Jane glanced around the table and mentally counted the place settings: Grace and Luke; Anna and Mark; Sharon and Rosemary; Brett; Kara and Molly; Kathleen and Sophie; Ivy; herself, and… Henry. Sophie’s construction paper placemats were tucked under each ivory dinner plate, and the centerpiece of blossoming dahlias had been a gift from Ivy.
“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” Henry smiled into her ear as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
Jane leaned back against his chest and smiled. “Probably not, but in fairness, I only knew what a dahlia was after spotting the description card.”
“Hey!” Henry laughed, and Jane joined in.
She hesitated, turning serious for a moment. “How was this morning?”
Henry jutted his lip, his eyes drifting far away for a moment. “It was… what I needed. I needed to say goodbye to my mother, to have my say, I guess. We brought her a bouquet of flowers, just like Ivy always did when we were younger. I’d like to think it means something to her. Somehow.”
“It always did,” Jane said, squeezing his hand. “She just might not have had the means to show you that.” She lifted her chin to meet his lips, when Sophie’s screech interrupted them.
“Yuck! Are you gonna kiss?” A look of disgust crumpled her face. “That’s disgusting.”
Jane frowned, realizing that her daughter had never witnessed any affection between her mother and father. “We are, Sophie,” she smiled.
“Ewww! Why?”
“Because when two people love each other, they like to show it.” Jane gave Henry a quick peck and glanced at Sophie. “See?”
Sophie wrinkled her nose, considering this. “I guess that wasn’t so bad.”
Jane laughed, and reached down to swing Sophie up onto her hip, grunting slightly with the effort. Her little girl was growing up; life was changing, moving forward. A year ago, she’d still been married to Adam, still tossing and turning at night in her empty bed, wondering how she could ever face her fears and confront the cold, harsh truth. She’d dreaded this holiday for a year, unable to bear the thought of not spending it with her daughter, and now, she didn’t have to worry.
Thanksgiving was tomorrow, and yes, Sophie would be spending it with Adam and Kristy, but today, Jane was surrounded by the people she loved most. Her sisters and mother, her child… and Henry. She slid into her seat as their friends and family pulled out chairs, already talking over one another and passing cranberry sauce and potatoes, Rosemary proudly boasting about the success of the adult classes at the studios, and the peak in enrollment for the winter session. She’d even allowed latecomers to join The Nutcracker, even if it did mess up the costume orders a bit.
Anna came through the kitchen door carrying a huge silver tray and set the enormous turkey near the head of the table. Dad used to sit there, but now their mother took his place. In her hand, Jane noticed, was the handkerchief.
Anna sat back in her chair next to Mark, but as she did, something shiny reflected on her finger, and Jane gasped. It was a ring. Anna’s eyes flashed in alarm and she shook her head softly, then turned to Mark.
He cleared his throat and tapped a spoon against his wineglass, and the table fell quiet.
Jane turned to Henry, who grinned and wrapped an arm over her shoulder, and for the first time in so long she started to believe there was hope to be found for all of them. There was certainly a lot to be thankful for.