Thanksgiving

Chapter 7

I feel the bed dip and then feel lots of little movements before I feel tiny fingers lifting my eyelid. "Mama? Are you awake?" asks Ted.

"No, I'm not," I smile.

"Then why are you talking?"

I pretend to snore. Loudly. I hear two giggles and I open my eyes to see my children sitting beside me. They are the most beautiful beings on the entire planet. I love them with every ounce of my being. I grab them both and squeeze them to me in a giant bear hug. "I love you two so much!" I say between them.

"Love you mama," says Phoebe. "I go find daddy." She scoots her princess-pajama-clad body off the giant bed. The fact that this bed is on a platform and up higher than most doesn't faze her at all. In a flash she's running out the door.

"Ted, go after your sister and help her down the stairs. Do you know where your daddy is?" I ask.

"No, he was in my bedroom with Mr. Taylor measuring the windows." He says.

"Measuring the windows?"

"Yes. I pretended I was asleep but I was watching them through my squinty eyes." He says.

"Your squinty eyes?" I ask.

Ted wrinkles his nose and squints his eyes. "Squinty eyes." He says.

I purse my lips for a kiss and am treated to a big wet one before he gets down from the bed and goes off to find his sister.

I look to Christian's side of the bed and can tell he has been there - as his pillow is nearly hanging off the edge of the bed. Phoebe has a tendency to take up most of the super-king sized bed when she's with us so he knows to just give her space or risk getting a foot in his back.

The clock reads 8am so I use the restroom, shower, and dress quickly in a v-neck ribbed sweater that hangs just below my bottom, a pair of tight black leggings with a lace trim around the ankle, and my black ballet flats. I step out into the hallway just as Mrs. Taylor is stepping out of Phoebe's room. I can tell she's been crying. "Gail! What's wrong?"

I can tell she's embarrassed to have been spotted in this state and turns her head. "Nothing, Mrs. Grey. I'll be fine," she says sniffling.

"Oh no you're not," I say to her grabbing her arm. I honestly don't believe I've ever seen her cry before. I also can't remember ever having touched her other than in passing before. Her arms are firm with muscle that I can feel through her uniform shirt. Wow! I need to remember to stay on this woman's good side. "What is wrong?"

"Oh Mrs. Grey, I was just speaking with Mr. Taylor. We're not going on our vacation anymore," she sniffs. "I know this shouldn't be such a big deal but I was so looking forward to getting away. Nothing against you or Mr. Grey or the children. I love all of you. I was just looking forward to our trip."

"Wait, why aren't you going on your trip all of a sudden?" I ask having a feeling I know the answer.

"He says he's needed here to help with security," she sniffs.

"But Sawyer is coming today. We'll be fine. He knows what to do," I say. "And if anything, Christian has other people available for security. I want you to go on that trip!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Grey. But he's already canceled our flight," she says.

"Is this Jason's idea or Christian's?" I ask curiously.

"I don't know, ma'am. I think Jason's," she says.

"Well don't you unpack just yet. Let me talk to Mr. Grey," I say as I give her a one-sided hug and walk down the hall to find Christian.