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Jessica hadn’t moved back to her apartment yet. Both daughters insisted she stay through Thanksgiving, and she agreed. This was one of her favorite holidays. Even before she’d lost Ed, a hint of bittersweetness always underlaid the enjoyment of family, good food, and laughter. Different family members passed on and left empty places at the table. Her family had chosen to honor those people by continuing to make whatever that family member had brought.
Ed’s Aunt Viv made a scrumptious shoepeg corn casserole with cream cheese. Lori especially loved it, and now she made that dish. Another aunt had made a sweet potato casserole sweet enough it could count as dessert. Kathy made that because she wasn’t fond of pumpkin pie, which Jessica now made ever since her mom had died.
“Bob, that turkey sure smells yummy.” Jessica put an arm around her son-in-law.
“Not sure I’ll ever challenge one of Ed’s turkeys, Jessica, but I keep trying.”
She smiled and went back to cutting up the celery and onion for the dressing. She still called it dressing even after all the years of living in New England. She never put the bread inside the bird. Her jobs were always the pumpkin pies, cranberries, and the dressing. Other people brought all the rest. Besides the turkey, these were her favorite dishes anyway. As a younger woman, she’d always sensed pressure to eat at least a bite of everything anyone brought, but that led to a dreadful result on the scale the next day. Several years ago, she’d hit on the plan to sniff and ooh and ahh over all the dishes but eat only what she wanted.
“When are we planning on eating?” Kathy set her mother’s freshly made cranberry sauce in a special bowl on the dining room table which had been expanded to seat fourteen people. Jessica’s good friends Sue and Joe Franklin were joining them today because both their kids were eating with the in-laws. Sometimes over the years, the families had celebrated the holiday together.
“The turkey will be done in an hour.” Bob took off the foil covering and shoved the bird back in the over. “I’ll pull it out, and we’ll let it settle while I make the gravy. Jessica, then you can put the stuffing in the oven. What’s that take?”
“Forty-five minutes. When it’s almost ready, we can warm up anything like the green bean casserole, the mac and cheese Sue is bringing, and the corn which Lori has already made.”
“Looks like three p.m. then.”
“Yes.” Jessica raised her arm and wiped at her right eye where a tear gathered from cutting up onions for the dressing. “But I think Sue and Joe are coming at two to give us a better chance to visit. I do like eating later. Facing only one giant meal instead of a giant meal at noon followed by a later meal of everything again at five or six is much kinder to my waistline.”
“I agree, Mom.” Lori reached her hand for a sausage ball. “Besides, it leaves more opportunities to snack.” She ambled out of the kitchen. Her chore completed.
“What’s Jeff Hudson doing today?” Kathy worked with her mom to set the table with the best silver. They only used it for special meals. It had belonged to Jessica’s mother.
Jessica took care folding the burgundy, gold, and forest-green cloth napkins for each place. Without meeting her daughter’s gaze she said, “I believe he told me he and his father would spend the holiday with his partner Tony and his family in Concord. I think they are close, like Sue and me.”
“When is he returning?”
“I’m not sure. He indicated in a couple of days.”
“Well, he’ll contact you when he gets here, right?”
“Maybe, I don’t know, Kathy.”
“Well, you want him to, right?”
“What is this, Twenty Questions?” She wheeled away from her daughter. “I’m going in search of the special runner for the table.” She set the last fork on top of the last napkin and hurried away. What was going on with Kathy? Did she think she could play matchmaker or something? Dear heavens. Jessica wanted things to go back to the old normal. But the old normal stretched back to before Ed died, and that she couldn’t have. She’d done a good job building a new normal. Did she want another relationship? She wasn’t ready to answer that question, but cartwheels tumbled in her tummy every time they’d nearly kissed.
From the linen closet, Jessica retrieved the extra-long runner used at Thanksgiving with the table opened to its fullest length. Colorful leaves were stitched on top of a woven ivory cloth. She returned, determined not to let her daughter get under her skin. “Here’s the table runner.” She and Kathy arranged it by bunching it in a couple of places to give an artistic twist.
The doorbell rang. “I’ll answer it.” Jessica hurried toward the front door and away from her daughter. “Hi, Sue, Joe. Come in. Come in.”
Sue and Joe entered, bringing the cold air with them. “Boy, that wind is something. We nearly froze walking in from our car.” Joe helped Sue off with her coat.
