A Reason to Give Thanks
Chapter 4 by Sharon
For disclaimers, notes, and authors, see part one.
*
"Wait!"
"Donna," Josh whined. "What now? I would like to, you know, eat while it's still Thanksgiving and the food is actually hot."
"We need to say thanks before we eat."
"We've already had the soup. Can't this wait until after we've eaten?"
Ignoring his wishes, Donna continued, "Josh, do you want to start?"
"Donna," Josh continued to whine.
"Joshua," Donna mimicked, "We have to say thanks Josh; it's Thanksgiving. You don't have anything to be thankful for?" Donna pouted.
"I have plenty to be thankful for," he said sincerely, but then added, "And I'll have even more to be thankful for after I've finished eating."
Donna chose to disregard Josh's whinging and instead turned to Sam. "Sam, why don't you start?"
"Um, well… I'm thankful for absent friends and for the new, and wonderful additions that are about to grace our presence," Sam smiled, thinking of Toby and Andi."I'm thankful for Grandma Hayes Pumpkin Soup and Donna, for her culinary skills, for making this delicious food," Ainsley stated, while Donna beamed as everyone agreed, and Josh gave her a proud look.
"Surprise, surprise, she's thankful for food," Sam muttered good-naturedly, looking at said pumpkin soup and silently cursing Kellie, the food technician.
"I'm thankful for my Pulitzer," Danny piped up.
CJ smack him over the head. "You can't be thankful for that."
"Why not?"
"Because you won it three years ago. You have to say thanks for something that happened this year, fish boy."
"CJ, it's a hard prize to win, I'll be thankful for that for years to come," he defended with a grin. CJ glared at him while others at the table couldn't stop themselves from chuckling. "Actually," Danny said after the chuckles died down, "I'm grateful for goldfish crackers and Gail."
CJ blushed. Sam grinned looking at a confused Ainsley, "I'll explain later," he said in her ear. Donna had to kick Josh under the table to restrain him from making the comment she knew was on the brink of his tongue.
"Ow!" All eyes turned on Josh as he stuttered through an explanation. "I, well… I hit my knee against the table," he finished lamely, glaring at Donna. "What the hell was that for?" he whispered fiercely in her ear, once everyone turned their attention back to a still blushing CJ.
"To stop you from being you," she smiled sweetly. Josh gave her a petulant look to show he wasn't amused.
"I guess I should go next. Well, first, I'm thankful that the Idiot Twins here, managed to stay out of trouble--"
A chorus of "Hey!" interrupted CJ as both Sam and Josh housed looks usually held by four year old boys being told off for stealing candy.
"More importantly though," she continued, raising her glass to toast, "I'm thankful for second chances and four more years."
"Me now," Donna grinned, "First, I would like to thank Josh for the use of his kitchen—and while were at it, why do you have such a well equipped kitchen? That kitchens a work of art Josh, and you don't cook."
"Well, I'm gonna have a wife someday," he shrugged. A comment which had Donna, and CJ picking straws to decide who would get to smack him over the head, in the end, deciding that his comment was stupid enough to merit a smacking from the both of them.
"I'm also thankful for everyone here, I don't know what I'd do without you guys in my life, who knows where each of us will be in four years time, so I'm thankful that we have today," Donna finished, blushing a little at the smiling faces agreeing with her.
"I guess it's my turn now," Josh mock sighed, "I'm thankful for a lot of things, but most importantly, I'm thankful for the real thing finding me, for inspiring me to work endless hours, and for the excitement I feel walking into that building everyday."
Everyone raised their glasses and toasted, "The real thing." No one noticed as Josh intently gazed at Donna while whispering into her ear, "I'm thankful for the real thing not bringing me coffee."
*
"Hey Josh, don't you hear your phone ringing?" Sam asked walking back into the dining room with another bottle of wine.
"I'll get it," Donna sighed, realising that Josh was not about to let up on his battle with Ainsley over who should get the bigger piece of pie.
"Hello?"
"Donna dear? It's Rachel."
"Happy Thanksgiving, Rachel," Donna smiled, "How are you?"
"I'm fine dear, Europe's quite charming this time of year. Did you get my Chanukah presents for Joshua?"
"Yes, they're at my apartment right now."
"Good. So how's the Thanksgiving feast? All the food disappeared yet? And more importantly, was my son the gracious host?"
"Well, he was doing alright until a few moments ago, but for the past five minutes, he's been arguing with Ainsley over who should get the bigger piece of pie," Donna said, trying to control her laughter. Josh was in lawyer mode and not ready to give up, despite the fact that the piece of pie in question, was already on Ainsley's plate, with a healthy helping of whipped cream to boot. "He misses you very much though," she said after a moment, "I don't think he likes being away from his family, from you during the holidays."
"I miss him too," Rachel sighed. Her voice took on a happier note as she added, "But I think that while he may miss me, he does have his family with him and most importantly, he has the one thing that he could not live without by his side, so, I think he'll be fine
Donna blushed reading Rachel's tone and it's implications.
"So, Josh is arguing with Ainsley. Isn't that Sam's republican woman?"
