Page 18 of A Little Thankful

“I’d like to date them while we’re waiting,” I told her.

“Date? You want to date them? All three of them?” my dad looked like he might self-destruct.

“Kids these days,” my grandfather said. “They got their own rules. Very different than when I was growing up. You should relax, Vernon. You might pop a vein or something. Then what?”

“Then, I’d be dead and I wouldn’t have to see all this,” Dad said. “I wouldn’t have to know that my sweet daughter is some kind of… I don’t even know what she is.” He sat next to Sami on a bar stool.

“She’s a mother and mother’s get respect,” Grandpa said. “And she’s the mother of your beautiful grandchild and my great grandchild. I didn’t think that would happen while I was still alive, but it did, and I’m thankful. That’s what I am. Thankful.”

I went over to him and gave him a big hug. “Thank you, Grandpa. I love you.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart, and that baby of yours. I love her too.”

“I can’t accept this. I’m just not ready. I don’t know what to think,” my dad groused.

“You think too much, Vernon. You over-think everything. Take a breath,” Grandpa told him. “Relax. Let’s hear what these kids have to say.”

“All done,” Dr. Charles said as she walked back into the kitchen. “If everything goes right, you should have the results before Thanksgiving. I’ll call you when I get them, Sage. Have a nice Thanksgiving, everyone.”

“I’ll see you out,” my mother said, and followed Dr. Charles to the front door.

“Wow… three baby daddies,” Sami said. “I never would’ve thought you were so cool.”

“Yeah, who knew, right?” I told her. “Not that I’m condoning it.”

Sami folded her arms across her chest. “Never.”

“Never,” I repeated, but my smirk already showed.

“It’s been a long day. I should be going,” Hunter said, as he smiled at my family.

“Probably a good idea,” my father said.

“Good to see you, Mr. Pilgrims, Hank, Sylvia and Sami. I’m sure I’ll see you all again, soon.”

“I’m sure you will,” my grandfather said, grinning like this was way too much fun.

“I’ll walk you out,” I told him, hoping Mace and Forrest would join us. “Long day for me too. Autumn gets up early.”

“I have to be up at four. Better head on home. Nice seeing everybody.” Mace said, getting the hint.

“Yeah, nice,” Forrest mumbled to my family. Then he turned to Mace. “You really get up that early?”

“Every morning. Have to. Those desserts don’t bake themselves,” Mace said, and they started a conversation about the difficulties of running a bakery.

I led them to the front door expecting to see my mom, but she’d disappeared along with Dr. Charles, who was probablydriving home by now. Hunter opened the door and we all stepped outside.

“I want to thank you for taking the news so well, today, and for showing up for me when my family had a meltdown,” I said, closing the door behind me.

“I think they took the news well,” Forrest said. He still seemed kind of nervous about the whole thing. Like he truly loved the idea of being a father, but he didn’t know if my family would accept him.

“Better than expected,” Mace added, looking amazing in the moonlight.

“The jury’s still out on my father’s acceptance of all of this,” I added, feeling bad about his reaction.

“You might want to give him a break,” Hunter said. “You’re his sweet baby girl. His little princess, and he has to accept that you slept with three guys in a very short period of time. I don’t think his mind could even entertain the fact that you also slept with those three guys at the same time, in one bed. That’s a lot for a dad to accept. He’ll come around. You dad’s a good fair man. He just needs a little time.”

“Yeah, like for the rest of my life,” I told him. “I can’t see him ever accepting this. My mom… she’s just happy to have a grandchild. And my grandparents, they seem more open minded than I ever thought they would be.”

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