“Did you bring the mac and cheese? The kids will be disappointed if you didn’t.”
“Kids? What are you talking about? I’d be disappointed.” Joe winked.
“You take the dish to the kitchen, and I’ll hang your coats up here in this closet.” Jessica juggled the coats and then hurried to the kitchen to find everyone greeting and hugging. She did love the Thanksgiving family gathering.
After the scrumptious meal, where everyone ate more than they probably should’ve, including Jessica because the corn casserole tempted her, and she didn’t resist. The women settled in the main room in front of the fireplace. The men took the twins outside. Too much time inside and the kids’ energy exploded, sometimes not in a good way.
“You must be disappointed not to be with your kids this year, but I’m sure happy you can be with us.” Jessica took Sue’s hand and squeezed it.
“Always feels like home here with you and your kids. I’ve missed our regular chats. How do you like serving on the board? I found the swearing-in ceremony to be pretty exciting. When’s the decision made on the retirement center on the Green? Is that a done deal?”
Finally her friend stopped, and a smile spread wide across Jessica’s face. She loved Sue, especially when words spewed from her mouth faster than a skier going downhill.
“I looked over the plans at the city offices, and I admit they impressed me.” Jessica nibbled on a cookie. “Not sure where I’m putting this.”
The women’s laughter filled the room, mixing with the wonderful scents of cinnamon and turkey. “We should probably be out with the kids, burning off these extra calories,” Lori said. “But tomorrow will be good enough.”
“So, what about the Green?” Sue reminded them.
“Probably more important to find out why Mom keeps getting attacked.” Kathy wiggled her toes encased in Christmas socks.
“Oh, let’s not go into that, Kathy. This is a joyful time. No negative thoughts allowed.” Jessica dismissively waved her hand at her daughter.
“Jessica, I think she’s right. I’m concerned for you. Do you have any idea who’s behind these threats?” Sue sided with Kathy.
“No, not really.” Jessica shook her head.
“I thought it must be Jeff Hudson, the developer, because he’d benefit the most if Mom stopped opposing the project, but they were together for two of the events. You don’t think it’s him do you, Mom?” Lori’s hands cuddled a cup of coffee.
Jessica wished Lori hadn’t brought up Jeff. “No, I don’t. I admit I wondered at first, but the more I got to know him—I mean got familiar with his plans—well, I don’t oppose the retirement center any more. Jeff showed me how it can fit on the Green and still leave us plenty of space for all our festivals.”
“Well, that’s a relief. Joe liked the idea of having an alternative to moving all the way to Concord to find a place to retire if the time comes where we can’t keep up our large house. I worried we’d find ourselves at cross purposes.”
“The bottom line is I still don’t want them to use Worley Construction. Jeff expressed his determination to get out of his contract with them. If he can do that, I can vote for the project. Otherwise, I’m afraid I won’t be supporting the town moving forward on the center.”
“I think you should keep that quiet, Mom. That info paints a great big X on your back. You will not be safe.”
Jessica huffed at Lori. “Speaks my daughter whose nose is always in a mystery novel. Real life isn’t like in a book, hon.”
“But maybe she’s right, Jessica. When are you moving back to the apartment? Do you think you’ll be safe there?”
“Oh, I’m sure I’ll be fine, Sue. You’re all making too much of a couple of unrelated incidents egged on by my adventure-reading daughter.” Jessica scowled at Lori. They needed to change this subject.
“I’ll relax if nothing else happens. And if something does, I will insist you move in here permanently. This whole thing makes me angry we encouraged you to run for office.” Kathy rose. “I’m getting more coffee.” She left the main room.
“Sorry, Mom. We worry about you. I’ll go calm her down.” Lori followed her sister.
Jessica let out a long sigh.
Sue patted her hand. “It’s because they love you, Jessica. We all do and want you to be all right. So tell me what’s going on with Jeff.”
“Not you, too.” Jessica laughed. “The problem of a small town. Everyone knows everything you do.”
“I did hear stories about something that looked like a romantic dinner for two at the Tidbury Inn not long ago.”
“It wasn’t a romantic dinner. I’d call it a business dinner. It’s when he told me he’d try to break the contract with Worley Construction.”
“Kathy told me she and the twins walked in on what appeared to be you and Jeff heading toward a kiss.”
Jessica dropped her head into her hands. What to do?
“Even if you want to deny the reality, the blush speaks for itself.”
