Just a little one-shot in honour of all my American friends celebrating Thanksgiving today. Wish you all the best.
Feeling warm and cozy in her blanket cocoon, Gloria rolled onto her side and stretched her arm across the bed. She frowned as her hand came into contact with nothing but open space, before begrudgingly opening one eye lid so that she could confirm that Red's side of the mattress was vacant. The blanket was pulled back on that side and the pillow was still indented from where her head had lay.
Gloria brought her lips into a pout, as she stroked her hand across the lavender coloured pillowcase that felt cool to the touch and suggested Red had gotten up much earlier than she normally would. Ordinarily, they woke up about the same time together just to have those precious moments alone before they needed to get ready to greet the day. In a tiny apartment with Gloria's two sons, a dog, a cat, and Benny's Bearded Dragon, privacy was hard to come by. Very often it was only the few minutes upon waking and before they fell asleep, that Red and Gloria got to be truly alone.
Annoyed that Red had broke tradition, Gloria sat up in bed and shivered as the air hit her bare shoulders. The apartment wasn't cold, but in November she probably should be dressed in something more warmly than a black tank top and a pair of cotton capri pajama pants. Shrugging at the thought, Gloria wrapped her comforter around her, before swinging her legs off the side of the bed and deciding to go see what her wife was doing.
"Happy Thanksgiving," were Red's first words to her. Gloria walked closer to the table and pulled out the chair next to where Red sat peeling potatoes to fill the largest pot they owned. An only slightly smaller pot was filled to the brim with roundly chopped carrots, while the lettuce and fillings for a Caesar salad lay at the ready.
Taking in the sight of all the food preparations, and Red in the middle of it looking perfectly content when most other people would be stressed, Gloria couldn't help but smile.
"You've been busy, love," Gloria commented, inhaling deeply all the good aromas that were already coming from the kitchen. The countertop was completely buried beneath at least half a dozen pies. She could smell the turkey coming along in the oven and knew Red had to have gotten up at the crack of dawn to accomplish so much already.
Scooting her chair closer to Red's side, Gloria brushed a powdering of flour from her cheek before kissing the same spot. She playfully travelled her lips slowly, to the corner of her mouth, until they overlapped with Red's own, which parted eagerly as they joined together.
"I love you," Gloria smiled, wiping the back of her hand over her own mouth to remove any residue from Red's lipstick.
"And you look so beautiful," Gloria added, as she leaned forward to kiss her way down Red's neck next.
Despite it not even being nine am on a holiday, Red was already dressed up for the day in a pair of black slacks and a red knit sweater. Her hair was brushed and her makeup already applied. She wasn't the sort of woman to take her time getting ready in the morning, whereas Gloria would wear her pajamas all day long if she could get away with it.
The addition of a green Christmas apron protected her clothes, and was one of the subtle signs in their home that she was getting eager for Christmas, even while she insisted they focus on celebrating Thanksgiving first. Red loved the holidays and all the preparations that came with making a day that her family would cherish. This year was especially special. Though she'd been home for a few years now, this was the first Thanksgiving that she and Gloria would be spending together. Julio and Benny hadn't had a holiday with their mom since they were little boys and Red wanted to make it especially memorable for her wife and new stepsons.
With such histories, time together was something none of them would ever take for granted. Sometimes now, life just seemed to be almost too good to be true and Gloria would have to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. It was very real though. She was looking in a little home that was filled with love, happiness, and all the people that mattered most to her. Her sons were thriving in the stability and joy she and Red provided, and they would be leaving in just a few hours to spend the holidays with the enormous family that they had gained. Life was wonderful.
"What else needs to be done?" Gloria asked, planting another kiss on Red's collar bone. "You want help?"
"No," Red answered simply, shaking her head as she looked up from the potatoes to smile at her. "The preparations are almost all done, anyways. Just have to cook it all."
"Uh huh," Gloria nodded, shooting a mischievous look towards the large clock that hung in the living room. "So maybe then you have time to take a break? I mean, we don't have to be at Lida and Vasily's until the afternoon...and the boys aren't awake yet, it you catch my drift."
"They will be any second though," Red protested, reaching for Gloria's hand and placing an apologetic kiss on the top.
"This is what happens when you let me sleep in," Gloria sighed, as she reached up to pull the comforter more tightly around herself.
"I guess I'll just settle for coffee this morning," she relented. "Do you want me to make you a cup?"
"No, thanks," Red shook her head. "But the coffee is already made anyway."
"You're too good to me," Gloria told her, kissing Red's cheek again before she stood up to go pour herself her first cup of the day.
