Page 39 of Follow My Heart

“Yes!” Faith cried. Then she ran to get her bag. I told her to pack some extra clothes in case she got dirty playing with her uncles and cousins. Our football games could get a little out of hand.

Last Thanksgiving, I was in a fog, not sure what the next year would bring. But I was slowly emerging from that, seeing things clearly.

I was looking forward to the good things in my future. And I couldn’t wait to spend the day with my family and Violet and George. In no time, we were in the cab of my truck headed toward George’s house.

Even though it was cold this morning, he was waiting for us on his porch. I got out to open the door for him.

“I can handle a door,” George grumbled.

“Happy Thanksgiving.” Nothing was getting me down today. I was spending it with all my favorite people.

“Will there be enough turkey at this place?”

I chuckled. “More than enough. Don’t worry about that. And if we run out, my sister always makes way too many pies.”

“Violet’s bringing ice cream. It’s going to be the best Thanksgiving ever,” Faith singsonged.

George turned around to say, “It sure is, young lady.”

I wondered if George would be down today because his wife wasn’t here to share it with him. But he seemed to perk up when Faith talked to him. I was glad we included Violet and George. I wouldn’t want them to be at a restaurant on a day like today.

At Violet’s, I left the truck idling while I knocked on her door.

She opened it with a big smile, wearing a soft-looking green dress with leggings and knee-high brown boots.

“You look like you’re ready to eat turkey.” She actually looked good enough to eat, but I couldn’t say that to her.

She merely raised her brow.

I offered her my arm. “Are you ready for my crazy family?”

Violet sighed. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready, so let’s just go.”

“Was it just your family when you celebrated in Florida?” I asked her as we covered the distance to my truck.

“My parents, me, and my sister.”

I opened the back door for her so she could sit next to Faith. “Well, prepare to be blown away.”

Then we were headed toward the ice-cream shop where I helped Violet pack cartons of ice cream into a cooler. Then I carried it out to the truck.

“You didn’t have to bring anything, you know.”

“I wanted to.”

Stacy would have bought a bottle of wine or an elaborate gift basket, not something she made. I had to stop comparing the two women. It was only going to get me into trouble.

On the way to the farm, Faith talked about our excursion yesterday.

“You want to get your tree today, George?” I asked him when Faith paused for a breath.

“I haven’t put up a real tree in years. It was just easier to do the artificial one.”

“You’d love a real one. The smell is amazing,” Violet said.

I parked next to the line of Pine Valley Farm trucks and one police cruiser. I helped Faith and Violet get out of the cab, leaving George do it himself. I knew he was too proud to ask for help. Then I snagged the cooler from the back.

When I reached the porch, Faith was talking to Teddy. He was listening with rapt attention to whatever Faith was rambling on about.

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