, but now he knew the reason for her absence. It wasn’t because he’d offended her, or she couldn’t stand to be around him. She was in love with him. “That’s probably a good idea.”

She looked at him in confusion from beneath lowered eyebrows. “Yeah, I guess …”

Jax looked to where Brad sat opposite him. “And what about you, Brad? What are you grateful for this year?”

Brad set his fork beside his plate and swallowed a mouthful of food. “I’m grateful for my family, for good friends …” He nodded toward Jax. “For my business and the way God has blessed it this year. And for Momma.” Brad patted Heather’s shoulder and smiled warmly. His mother gasped, her eyes glistening with tears.

They went around the table, each person expressing their gratitude for all the good things in their lives. Finally, Stacey turned to Jax and asked him the same question he’d put to the rest of them. “And what about you, Jax? What are you grateful for?”

Mom watched him, her eyes glimmering. She knew what was in his heart. He’d talked to her about all of it the night before: how hard things had been since Dad died, the injury, his feelings for Stacey. She knew it all and smiled through a veil of unshed tears at him from beside the empty seat where the love of her life had sat all those years.

He sighed. “I’m grateful for so many things. As you know, this has been a hard year for me, especially the last couple of months. But I have a peace about all of it. I know God is in control. I’m grateful for all of you.” He turned to Stacey, his heart swelling. “I’m grateful for family and friends who have been there for me through what’s been the hardest time in my life. I’m grateful for people who I can be myself around, who’ve known me forever and who love me the way I am.”

He paused, then added, “And I’m grateful for Stacey, for the way she helped me find my new house, then turned it into a home. Thank you, Stacey.”

Her eyes widened at his words, her hand over her heart. “Wow. I don’t know what to say. You’re welcome, Jax, it was my pleasure – really.”

Jax scanned the table and found all eyes on him. Mom’s smile was full of love, Brad’s brimmed with brotherly pride and June’s sparkled with surprise. Everyone there seemed to know how he felt about Stacey – except perhaps Stacey. And she’d know soon enough.

Jax couldn’t eat another bite. He’d consumed moist turkey, roast chicken, ham, stuffing, sweet potatoes topped with tiny melted marshmallows, potato salad with just a hint of mustard, honeyed carrots, creamy green bean casserole, flaky biscuits with plenty of butter, ambrosia, and for dessert, pumpkin and pecan pies with whipped cream on top. His stomach poked out and he loosened his belt, then leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. “Wow, that was so good, Mom.”

“Thank you, Heather for the wonderful chicken and sweet potatoes,” added Mom. “They were amazing.”

Heather nodded quietly, her eyes gleaming. Jax had spent enough time around the woman over the years to know her well, and something about her had changed in just the last week. She’d eaten the meal quietly, nodding and smiling at conversations around the table without a negative word about anything.

Stacey stood and stretched her arms over her head with a yawn. “Now I understand why people take a nap after Thanksgiving. I’ve never eaten so much in my life. I feel so sleepy.”

Jax shuffled to his feet and reached for his crutches. “Come on into the den. I’ve got blankets and plenty of comfortable chairs and the games are about to start.”

“What games?” asked Stacey.

June laughed. “Oh, you two are gonna have so much fun together. What games – ha!”

“What games?” exclaimed Jax. “The only games that matter. We missed Detroit-Chicago, but Cowboys-Redskins should be starting right now. And then the Saints are up against my Falcons. I’m not leaving this room for the next six hours at least.”

Stacey laughed and followed him into the den. “Well, in that case, lead the way. Though I hope you intend to duck out to at least use the bathroom.”

He chuckled. “I make no promises. Perhaps I should run to the store and buy some Depends before it gets started.”

She threw her head back and laughed, and the sound made his heart sing. He wanted to spend his life listening to that sound, if she’d have him.

He hobbled across the den, switched on the TV and adjusted the angle of the screen and the volume, then closed the blinds and headed for his Dad’s armchair. He paused – should he sit there? It was the only chair in the room with a built-in footrest, which he needed, but it might upset Mom.

He glanced at Stacey, who was watching his progress with interest, and noticed her fingers were bare. “When did you take your ring off?”

