"You don't celebrate Thanksgiving?"
"I'm not American, and therefore do not celebrate Thanksgiving."
That was the argument Robert had used against celebrating Thanksgiving. He was wrong of course; you didn't have to be American to eat a shit ton of food and hang out with family. Okay granted my family was in Chicago and Los Angeles and we couldn't all meet up this year to celebrate, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be a feast.
I convinced Robert to come over to my place so we could enjoy the holiday together. He had never been to a real Thanksgiving dinner, so I promised him I would provide the necessities if he provided the alcohol; he said he'd be at my place at two.
It was currently 1:46 and I was running around my house like a madwoman trying to get everything ready. Emily's plans for Thanksgiving fell through, so I invited her to our impromptu meal as well, to which she happily agreed to share with us. However, my plans for the day were slowly falling apart: I forgot to defrost the turkey, the dishwasher stopped working, and something on the stove was smoking.
"Jesus Liza, what are you doing?" Emily screeched as she ran into the kitchen to calm the smoking pot. "Why aren't you wearing any pants?"
In my haste to get everything ready, I might've forgotten to put pants on and was running around in an oversized t-shirt.
"I'm working on it," I whined, cranking the temperature for the oven to try and cook the turkey quicker.
"What the hell were you trying to cook here?" Emily asked in distaste as she scraped the concoction into the bin.
"Mashed potatoes," I said sheepishly. Emily glared.
"I'll remake them, you just keep an eye on the green bean casserole."
"Aye aye captain," I said with a grin and a salute.
My mom had taught me the secret to great green bean casserole when I was younger, and I had been making it for every Thanksgiving since. If everything were to go up in flames, I would make sure the green bean casserole survived. The oven beeped as someone knocked on the door.
"Could you get that?" I asked as I removed the casserole from the oven and cleared space for it on the counter.
"I'm kind of busy," Emily said, motioning to the food she was making.
I wiped my hands on a dishtowel and scowled all the way to the door. My mood instantly turned up when I saw Robert standing in the doorway, sporting jeans, a shirt and tie, and a tan blazer.
"So it's that kind of meal," he smirked, looking at my bare, pants-less legs.
I smacked his chest and grabbed the paper bag filled with alcohol he was holding, clutching it to my chest as I led the way to the kitchen.
"Our guest is here," I announced, after setting down the bag and pulling out a bottle of champagne.
Emily turned around from her work and blushed. "Hi Robert." Hmm.
"Hey Emily," Robert greeted, pulling her in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Emily stood immobile for a moment, before I cleared my throat and she quickly turned to continue cooking. I crossed my arms and tapped my foot, earning a chuckle from Robert.
"C'mere," he said, opening his arms for me.
I crossed the room and leaped into his arms, squealing when he lifted me off the ground in a hug. "Hi Robert," I laughed as soon as he put me down.
"Hey Liza," he returned, pressing his lips to mine.
I smiled into the kiss and pecked his lips several times before Emily cleared her throat. "Jesus get a room," she laughed. "Eliza, go put on grownup clothes."
I groaned and pulled away from Robert. "I'll be back in a sec."
I walked to my room and shut the door behind me. What to wear, what to wear? I searched through my closet and pulled out a pink surplice top I had just gotten from Urban Outfitters. I pulled it on over my head and rummaged through my drawers for a pair of black skinny jeans. I put the whole outfit together with a pendant necklace one of my sisters had gotten me for getting into med school. I swiped on some mascara, fluffed up my hair, and left my room.
I entered the kitchen to see Emily with a spoon in one hand and a glass of wine in the other laughing hysterically at something Robert had said. Another bad joke I assume.
"Okay, so can we eat now?"
"I don't think I'm ever going to eat again," Robert groaned.
"Me either. Too much pie," I replied with a groan.
"I could go for more food." Emily piped in. Robert and I looked at her as if she had grown wings.
Thanksgiving was a feast, and feast we did. I don't think I've ever had so much wine and pie in one sitting, and now I was suffering for it, on the verge of puking. Robert seemed to have enjoyed himself, which I was pleased about, but he too fell to the Thanksgiving spirit and ate too much as well.
Robert and I were currently strewn across the couch, his head resting on my stomach as I combed my fingers through his hair. Emily was snuggled into our large armchair, a glass of wine in her hand and a smile on her face. An American football game was on TV, as part of the tradition. I wasn't a big fan of football, and neither was Emily, but Robert seemed pleased so we left it.
I was dangerously close to going into a food coma, and against my better judgment, I shut my eyes. I was instantly asleep, and was thrown into a mix-match of dreams. I snuggled further into the couch when I felt a pair of lips press against my neck and then my nose.
Much too soon for my liking, my eyes fluttered open. I glanced around the room and noticed it was now dark outside. I looked over to the armchair to see Emily snoring away. Robert was still basically on top of me, his head now resting on my chest instead of my stomach. I didn't want to move him, but I really needed to pee.
As quietly and gently as possible, I shifted out from underneath his body and rushed to the bathroom. On my way back to the living room, I stopped and grabbed another slice of pie. Oh what the hell, one more piece won't kill me. I sat down in front of the couch and grabbed the remote, changing the station from the football game to the Discovery Channel; who doesn't want to learn about penguins?
I watched the penguin show for a couple of minutes before I heard something vibrating on the coffee table. I lunged for my phone before it could wake everyone up and quickly answered.
"Hello?" I whispered into the phone as I tiptoed out of the room and into my room.
