“Mama Jeanie, you’ve outdone yourself again.” Max settled in his chair at the head of the table, breathing in the aroma of walnut-crusted turkey, green bean casserole and honey-buttered rolls—to name a few. The table seemed almost unable to bear the load of the food and serving dishes covering every square inch.
He could relate. He knew a little something about carrying burdens. He shot a glance to his right, where Emma was trying to convince Cody that the sweet potato casserole tasted great even though it was orange, and smiled, a swell of thankfulness rising in his heart. Across from the two of them, Brady, Caley and Ava sat in a row, Caley and Ava giggling more like sisters than stepmother-daughter as they bent their heads over their plates.
“Thank you, but I had help this year, my boy.” Mama Jeanie grinned down the length of table at him as she plucked her napkin from the decorative ring and placed it in her lap. “Your new wife there knows her way around a kitchen.”
And his heart.
“You know that turkey was all you, Mama Jeanie. Don’t give me too much credit. I pretty much heated and reheated.” She gestured to the counter in the kitchen where an assortment of desserts waited. “Though I confess to making the pies. All four different kinds.”
“Mmm. My kind of woman.” Max nudged Emma’s leg under the table with his boot, and the sassy wink she shot him warmed his skin. He still couldn’t believe how much had happened in a year. In fact, it was worth announcing out loud.
He stood, tapping his knife lightly on his glass of water—real glass, which didn’t happen often at Camp Hope, where all things plastic and sensible reigned. But today was worth celebrating—their first Thanksgiving as a whole family.
“I’d like to make a toast.” He smiled at Emma, then at her mom, who sat on the other side of Cody, then at Mama Jeanie, his friends and finally at his son. “Every Thanksgiving at Camp Hope, we’ve made it a tradition to go around the table and voice what we’re thankful for. This year, we didn’t schedule a camp over the holiday, but I’d still like to keep up the tradition. So I’ll go first.”
He cleared his throat, knowing Brady would never let him hear the end of it if he teared up, then decided it really didn’t matter. Men who discovered they had a secret son and then rediscovered love with the woman of their dreams could shed a manly tear or two. “This has been a crazy year, but one of the best. I wouldn’t trade a single moment, however rocky they might have been at first.” He reached over and rested his hand on Emma’s shoulder. “This year, I’m thankful for second chances. For love and family.”
Emma squeezed his hand as he sat down, then brushed her hair back from her face and gave that shy smile she always did when she spoke in front of a group—the same smile she’d offered to countless teen girls in the past year as she led beside him at the camp. “I’m thankful for hope. That just like God, it’s always nearby, even when we can’t necessarily feel it.”
Everyone looked at Cody to go next. He stopped midchew and tried to hide a roll in his lap. “Do I have to?” He turned pleading eyes to his mom, who nodded. With a sigh, he put his roll on his plate and fisted his napkin in both hands. His voice rang timid, but sincere. “I’m thankful for a lot of stuff. For moving this year and getting away from those old friends of mine and making new ones here. And for finding my dad.” He looked at Max, then away, and Max’s heart thumped double in his chest. “I wish we had sooner. But I’m learning at church that everything happens for a reason, and I’m just happy we’re all together now.” Then Cody grinned, the same grin Max had seen in a mirror growing up in his own teen years. “And I’m really thankful that there’s four kinds of pie.”
Everyone laughed, breaking the band of emotion that tightened Max’s throat, and he pointed at his new mother-in-law in relief. “Next.”
She patted Cody’s shoulder and reached around him to rub Emma’s arm. “I’m thankful that all my family is back in one place. And for new additions.” She winked at Max.
Mama Jeanie folded her hands atop her empty plate as she took her turn. “I’m thankful for the lot of you. All such good friends and family, taking care of each other and looking out for each other. It’s a blessing to watch.” She pointed at every person around the table. “And never forget the hand of the Good Lord is on you all. That’s something to be thankful about right there.”
Caley murmured her agreement, as she and Ava took turns announcing their blessings. Then Brady wrapped it up. “I’m thankful for family, friends and the chance to celebrate together.” He reached over and tapped Max’s arm. “And thankful that nothing is impossible with God—not even changing the most stubborn of hearts.”
“Hey, I’d argue, but...we all know it’s true.” He grinned at his friend. “And while we’re being sappy, I’ll admit I’m thankful that God uses the most unlikely people in our lives to get through to us.”
“Now I’m unlikely?” Brady scowled, a tease in his eyes.
Emma snorted. “I think he meant me.”
“That’s probably true of all of us.” Caley laughed. “On that note, Max, why don’t you say grace already so we can eat?”
“Great idea. Let’s pray.” As Max bowed his head to bless the meal, he couldn’t resist one more glance around the table, one full of food, family, friends—and love. His gaze lingered on Cody, then on Emma, who opened one eye to check on him as he knew she would. Their gazes met and mingled, and the love he saw returned in her eyes was one of the biggest blessings of all.
“Happy Thanksgiving.” She mouthed the words to him, and he mouthed it back.
Thankful, indeed.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from SEASON OF REDEMPTION by Jenna Mindel.