Thanksgiving in Brooklyn
Chapter 1
(Two weeks before Thanksgiving)
"You know, Thanksgiving is coming up," Frank called from the bathroom.
"Yes," Adriana acknowledged.
"You're coming for dinner?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Not if Pop has his way."
"Frank-"
Frank brushed his teeth, and made his way over to the bathroom door. He glanced at Adriana who was seated at her furniture piece called a vanity brushing her hair. He walked over to her and stood behind her. Taking the brush from her hand, he started brushing. "Aid, how long have we been dating?"
"Two years, one month, "she answered as she closed her eyes. She loved it when Frank brushed her hair.
"And don't you think it's time you come and spend Thanksgiving with us? And don't give me that bullshit about disappointing your parents. Pop will invite them too."
"Oh, Lord," she groaned. "That's a disaster waiting to happen. The former PC, the current PC, me, the Judge, the DA, the Assistant DA, and Mr. Criminal Defense. Dinner will be ruined before we even get to the salad."
"Ok, so maybe it's not such a good idea. But if you don't come, Pop will be very disappointed." He set the brush on the tabletop and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Besides," he whispered, "Pop's planning on making you something special since you don't eat meat."
"I eat turkey."
"Think about it?"
"I'll think about it."
"Good. Come to bed, Aid."
(Sunday before Thanksgiving)
"So, I made reservations for 2:00 for Thursday. That will give us enough time to get through the parade traffic and here," Maria announced.
"2 is perfect, Maria," Gabriel reassured as he stirred his Bloody Mary. "2 is fine, isn't it, Aid?"
"Fine," Adriana mumbled, as she sipped her coffee."
"Something wrong, Bambina?" Gabriel asked. He studied his daughter's face. Something was bugging her.
"Frank is insisting that I come for dinner on Thursday. And he and Henry won't take no for an answer."
"And you don't want to go."
"If it were just Frank and Henry, it would not be a problem. But, Erin will be there and she hates me."
"Daughters are hard sometimes," Maria observed.
"I'm not trying to replace Mary! Frank and I haven't even talked about getting married. We like things just as they are. Besides, I was married once. It sucked."
"Adriana!"
"I'm sorry, Mama, but it did. It was the worst five years of my life."
"So, why not do this? Go to dinner but leave early so you and Frank can have dinner with us?"
Adriana eyed her father. "Will you promise to be nice and stop with the 'don't you dare hurt my little girl' BS?"
"I promise I won't say a thing to Frank."
Adriana looked at her mother. "And you'll promise not to embarrass me?"
"I would never do that, Aid."
'Yeah, right,' Adriana thought. She sighed. "Ok, I'll ask him."
"2:00," Maria reminded.
Adriana took a big sip of her Bloody Mary. She hoped she could trust her parents to behave.