"Eliza? It's Kathy." The voice on the other end spoke.
"Well hello dearest sister," I chuckled, sprawling out on my bed.
"How're things?" She asked, a loud bang sounding in the background. "Sorry, that was Nathan."
Nathan was my sister's two-year-old son, and man was he a menace.
"Um they're okay. I had dinner with Emily and my boyfriend." Boyfriend? Was Robert my boyfriend?
"Boyfriend? Eliza, what the fuck have you been doing?" Kathy asked seriously.
I cringed. "Yeah, we actually work together. His name is Robert," I said, not giving much away.
"That's it? What's he like? Does he treat you well?" Here she goes.
"Yes he treats me well, Jesus you sound like mom." I chuckled. "Well, what can I say about Robert? He's tall, Australian, blond, and gorgeous," I said, pretending I was a preteen girl. I heard Kathy laugh and giggled along with her. "He's incredibly sweet, caring, intelligent, but don't let him tell you a joke, they're really bad."
"He seems great, Eliza. I'm sorry but I've got to run, Nathan got into the cranberry sauce. Love you! Here's Meg!" With that, Kathy was gone and I was put on hold.
I pulled my phone away from my ear and checked the time, 6:12. I heard the floor creak, signaling either Chase or Emily were awake. The phone crackled and I was taken off hold.
"Eliza! How are you?" Meg gushed into the phone enthusiastically.
I rolled my eyes and sat up. "Hello Megan. How's Cameron?"
Cameron was her fiancée of two years. You'd think they'd elope already, but nope, they had to be married at the perfect time at the perfect place, even if that meant waiting two years. Between Kathy's husband, Michael, and Cameron, Cameron was my favorite. Michael was a great guy; he took care of Kathy and Nathan and loved them unconditionally. Cameron, on the other hand, kept Meg grounded. Meg was everywhere at once, always wanting to do something new or different. Cameron kept her sane and I admired that.
"Oh Cameron's great, still dark and brooding." She said as I chuckled.
"Everything good with work?" I asked, twirling a piece of hair around my finger.
"Yep, work's good. I'm actually on a really big case right now. It's the third day of trial tomorrow, I can't really tell you anymore about it though. How's school going?" She asked sounding distracted by something.
"It's good. I've been working at a hospital near Princeton for this nutcase named Doctor House. He's an ass, but I love my job and my team is pretty cool."
"That sounds great. I actually have to go, but here's mom!" Meg said, handing the phone off.
"Eliza, honey?"
My throat tightened. "Hi mom," I said. "What're you doing in Los Angeles?"
"Oh the girls invited me down for Thanksgiving," she replied.
"That sounds like fun," I said, trying to keep my voice even.
"I miss you sweetheart," she said sadly.
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself not to cry. I hadn't seen my mother in over a year; stuff with school had gotten too complicated and I could never manage to see her. The guilt I felt about it ate away at me, and now I felt it weighing down on me again. I was so close to her in Chicago, but I couldn't will myself to see her after what happened, I didn't want her to hear about that or see what a mess I was.
I sniffed and gathered my wits. "I miss you too mom. So much."
I heard a knock on the door and pulled the phone away from my ear, holding it against my chest. "I'll be out in a second!"
"Eliza, who was that?" She asked worriedly.
"It's nothing. I have to go mom. I'll see you soon. I love you."
"I love you too."
With that I hung up and tossed my phone on the bed. I rushed over to the mirror to assess the damage of the call. My makeup wasn't running, my eyes weren't red, but I was flushed. I fanned my face and walked to open the door, a smiling Emily greeting me on the other side.
"Oh there you are. Did you fall asleep again?" She teased as I stepped into the hallway.
"No," I said a little too forcefully. "I was on the phone with Kathy, Meg, and then my mom."
She nodded and pulled me in for a hug. "Is everything alright?"
I pulled away and mustered a smile. "Yeah, everything's great."
"Well, I'm going to change into comfier clothes so I can eat my second dinner and not hate myself."
I giggled. "I'll do that too."
Emily turned and walked towards her room, while I retraced my steps and walked back to my room. I wriggled out of my skin-tight jeans and pulled my shirt over my head; the big t-shirt was making a reappearance.
After I finished changing, I walked back to the living room and saw Robert sitting on the couch, tapping away at his phone. He glanced up when the sound of my camera going off announced my presence.
"I was just going to start cleaning up, if you wanted anything else." I said, leaning against the doorframe and motioning towards the kitchen.
"I'll help," he said, standing up and tucking his phone into his pocket.
"You really don't have to," I said quickly, following him into the kitchen.
"I want to," he said, grabbing a plate and turning the sink on.
I huffed and began to clear the table. Soon, we got into the routine that Robert would wash the dishes, and I would dry. Something about wet, dirty food grossed me out, so I would squeal whenever Robert would rub my hand or dip my hand in the soapy water.
"What are you two up to?" Emily asked, walking in about fifteen minutes later. "I see you did the dishes."
"I should actually head home," Robert said, drying his hands on the towel.
"I'll walk you out," I said, watching Robert hug Emily. I met Robert in the entranceway moments later, a frown etched on my face.
"What's wrong?" He asked as I stepped into his awaiting arms.
I said nothing for a moment, enjoying Robert's arms around me. "I don't want you to go."
"Then I won't go." He said simply, a smile making its way onto his face. He pressed his lips to my forehead. "I'm not going anywhere."