Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 45 - Thanksgiving Again

Jessie paced the floor in the middle of the Abernathy's living room on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Two-and-a-half year old Melody was with her, playing on the floor, but the rest of the family was busy elsewhere in the house. It was threatening to rain outside, but company was expected and she was anxious for them to arrive.

"Where are they, Papa?" Jessie asked when Greg came upstairs to check on her.

"They will be here when they get here, Jessie," Greg told her. "There has been heavy fog in places along the coast. It is probable their flight has been delayed. We want them to be safe, don't we?"

Jessie nodded. She flopped down on the sofa with a frown. "It is so hard to wait."

"The wait would probably go by faster if you were busy," Greg said.

"I've done my homework ... all of it. My report on the Revolutionary War is ready for Monday," Jessie told him.

"Then why don't you help Mama in the kitchen?" Greg suggested. "She is making pies for tomorrow, for Thanksgiving. I'm sure she could use your assistance in making them."

"I'd just be in the way," Jessie said.

"Melody would be in the way, however I suspect you could actually help, if you tried," Greg said.

Jessie regarded him doubtfully.

"Ask her, Jessie," Greg advised. "Mama is trying to prepare for Thanksgiving by herself this year. Nobody has been able to come early to help her. I expect she would probably appreciate it if you learned things so you could help."

"Is it because Grandma isn't here?" Jessie asked.

"Yes. Normally Mama and her mother make preparations together," Greg reminded her. "This year she is trying to do it alone."

"Okay," Jessie said and she reluctantly left Greg and Melody in the living room to go to the kitchen.

"I thought you were waiting for Grandpa Bobby, Ruth and Reuben to get here," Susan commented when Jessie joined her in the kitchen.

"I was, but it's taking too long. Papa thinks I should stay busy so the time will go faster," Jessie said.

"That sounds like a very good idea. Would you like to help me make a pie?" Susan asked.

"What kind of pie?" Jessie asked.

"I thought we'd make apple this year," Susan told her.

"That's Grandpa Bobby's favorite kind," Jessie told her.

"I know, that's why I decided we should make one," Susan said. "I have the apples peeled already. Can you help me cut them up to make the filling?"

"Okay. What do I do?" Jessie said.

Greg came to stand in the doorway of the kitchen to watch them. Mother and daughter were working together to make an apple pie for Mr. Simms for Thanksgiving. After spending nearly five months away, living in Oakland, Jessie's great-grandfather was coming to live with them again for the rest of the year.

"Papa," Melody said as she came to find him.

"Hello, Melody," Greg said. "Would you like to help too?"

"Help?" Melody said.

"Susan, do you have something Melody could do?" Greg asked.

Susan got a step stool and an apron for her youngest daughter then stood her at the end of the counter near where she was working with Jessie to cut up the apples. Susan gave her a bowl and a bit of flour with a wooden spoon and Melody did her best to copy Jessie, who was stirring flour into the cut up apples in her bowl. Greg smiled as he watched, remembering how Susan once did the same thing with Jessie, long ago in a kitchen far away while preparing for another holiday.