After selecting her favourite mug from the cupboard, Gloria added a generous amount of cream and watched the black coffee lighten several shades, which was how she preferred it. On an impulse, she reached into the sugar bowl they kept next to the coffee maker and added a heaping teaspoon of sweetness. It was a holiday after all, and indulging herself only seemed right.
Clutching her mug in two hands, Gloria carefully shuffled over to the couch with her blanket and curled down on one end. Meow she was instantly greeted and Gloria smiled as her cat, Millie, leaped up onto the arm of the sofa and nuzzled her cheek.
"Good morning to you too," Gloria murmured, scratching the calico cat behind the ears. "I was wondering where you were hiding."
"She's been pestering me all morning," Red called over from the table. "Kept trying to jump up on the table where I'm preparing food. I don't know who would think that's acceptable."
"Well, it's not like I encourage it," Gloria replied, as she stroked the feline's furry cheek. "I think she just happens to enjoy the view from there. She likes places up off the floor where she can watch all the action. Maybe we should get her one of those cat trees?"
"Where would we put it?" Red asked in disbelief.
"I don't know," Gloria shrugged, peering around the small living area. "Maybe in front of the window? Then she could watch the traffic go by a little better."
It was true that there wasn't exactly much room available to them. For a family of four, the two-bedroom apartment was small but Red made them keep everything so neat and organized that the place never felt crowded, just friendly and warm. The living room and kitchen were small and adjoined, and there was a narrow hall that led down to their bedroom, the boys' room, and a single bathroom. Gloria loved it there though. It was home.
"That's where the Christmas tree needs to go," Red replied, peering over at her. "But...maybe, Santa can bring her one. So long as we wait until after Christmas to set it up."
"Whatever works," Gloria smiled. She took a large sip and then set it down on the coffee table. "We should go pick out our tree in a couple of weeks. Julio wanted to know if we could go to this farm just a short drive out of the city so he could cut one down himself. They never got to do that sort of thing before."
"I like that idea," Red replied, as Gloria's lips twisted in confliction.
There were a lot of things her sons had not gotten to experience and she had missed out on doing with them because she hadn't been around. They had so much time to try and make up for now and she was just grateful for the opportunity. Her sons still loved her, they had forgiven her for the past, and they were all working towards a better future. Gloria thought they were happy.
"We should take Alexei and Vera with us," Red added with a smile, referencing her grandchildren.
"Take them where?" a tired voice asked, and Julio yawned as he emerged from the hallway, already dressed in a hoodie and a pair of blue jeans. The dog padded into the room at his feet.
"To the Christmas tree farm," Red replied.
"Oh yeah," Julio brightened as he walked over and plopped himself down on the sofa next to his mother. "They do horse drawn sleigh rides there, so they'll love that, and Lida will probably be glad to have a break from them. When is she due again?"
"Not for another week officially, but the baby could come anytime now," Red replied excitedly, just as Benny staggered into the room. He was dressed in pajama pants and a ratty old t-shirt Gloria wouldn't let him wear in public, but which he still insisted on keeping. In his hand was his pet bearded dragon.
"I was talking to her on the phone this morning," Red told them. "She's getting antsy, poor thing. She was up at five am scrubbing the floor on her hands and knees because she couldn't sleep."
"That's a sign," Gloria said knowingly.
"A sign of what? OCD?" Benny asked grumpily, as he walked over to the kitchen. He frowned when Red reached out her arm to halt his progress.
"What?" he complained.
"You're not bringing that reptile into the kitchen," Red told him. "I have food out."
"She needs breakfast," Benny told her. "And she's probably cleaner than the dog and the cat."
"I don't care," Red replied, wrinkling her nose. "It's still creepy."
She rolled her eyes as Benny patted his reptile protectively on the head. Leaning forward, she ripped off a leaf from the bundle of lettuce on the table. "Will this do?"
"Yep, thanks," he replied. Then, much to Red's disdain, he pulled out a chair and sat down at the table before shredding a piece of the lettuce leaf and offering it to his pet to nibble.
"I'm hungry," he announced.
"Fix yourself some cereal," Gloria told him absentmindedly, as she stroked her kitten under the chin.
"I don't want cereal," Benny replied. He glanced over to the kitchen and then back toward Red with his eyebrows raised imploringly. "Can I have a piece of pie for breakfast?"
"No," Red told him automatically. She didn't skip a beat as she flicked a long peel into the discard pile on the table and then tossed the potato into the pot.
"Why not?" Benny asked.
"Because those are for dessert," Red replied, as she reached for another potato from the bag.
