“It’s Thanksgiving; I’m celebrating,” he reasoned with a snicker.
Noel searched for the silver lining.Thankfully Keaton’s speech wasn’t slurred, and more importantly he showed up for the community meal to spend some time with his daughter, nephew, and her on the holiday.
“I am glad you are here,” Noel acknowledged as she tried to let go of the other thoughts.
When they reached the first table, each grabbed two plates, utensils, and napkins.From there they slid the trays down the line, piling on turkey, ham, sweet potato fluff, stuffing, cornbread, rolls, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, deviled eggs, and lots of baked macaroni and cheese for the kids.
Noel glanced at the dessert table surrounded by smiling faces and laughter, and it made her heart happy to see that so many people enjoyed the treats she, Mrs.Madelyn, and the kids prepared.
“It looks like your sweets are a hit as always,” Keaton noted.
“I’m so glad,” Noel replied.“Do you see anything you want before it all disappears?”she asked.
“I see a lot of things I want,” Keaton replied, “but I only have two hands,” he pointed out while carefully balancing the overflowing plates.
“Noel,” a lady, who Noel recognized but didn’t know by name, called out from across the table, “I can’t wait to try this apple pie; it looks delicious!”
Others at the table bombarded Noel with generous comments and questions about the pies and fudge.She patiently responded to everyone, and then she and Keaton found a few empty seats at the end of a table on the side of the canopy where the kids played.
“Laney, Levi,” Keaton hollered, the tone of his voice causing several groups in the area to halt their conversations because of the interruption.
Noel noticed a few awkward glances, some prolonged stares, and gossipy whispers, but after a few moments everyone seemed to turn their attention back to their meals and conversations.
“We need beverages,” Noel realized out loud.
The kids hurried over still wearing their Santa hats to Noel’s surprise.She feared they would be lost by now.
“You guys come with me so we can get drinks for all of us,” Keaton encouraged them as he motioned toward the beverage station.
Noel loved seeing her brother interact with the kids and knew he wasn’t drunk because he hadn’t been short with them every time they spoke.As they walked away, each of them grabbed one of his hands, and Noel fixated on the sight that was cute enough for a picture frame.
After bringing back drinks, Levi and Laney ate most everything Noel expected and left the rest for her and Keaton.The conversations went smoothly with lots of laughter, and for a while Noel felt like they were a normal family again.They chatted with the people who sat nearby and even shared some things they were thankful for this year.Levi and Laney said playing police and tag, and Noel and Keaton mentioned family and friends.
Even though Keaton was a different person from the man Noel knew up until last year, he was her only adult family member left other than distant relatives, and she prayed that her brother found his way back one day soon.
6
“We would love for you to come back to the shop with us and help decorate for Christmas,” Noel mentioned eagerly to Keaton after wrapping the leftovers with foil.
She purposely waited until the kids ran off to the dessert table out of earshot of the question to avoid the chance that her brother’s answer would disappoint them.
“I wish I could, but I promised my buddies I would watch football with them,” Keaton answered apologetically.
Noel hoped he would spend the rest of the holiday with family, but she knew beggars shouldn’t be choosers.Although she invited him to the feast today, she initially doubted he would show up.However, he proved her wrong, and for that, gratefulness filled her healing heart.
With messy fingers, Levi devoured a piece of the pie he called dibs on earlier, and Laney forked a few bites of the slice she chose.Noel and Mrs.Madelyn deliberately cut the pieces much smaller, knowing that kids and even some adults wouldn’t have room for a regular helping.Most usually sported bigger eyes than appetites after a full Thanksgiving meal, and from what Noel saw in the buffet line, the local restaurants prepared all of the traditional dishes and even added a few contemporary favorites.
When Keaton announced his departure, Laney responded with a question that nearly broke Noel’s heart.“Daddy, will you help us decorate the Christmas tree?”she asked sweetly with her fingers bonded as if kneeling at her bedside for a prayer.However, if a prayer would bring her father back into her life more regularly, it would have happened a while ago.
Keaton lifted his daughter up again.“You know I would love to, but I have to meet some people.”
“What people?”she asked inquisitively.
“Friends,” he answered simply as if the rebuttal stunned him.
“Are they more important than us?”she wondered aloud with childlike sincerity.
Noel pressed her lips together hoping Laney’s question would warm her father’s heart.
