Benediction

Thanksgiving was a mere week away. Outside through the kitchen window snow could be witnessed falling from the sky, blanketing the ground below it. Lorna Morello smiled at the sight while she finished washing the dishes from supper. This was her favorite time of the year when the weather was chilly and the air smelled like the holidays. She had to start making preparations for this November's Thanksgiving gathering. It was she and Nicky Nichols' first Thanksgiving since being released from Litchfield as well as their first holiday with Lorna's toddler son. Having divorced Vinny prior to leaving prison—fortunately on good terms—they had to come up with a custody agreement regarding eighteen-month-old Sterling Carmine. Lorna ended up getting every four days with him while Vinny kept him on the weekends. Though, he made an exception for Lorna to keep the toddler a few extra days this month due to it being her first holiday season back home with their son.

Lorna was placing the last washed dish into the strainer when the sound of pitter-pattering little feet coming nearer and nearer to her gained her focus. She rapidly turned around and wasn't in the slightest surprised to see it was Sterling who's feet she heard clacking against the tiled-floor. A stuffed animal turkey was cradled in his tiny hands and held up in front of Lorna's eyes. Her smile widened while she scooped him up from the ground, squeezing him close to her chest.

Three months it had been since Lorna and Nicky were released out of Litchfield max and had been settling into their split-house apartment only a few blocks down the street from Lorna's family home. Lorna still was getting used to being a proper mother to her toddler son and relished in each snuggle the two shared. It still sometimes felt surreal. Like this was all just a heavenly dream and one day she'd awaken right back behind bars. When it felt that way to Lorna, she pinched her arm and the pain told her this was much more than a dream. This was her life now.

Lips brushed a tender kiss over the thick curls that spilled from her little boy's scalp. "What a cute little turkey that is, hon. Where'd ya get it, huh?" She questioned, gently moving Sterling's head to stare him ponderously in the eyes. The tiny smile melded onto his cherub face melted her heart and had her combing her fingers through his precious curls. She couldn't get enough of how absolutely adorable her baby boy happened to be. Pictures in prison were one thing but seeing him in person, having the ability to properly hold him—that was priceless. She couldn't put words to it.

"Buhka," the little boy said referring to his adopted grandmother Red, unable to correctly pronounce the Russian name for grandmother due to his still developing vocabulary. He peered back into his mother's eyes and smiled bigger when he saw her smiling. The stuffed turkey toy he gripped in his one hand he lifted it up and pressed it into Lorna's face. "Gawbba gawbba, ma-ma."

Laughing softly, Lorna gave a little kiss to the toy turkey's nose then did the same to Sterling's button nose. His giggle made her embrace him tighter, closer. She tucked his head into the crook of her neck, nuzzling her chin overtop to secure it in place, then walked out of the kitchen towards the living room where she found Nicky and Red sitting on the sofa in the midst of a conversation. Once again the smile on her face only continued to grow. She slid onto the cushion right beside her girlfriend and happily sat listening to the two discuss what ingredients were going to be needed for Thanksgiving dinner.

"You're gonna wanna go either today or tomorrow, Nicky, otherwise the shelves are gonna be empty. Thanksgiving is only a week away now, I told you not to put this off and of course you didn't listen," Red shook her head and wagged her finger at her daughter. Leave it to Nicky to put off Thanksgiving grocery shopping right up to the last week. It didn't entirely surprise her but it did form a dull ache between her temples.

A shrug was given along with a light-hearted chuckle. "What can I say, ma? I like to live dangerously," she remarked, throwing her hands up in the air before grabbing the list of ingredients Red was holding out for her to take. The piece of paper was carefully folded half-over and then placed in the pocket of the sweatpants Nicky was wearing. "I'll go now, okay? And I'll take Sterling so I have some help." Another chuckle made its way out when she made the offer, turning towards Lorna who was holding the very little boy in her lap.