CHAPTER 19
SEPTEMBER 29
The special Sunday dinner was Momma’s idea; but as Marti looked at everyone sitting around the table, she realized how happy she was that they were all here. Vik was so solicitous of Mildred. While Vik was helping her take off her coat, Mildred caught Marti’s eye, winked, and smiled. Tony, Joanna’s boyfriend—for today, at least—had helped out in the kitchen. Marti found it hard to believe, but he actually agreed with Joanna’s dietary restrictions and was taking zinc, vitamin C, and drinking an herbal tea to ward off a cold.
Their next-door neighbors, Patrick and Peter, had come with their parents and brought something called Crazy Salad, multicolored chunks of Jell-O and diced fruit topped with walnuts, raisins, and whipped cream. Marti had had little time to socialize since they’d moved in and was a bit apprehensive until she found out the boys’ father was a Chicago attorney.
Lisa was still moving carefully. She and Sharon were still prone to crying jags, but less frequently since Rayveena’s funeral. Best of all, Momma had decided that Sharon should move into the apartment above the garage, at least temporarily. Nobody argued with Momma.
This was the first time Marti had seen Lupe out of uniform in months. She was showing Mike and Theo how to fold paper napkins into swans. When Lupe had come through the door, Ben had leaned over and whispered, “She might as well have cop written on her forehead.”
“Once a cop…,” Marti said. They both laughed softly.
Denise had come early, taken off her hat, and gotten to work helping Momma in the kitchen. Now she came through the door into the dining room wearing one of Momma’s aprons and carrying a turkey, fat and brown. Momma followed with her famous, honey-cured, brown-sugar-smoked ham, covered with pineapple slices.
When everyone was seated, Ben said the blessing.
“Dear Lord, we thank You for the fellowship of those who have joined us at this table. We ask You to watch over and protect those who could not be with us today. We ask that You receive those who have come to Your presence. We thank You for the food on this table and we ask that You help us share our blessings with others.”
They all said amen.
Marti looked at Ben and gave him a thumbs-up. Their day of Thanksgiving had come early this year, and they all had so many reasons to be grateful.