The kids have gathered, and they keep trying to snatch rolls.After I slap the third grabbing hand, I call it.“I think we’re ready for dinner, if everyone’s hungry.”
“Thank goodness.”Paul half-collapses against the chair in the breakfast room.“I was about to die I’m so hungry.”
Most of us laugh, but for a split second, I can tell Cillian’s worried.
“He’s kidding,” I murmur.“He’s just a dramatic kid.”
“Right,” he says.“Yeah, I got that.”
I’ve been spending more and more time with him, but I’ve also been doing it without the kids, mostly.I suppose that will have to change, because it feels like he barely knows them.“Alright, would anyone like to volunteer to give a prayer?”
When no one does, I start the look-around.
In a surprise move, Richard actually offers.“I’ll do it.”He gives a surprisingly good prayer.Not too long, but thoughtful, and he blesses the food, the people present, and then thanks God for all our blessings, including our arrival here in Ireland and the lives we’ve changed for the better.
“What a great way to start Thanksgiving,” I say.
“Mom, you’re not going to make us do the thing, right?”Amelia asks.“Because there’s too many people, and it’s embarrassing.”
“I think that’s preciselywhywe should do it,” I say.“Let’s all load up the kids’ plates, and then we can stand around the kids’ table to name one thing we’re grateful for.”
Caitlin claps.“Oh, good.This is better than turkey.”
“The turkey’s usually pretty good,” Bryce mutters.
“And for those of you who are super sad that there’s no turkey...”I uncover the small platter with the limited leftovers.“In addition to the Irish stew, we have a little bit of turkey from yesterday.”
Bryce cheers, and so does Paul for some reason.I didn’t think Paul even liked turkey.Maybe he’s more influenceable by big boys than I realized.As they go through the line, I help him make up his plate, and he takes two largish pieces.“Are you really going to eat that?”I ask.
He nods.“I promise.”
“You better, because there isn’t much,” I say.
“If he doesn’t, I’ll make sure it doesn’t go to waste.”Mason’s walking along behind Blaine, helping her pick through the line.Like me, not making his plate yet.
It takes a long time with this many people, but we all share something we’re thankful for, and even the kids do a pretty good job.Hannah’s thankful for Sam and her new horse, which isn’t really hers yet.Clara’s thankful for new friends.Blaine’s thankful for Pudge.Amelia’s thankful for her mom, which is nice to hear, and Paul’s thankful for turkey.
That was predictable.
But Mason manages to do alright, too.“I’m thankful for my children and the chance I had to sell my company so I can be here in this new place with them.”
He didn’t even make it awkward.
Cillian says, “I’m thankful for new beginnings and old friends.”
The rest of the gratitude circle goes just as well.
When we finish, the adults all fill their plates and take seats, which is also fairly simple and low-drama.Mason winds up being the second to last person to fill his plate, and I’m right behind him.
“Thanks for helping Blaine,” I say.“That was nice.”He never helped when the kids were younger, but I can appreciate that he’s improving, even if it’s late.
“Of course.”His dimpled smile is still ridiculously handsome.I hate that some people are just effortlessly good-looking, and it always seems to be the bad ones.Of course, Cillian looks like a movie star too, so that’s possibly a red flag.Maybe I need to be looking for the more average-looking guys.If things go bust with Cillian, that may be my new plan.
Cillian has saved me a seat, and once I check on the kids one last time, I fill my own plate and take it.The roll’s still warm, and everyone at the adult table has waited for me to start eating.“You guys shouldn’t have waited,” I say.
Mason tosses his head, and Rían and his date shift down one, letting him have the seat on my other side.Why on earth he wants it, I don’t know.I suppose maybe he’ll feel more comfortable sitting by the only other person he really knows well here.I’m not sure that qualifies as him being on his best behavior, though.
“Of course we waited.We can’t eat before the chef gets here,” Vanessa says.“I feel kind of bad, really.All I made was a pie.”