Her cheeks coloring, she covered her left hand with her right, then stood and ushered him out into the hall. “We’re not actually married,” she whispered. “And since I’m no longer living in the house with you, I thought maybe we should just come clean with the world, tell them the truth.”

His eyes narrowed. “And what is the truth?”

“That we’re, um … that we’re just … friends.”

He stepped closer, leaned his crutches against the wall and put his arms around her waist, his weight on his good leg. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t resist. “Friends? Is that all we are?” His heart thundered in his chest and his gaze fell to her lips. When he raised his eyes to hers again, they were full of fear. What was she so afraid of? He’d never do anything to hurt her.

“I guess … I mean … I’m not sure! What’s going on, Jax?”

“This.” He kissed her hungrily, pulling her tight, and he could feel her heart racing in time with his. When he ended it, he kept her close, his face hovering over hers.

“Jax … I don’t know …”

He smiled. “I love you, Stacey.”

Her eyes opened wide. “You do? Because …” She grinned. “… I love you too.”

“I know.”

She slapped his arm playfully. “You’re very sure of yourself.”

He laughed. “I know that too.”

“So what now?”

“I guess we’re not friends.”

She chuckled. “No, I guess we’re not. What are we?”

“Right now, we’re a couple in love who are dying to watch Thanksgiving football together.”

Her eyes rolled. “Has anyone ever told you that you have a one-track mind?”

He laughed. “It’s called ‘singular focus,’ and they tell me it’s a good thing.”

“We’ll see about that,” she replied and kissed him softly, shifting his hormones into overdrive.

Jax pulled away reluctantly with a groan. “Wow. I’ve suddenly forgotten what I was about to do.”

Stacey took his hand with a laugh, helped him get his crutches in place and led him back into the den.

Jax rolled over in bed, smiling into his pillow. He reached for the clock and turned off the alarm – he didn’t need it this morning. He’d already been awake for a half hour, going over the events of the previous day in his mind.

The front gate buzzer rang and he frowned. He reached for the remote he kept on the bedside table and studied the camera image. He didn’t recognize the car. “Hello?” he croaked.

“Hey, buddy, it’s Wallace.”

Jax smiled. “You’re early. I thought you were coming Sunday.”

“Surprise!”

Jax chuckled and hit the button to open the gate, then clambered out of bed and searched for pants and a shirt to pull on. He took his time going down the stairs on his crutches, so by the time he reached the front door, Wallace was waiting for him. He flung the door open with a smile. “Come on in!”

Wallace half-smiled. “How you doin’, buddy?” He shook Jax’s hand, then picked up his bag and carried it inside.

“I’m great.”

Wallace frowned. “You are?”

Jax’s smile widened. “Yep.”

Wallace shut the door behind him and stood with his hands on his hips. “You do seem overly joyful for a man whose career just hit a brick wall. I thought I was coming here to cheer you up, but looks like you don’t need it.”

Jax headed for the La-Z-Boy and settled into it. He waved at the armchair beside his.

“I’m really great. Honestly, you don’t have to worry about me, although I am glad you’re here. It’s really good to see you.” He pushed the foot rest up and hoisted his cast onto it. “Uhhh, that’s better.”

Wallace took a seat, an eyebrow raised. “So you’re okay with everything?”

“By everything, do you mean my injury?”

Wallace nodded.

“I’m okay with the process. I believe my leg will heal and I’ll rejoin the team next season. I don’t know if there’ll be a spot for me, but I’ll do my best to be ready. Then it’s up to God.”

“That’s a good attitude. What have the doctors said?”

“That I should be ready for spring OTAs, depending on how the rehab process goes. And I think it’s going really well so far.”

“No wonder you’re so positive.” Wallace smiled, linked his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair.

“Well, that and I’m in love.”

Wallace’s eyes blinked wide. “I heard something about you being married …”

Jax laughed. “Her name’s Stacey and we’ve known each other forever. I guess it’s been coming on gradually over the past couple months. But it’s the strangest thing – it’s like I just know she’s the one..”

Wallace nodded. “That’s how it happens – when it’s right, you just know. I can’t wait to meet her. When’s she coming home?”

“Probably not until after we’re married. And I haven’t even proposed yet.”

Wallace looked confused. “But I thought you already were married.”

Jax chuckled. “It’s a long story.”