“Is Mommy crying?”Levi inquired.
“Mommy is happy,” Mrs.Madelyn replied.“Do you know why?”
“Why?”the children asked in unison.
“Because all of us are together and because it is time for us to load up all these pies for the big lunch.”
“Yay,” Laney declared.
“I am going to eat too much turkey and pies,” Levi predicted, rubbing his belly and inciting a round of laughter.
Noel painted a smile on her face and spun around with all the enthusiasm she could muster.“Who’s going to get the little red wagons?”she queried.
“I am,” Laney shouted.
“We are,” Levi answered enthusiastically.
“Both of you grab one and come help Mrs.Madelyn and me fill them with enough pies, fudge, and candy for the whole town.”
The kids hastily retrieved the wagons, parked them haphazardly near the stainless steel island occupying the middle of the kitchen, and helped position the goodies one at a time with a sense of pride.
When the carts became full, Noel said, “Let’s run upstairs to change outfits for the community Thanksgiving feast.”
“I want to wear my Christmas pajamas,” Levi pleaded with folded hands and a cheesy grin.
“Me too,” Laney begged.
This request didn’t surprise Noel.“I think we might look a little out of place showing up for Thanksgiving lunch wearing Christmas outfits, especially pajamas,” she pointed out.“I will make a deal with you.You have to change out of your pajamas, but you can wear your Christmas hats.”
Laney and Levi looked at one another as if trading their deepest thoughts.“Okay,” both giggled and ran up the stairs.
“I set out outfits for each of you on your beds,” Noel called up the staircase as she walked in that direction before turning to Mrs.Madelyn.“Would you like to come up and relax while we change?”
“No, thanks.With these old hips, I don’t want to climb those stairs more than necessary,” she laughed.“I will wheel the carts up front and straighten a few things around the register while you all freshen up.”
“Thank you,” Noel replied with a genuine smile.She didn’t know what she would have done without this woman.
Noel skipped up the steps and hustled into her bedroom.She wanted to be early so the desserts and candy could be set on the serving tables before the guests arrived.Even though dessert traditionally came after the meal, experience taught her that plenty of hands would want first dibs on the baked goods, and little hands would find the candy quickly.
While changing into wide-leg chocolate brown linen pants, which Noel bought for the color name, and because they looked cute, of course, she studied her body in the bathroom mirror.Unsure whether her diet or lack of appetite helped her keep a slim waist, she found herself thankful that she could eat more than her share today and not fear the consequences.
Fletcher always told her how beautiful she looked no matter what she wore or if she gained or lost ten pounds.She sure missed his words of affirmation.Noel didn’t feel unpretty now; however, she lacked the confidence she once possessed.She missed walking into places like today's festivities with her arm anchored around her husband’s.
Noel wrapped a belt through the loops circling her waist and then pulled on a tan long-sleeved turtleneck.Adjusting her hair, she clasped a gold necklace with a turkey pendant around her slim neck and added the matching earrings.Lastly, she spent a few minutes fixing her hair before stepping into a pair of shoes for the occasion.
Prior to walking downstairs, she called for Levi and Laney, but neither answered.She then glanced out the back windows and spotted a colt standing beside his mother on Carrot Island.The view that had been a lifesaver after the accident kept her occupied for a few moments.When Noel made it down the steps, she found the children near the front door being silly with Mrs.Madelyn, and when she took in the sight of their outfits, a large grin stretched across Noel’s face.
“Don’t you two look adorable?”
Noel picked out a brown dress with a white undershirt for Laney and brown pants and an apple-red collared shirt for Levi.The Santa hats topped off the outfits brilliantly.
“Mrs.Madelyn said she will wear her Santa hat to the feast if you do,” Laney announced.
Noel’s smile shone through her green eyes.“Of course I will,” she agreed, “but one of you will have to run upstairs and get it for me; I left it on my bed.”
Without a single word, the race began.Each kid took a different route through the candy shop, and Laney made it up the stairs first.Running indoors wasn’t allowed anytime the store was open for business, but Noel’s father always let her and her brother play freely when the closed sign hung; she permitted the same for these little ones.
Somehow Levi made it down with the hat dangling from his grip.
