Toxic

Chapter 23

Thanksgiving Day

It was six in the morning, and Denver was already up prepping for the day. Althea and Saint were up and on their way over, and so was CJ. She walked around the kitchen in her bonnet and an all black sweatsuit sheathed her body, her house slippers covered her feet. She was currently chopping up onion and bell pepper, which she was sure they would use in multiple dishes today.

In the middle of cutting her third onion, she heard what sounded like her front door opening. It was confirmed when her security alarm announced that the front door was open

"Monaeeeee" 

"Mamaaaaa"

Althea walked into the kitchen with Saint and surprisingly CJ in tow. They each had bags of groceries in each hand, while Saint and CJ carried tired facial expressions.

"Too damn early for all that hollin" Saint grumbled as he took a seat at the island.

CJ said nothing as he placed the bags he carried onto the counter and walked back out of the kitchen. "I know damn well" Denver mumbled placing the knife down on the cutting board. She washed and dried her hands off before leaving out the kitchen to find him. Hearing him shuffle around in her living room, she walked in to see him getting comfortable on the sectional.

"So is that how you come up in here? No good morning?"

With red eyes, he looked over at her and held one of his hands out. Walking closer to him, he placed his hand on her hip and sat up.

"What's wrong" 

"Nothing, come here" She rolled her eyes as she leaned down to give him the kiss he wanted.

"Good morning love" He kissed her again "I missed you"

"Mmm, I missed you too. When did you get a haircut? You look so good"

The two of them were getting closer, and their situationship was progressing more each day. With the help of her therapist, Denver was becoming a better version of herself and she was so thankful for that.

"Thank you baby, I went yesterday before that motherfuckers closed his shop."

"Well you thank him for me the next time you see him, I almost wanna eat you up"

With a light laugh, he nodded his head and returned to his previous position. Denver frowned her face up slightly, but decided she would press the issue later since they had so much food to cook. They had invited over 30 people over for dinner and she was definitely regretting it.

"See you two getting pretty close" Althea said as she walked back into the kitchen. Denver rolled her eyes at her mother and started cutting up her vegetables again.

"You so damn nosey, worry 'bout this here food thats supposed to be filling my belly"

"Stay out of our conversation Saint"

Denver tossed one of her AirPods into her ear, pressing play on the Heaux Tales, she tuned both her mother and father out. After she finished cutting her onion and bell pepper, she moved on to seasoning her meat. Althea was cutting three bunches of collard greens, and Saint was taking advantage of his seat as he sat twiddling his thumbs watching the women move about in the kitchen.

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As it approached 2pm the dressing, collard greens, dressing, candied yams, Mac& cheese, green beans & potatoes, deviled eggs, ham, cornbread, oxtails, and turkey wings had all been finished. The only thing left to do was fry the chicken, and Saint was deep frying the turkey. Althea had spent the day before making all the sweets you could ever imagine, she was glad she went ahead and brought those over before today.