"I'll still eat dessert, if that's what you're worried about," Benny assured her.
"You can't cut into the pies before we even get them to Vasily's," Red said sternly. "That would just look wrong."
"How is it wrong?" Benny asked. "If anything, I think it would be a fine recommendation. Galina's raspberry pie is so delicious, I couldn't resist eating a piece right away."
Red looked up and tilted her head at him. "I thought blueberry was your favourite."
"No," Benny shook his head. "I like raspberry."
"Oh," Red replied. She looked around at Julio. "Is blueberry your favourite?"
"No, Ma, I like apple," Julio replied. "Remember from last Christmas?"
"Right," Red nodded, looking bothered. "Well, I made two apples. I thought somebody liked blueberry."
"Maybe it was your own sons?" Benny suggested, as he snuck his hand into the pot of carrots Red had already sliced. Trying his best to look innocent, he casually held out the piece of carrot for his Bearded Dragon to sample next.
"No," Red shook her head. "They all like Lemon Meringue.
"Nicky?" he guessed next.
"No," Red shook her head. "She and Lorna requested the Coconut Cream one when I asked them last week. I'm sorry, Benny..."
"Well, it's no big deal," Benny assured her. "I like Apple and Coconut Cream, so I'll be good with either of those."
"I can still make a raspberry," Red told him. "I have a little dough left over in the fridge so it's no trouble."
"Don't spoil him, Galina!" Gloria exclaimed. "You made like half a dozen pies, I think we'll all be satisfied."
"I needed someone to go to the store for me anyway," Red insisted, shooting Gloria a look. "I need cornstarch for the gravy. Somehow, I forgot to buy some when I was there yesterday. So, Benny, if you'll get dressed and go buy me the cornstarch and a raspberry pie filling soon, I'll have plenty of time to make it before we have to leave for Thanksgiving."
"You don't have to," Benny mumbled, reddening slightly at the trouble she was willing to go to just to ensure he got his favourite flavour of pie on Thanksgiving. It touched him but he was uncomfortable that anybody would think he was worth such a fuss. He still wasn't used to all that attention.
"I want to," Red told him, with an understanding smile. She nodded at his reptile. "Just make sure you lock that thing well up in its cage before you go. We don't need another escape."
"I prefer to think of it more as an adventure," Benny told her, as he sprung up to his feet and turned to go return his reptile to the habitat he kept in his bedroom.
"Julio, maybe you could go with your brother?" Red suggested casually, her eyes focused on the potato and knife she was holding. "Give the dog a good walk since we'll be gone until late probably."
"Yeah, I can do that," Julio nodded.
"Thank you," Red told him, as she finished peeling and slicing the final potato and then stood up. She carried the vegetable pots over to the sink to fill them with water and then set them on the stove to boil. She opened the over door to check on the Turkey and then baste it slightly. Everything was coming along and nobody would have ever known that she had been prepping all morning, since she tidied up after herself as she went. All that was left to prepare was the salad and her homemade gravy once the turkey was finished roasting.
"That smells really good," Benny told her, as he came back into the kitchen in a pair of jeans and a warm navy sweater.
"Maybe just a half an hour more," Red said, more to herself than him as she turned down the temperature slightly. "I want it a perfect golden brown before I take it out."
"Well, perfection can't be rushed," Benny laughed, as he went over to the front door to put his boots and coat on. Julio was already dressed and waiting for him. The dog's leash was on and he was sitting obediently at Julio's feet.
"I need money," Benny reminded them.
"Here," Gloria rolled her eyes, as she walked over to the hall closet where she kept her purse. Rummaging through all the stuff inside it, she dug for awhile until she pulled out her wallet.
"All I have is a twenty," she told him, handing it over. "So, bring me back my change."
"Will do," Benny replied sarcastically. "See you!"
As soon as the door had shut behind her boys, Gloria walked around into the kitchen and pulled her wife into her arms. She buried her face against Red's neck, squeezing her tightly as they stood there together. Swaying slightly on the spot.
"You are so good to them," Gloria whispered, her appreciation displaying as tears in her eyes. "I love you."
"I love you too," Red replied. She nudged Gloria under the chin with her finger until she was looking at her, giving Red easy access to her lips.
"I love you so much that I sort of had some ulterior motives just now," Red added.
"Oh?" Gloria whispered, before joining their lips together once more. "And what does that mean?"
"Just that we're alone...the boys just left…" Red said casually, smiling as she watched the corners of Gloria's mouth twitch. "I think we can bank on at least fifteen minutes…"
"Twenty if we're lucky," Gloria smiled.
Thanks for reading!
