Page 12 of Sugar, Sprinkles, and Secrets
Well shit. So much for avoiding the giant elephant—or turkey—in the room. I nod and assure her of course, and she leans back to explain to the table what she would like to do. My brothers and I share glances, but we can do this.
“I’ll start. I’m grateful for the people at this table, especially Dante and Mila. Being your aunt is my greatest honor, and I love you both.” Cara tears up, which causes me to pause—I don’t think I’ve ever seen her cry. It’s not that she’s stoic, she’s just usually very controlled with her emotions. She swipes away a rogue tear and waves it away in front of her face like a pesky fly. “Okay munchkins, what about you? What makes your heart happy? What are you grateful for today?”
“I’m grateful for turkey. So. Much. Turkey!” Dante declares as he stabs another piece and takes a big bite out of it. Cara wasn’t lying—that kid loves his turkey.
“Ha! That’s a wonderful thing to be grateful for, yummy food that helps us be strong and healthy. What about you Mila? What are you thankful for?”
“My turtle nightlight and my purple babydoll.” Mila speaks softly. I know Mila is afraid of the dark, and she has a turtle nightlight that sits on the nightstand between their beds, projecting stars on the ceiling and walls.
“Those are awesome things to be grateful for, baby girl!” Mila preens under Cara’s compliment.
“Thanks, Zia.” I once asked Cara about the Zia nickname and she told me that when Dante was younger, he couldn’t say Auntie Diaz, so he would say Zia and it stuck.
Mila continues, “I’m grateful for Papà too and he makes my heart happy. But sad when he’s gone.” Cara is exceptionally private when it comes to her brother Joe, and I can tell by the panic in her face that she wasn’t expecting Mila to mention him.
“Can she be grateful for him if he isn’t here?” Dante asks Cara as her eyes widen, and she looks at Cami and then me with panic all over her face.
“Of course, buddy,” Cami jumps in. “We can be grateful for people that are right here at this table, or far far away, and even people that we can only carry in our hearts.”
“Like Mommy in heaven?” Mila asks. My dad gives me a look, and I know this is all more than any of us expected to be shared today. I didn’t even know Mila and Dante’s mom was dead.
“Exactly like that. And that’s a great thing to be grateful for, because your mommy loved you very much, and so does your papà.” Cara tries to keep her voice calm, but I can hear the slight waver.
“What makes your heart happy, Cami?” Mila asks and Cara sits back a little in relief at the subject change.
“I’m grateful for new friends that feel like lifelong ones.” She looks up and winks at Cara. “And for new beginnings, and unexpected blessings.”
In a surprising twist, she looks at Chase and smiles—and my brother smiles back at her, quite affectionately in fact.
What the hell? I didn’t think Chase knew Cami before today, but the look they just shared makes me think I’m missing an entire story between the two of them.
“I like that. I’m going to co-sign that I’m grateful for unexpected blessings.” Chase looks around the table. “And I’m grateful for the people at this table, especially my family here today.”
My Uncle Frank nods his head before he speaks. “I sometimes feel guilty about my role in everything, but I’m extremely thankful for my generous nephew Chase, who saved my life.” When Uncle Frank needed a kidney transplant, we were relieved to discover my brother Chase was a match—but no one knew that discovery would open Pandora’s box.
This is dangerous territory any day of the week, but especially today, so I’m adding Tommy to my list of gratitude when he jumps in before that sentence can hang for too long in the air. “I’m grateful that I may finally have an adequate opponent for our annual Mario Kart tournament.”
“What annual Mario Kart tournament?” I ask my brother, because apparently, I’m missing all kinds of things today.
“Well, it’ll be annual after today. The flag drops as soon as the dishes are done, and Dante, you’ve talked a big game for such a short stack, and you are going down, my little friend.” Tommy mock glares at him and Dante returns it with gusto.
“Bring it, old man. You’re going to want an ice pack for the burn I’m about to give you but with my tires.” Okay, so we need to work on his trash talk, but I’m not the only person that busts out laughing at his attempt.
“Now that sounds like a great tradition to kick off this year. And I’m going to co-sign what Cami said. In fact…” My dad clears his throat. “Let’s raise our glasses in a toast, y’all. I suspect everyone at this table knows that sometimes life is hard, and maybe even painful, but the sun will rise in the morning, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to start again. To new beginnings, may each and every one of you know the grace of starting over, the joy of being loved, and take the time to give thanks for the blessings in your life. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!”
Everyone raises and clinks their glasses with each other, and Mila gets a little too zealous with her cheers, but gratefully, her glass is only water—well, now half filled with water.
“And what about you, Max? What are you grateful for?” Cara asks as everyone looks for me to take my turn.
“I am grateful for extraordinary people, and—something I never thought I’d say—today, I’m thankful for broken ovens.” I grin at her, and she smiles broadly in return as the rest of the table laughs.
It’s not our usual Thanksgiving, but it might be my favorite one ever, a fact only solidified after dinner when Dante demolishes Tommy in Mario Kart.
Chapter nine
Wells
What’s the verdict, boys? Did you both have good Thanksgivings with the fam?