♦♦♦
“WHAT A GREAT MEAL, Eva. Appreciate you having me.” Phillip Hudson, Jeff’s father, pulled on his coat.
“We’re always glad when you can join us, Phil.” Eva tied his scarf around his neck.
“Jeff, I’m heading on out. I’ll be in touch.”
“Sure, Dad.”
“Thanks again, Eva.” Phil slipped through the front door.
“Thanks for the to-go box, Eva.” Jeff shrugged into his coat.
“You’re always welcome here.” His hostess sent a gracious smile in his direction.
“Jeff and I will walk around for a bit, hon, and I’ll be back to help you with cleaning.” Tony pulled on his jacket.
“Bundle up. I’ve heard the wind howling.” Eva headed back toward the kitchen.
“We’re going for a walk?” Jeff glanced at his friend.
“Yeah, I wanted to follow up with where you thought we were with the Tidbury Retirement Center project.” He closed the door behind them.
“We’re still on go. We have a public presentation scheduled for next week. I hate we don’t seem to be able to terminate the contract with Worley Construction. For one, I think Jessica will probably vote against us. For another, if the project is approved, it will mean a great deal more work to stay on top of Worley Construction and make sure they don’t do their usual cutting corners with our project.”
“What does that do to you and Jessica? Whoa. That’s a wind.” Tony twisted his scarf tighter.
“Yeah, another cold front has blown through. What are you talking about? There is no Jessica and me.”
“Don’t give me that. I’ve seen how your eyes light up when you talk about her. I heard the worry in your voice when you told me about the incidents. There’s definitely something there.”
Jeff shrugged. Hard to deny how the woman made him feel. She’d tipped his world upside down. “Tony, I’ve always been sure about my plans and what I needed to do to accomplish them. Now, I’m not so sure. Jessica’s roots are planted in Tidbury. Our work is here in Concord. I love our partnership. We do worthwhile work. I can’t figure this out.” He scuffed his boots along the snow-covered sidewalk.
“You want to know what I think?”
Jeff glanced at him. “Do I?”
“I’m telling you anyway. Go talk with her. In fact, take her up to the Mount Washington Resort for supper. Maybe spend the night. See what develops. You’ve been working hard. You deserve a couple of days off. She probably does, too. Why can’t you do those together?”
“I like the idea, Tony. But not sure I can pull this off. The resort never has openings last minute. What makes you think she’ll go? And to spend the night?” Jeff realized his heart rate had kicked up at the idea of spending the night with Jessica.
“Promise me you’ll take a stab at making it happen. You’ll both be happier.”
They angled back toward Tony’s house. “Give it a shot. If you don’t ask, you preclude the possibility of hearing a yes.”
Jeff punched Tony on the arm. “Okay, I’ll take a chance. Thanks again for today. I’ll head back to Tidbury and see what happens.”
“It’s not a long drive from Concord, Jeff. You could commute if you had to.”
“Guess I ought to consider those ideas, Tony. You enjoy the rest of the weekend. I’ll check in with you Monday.” Jeff climbed into his SUV parked at the curb, adjusted the temperature upward, and drove away toward his condo. If he’d be spending more time in Tidbury, he needed to take care of business so he could be away for longer at a time. And he needed to decide if he should pursue Jessica. Being with her made him a better person, able to conquer all kinds of mountains.
But she’d be so angry with him if he ultimately used Worley Construction for the project. Would she forgive him? Could he push past that with her? He darn sure wanted to try. He parked in the garage under his condo and walked up the steps. Two bedrooms were plenty for him. He unlocked the door, tapped the off button on his security system, and hung his coat in the front hall closet.
What if Jessica moved in with him? Would they have enough space? Now, they each lived in a two-bedroom apartment. Together they might require more. And the big stumbling block was she lived above her shop. In Tidbury. Would she want to leave Tidbury, even part-time?
“Hey, Bud, you are getting way ahead of yourself.” And now he talked out loud to himself. He sat at his desk and studied the contract with Worley Construction. If their lawyers suspected they couldn’t terminate it without paying a huge penalty, they probably couldn’t. He pounded his hand on the desk and thrust away the papers in front of him. How could anything work with Jessica and him if he were stuck with Worley Construction? Jeff rose from the desk, restacked the papers, and paced to the large front window overlooking the street. Okay, he’d take a stab at it anyway. He owed it to himself and to Jessica to give them a chance to find some way they could be happy.