Her earlier control lost, Donna burst out laughing. "I suppose based on tonight's behaviour, that would be an apt description."
"Is that so. Would you put my son on dear?"
"Sure, one second," she said into the phone. Once she called Josh over, Donna returned to Rachel. "He's just coming over. Have a happy Thanksgiving and a happy Chanukah, Rachel."
"You too dear."
Reaching the phone, Josh asked, "Who is it?"
"Your mother," Donna's retreating figure told him.
"Hey mom."
"Joshua, should you really be fighting with your guests?"
"What?"
"Ainsley. You should be a gentleman and give her the bigger slice."
"It's not really an issue anymore mom," he said, watching Ainsley devour his piece of pie with a triumphant grin. "And really, you call all the way from—where are you right now?"
"Aunt Marta's house."
"Fine, you're calling all the way from France to ask if I'm being a good host? No, 'Joshua, how are you my son?' or your prerequisite, 'Josh, when am I going to get my grandchildren?'"
"You're not working on my grandchildren already, Joshua?" Rachel asked with the right amount of guile to make Josh blush. CJ, watching Josh intently, gave him a curious look; she raised her eyebrow in question, to which Josh shrugged and rolled his eyes. A gesture, in conjunction with Josh talking to his mother, CJ recognised as the 'When Will You Get Married And Give Me Grandkids' speech.
"Mom…"
"Ok, fine, how are you my dear?"
"Good actually, now that you asked."
"And Sam, CJ? How is everyone else?"
"They're good too mom. How are you? Any plans to come home soon?"
"Well, if you gave me an incentive, like say grandchildren or a daughter-in-law, I'd be on the next plane back."
"Gee mom, don't try and be subtle will you," Josh quipped. He then quickly started talking, in the hopes of distracting his mother. "So, I have yet to receive my presents you know."
"That's because it's not Chanukah yet. Donna will give you your presents in due time."
"Donna?"
"Yes, Josh."
"Why would Donna have my presents?"
"Because Joshua, you, my dear, were always an impatient child, and as a man that tendency of yours has yet to change. Now, Donna has your Chanukah gifts and I've instructed her to only give you one per night."
"Mom! I'm a grown man." Josh heard snickers from across the room and glared in response.
"I never said you weren't honey, but you're also a child at heart, and patience has never been a virtue of yours. No bothering Donna for more than one gift," Rachel said in a stern voice.
"Mom, despite your lack of faith, I can too be patient, I won't bother her."
Josh received silence from the other end of the phone until finally he relented, "Ok, I would, but come on," he whined, "She has my presents!"
"All the more reason to be nice to her dear." Josh knew, without being able to see his mother, the mischievous look she had, and how much fun she was having by the tone of her voice.
"Mom, trust me on this, I have never been more nice to her," Josh said in a low voice with a smile. "But you don't know her like I do ma, she's gonna hold this over me, demanding a raise or a trip to Hawaii--"
"Well, I must say, Hawaii is a great place for a honeymoon."
"Ma." Anyone watching Josh at that moment would have not been able to miss the beet red colour his face took on, which it turns out, CJ and Sam were noting with great interest. CJ's inquisitive glance before, turned into an outright question.
"You know what mom, CJ and Sam are eve's dropping," he said loud enough for them to hear, "So I'm gonna go into the bedroom." After shutting his bedroom door, he asked, "Where were we?"
"I was about to tell you to relax Joshua, she'll give the presents to you when you behave."
"I always behave Mom," he said with a note of indignation.
"Well, you can behave and share your presents with her--"
"But mom…" he protested half-heartedly.
"Donna is family, Joshua," she said with an excitement in her voice that Josh couldn't help but smile at, "Share your gifts with her. And trust me, there's a certain gift that you will not be able to truly appreciate unless you share. So be good."
"I am mom," Josh said seriously, "At least, I'm trying."
"I know," Rachel said lovingly, "And I also know that she appreciates it. I'll see you soon Josh, and remember, if you want to tell me that I can expect grandchildren--"
"Mom, would you—I'm working on it."
"I love you dear."
"Love you too Mom."
*
"So, Donna," CJ started, "Any idea why Josh kept resembling a tomato during that entire conversation?"
"Yeah," Sam agreed, "I've never seen Josh turn so many shades of red before. What was that about?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"Because," Sam shrugged.
CJ, ever the astute one, decided to question Donna on another point. "Why do you have his gifts?"
"What?"
"A moment ago, Josh shrieked 'she has my presents,' and since your name was mentioned in the conversation, I'm assuming you are that she." CJ's expression seemed to be hovering between stern and amused, Donna couldn't tell. "So why do have his gifts?"
"Josh is a baby," Donna replied, "Rachel knew that he wouldn't last if she shipped his gifts to him, so she sent them to me. I have to give him a gift a day."
Sam snickered, "You're gonna torture him, aren't you?"
"Now why would I do that, Sam?" Donna grinned.
"Because, you like playing with him, much as we all do," he answered.
"Do you know what the gifts are?" Ainsley asked.
"No," Donna lied, "All the gifts were wrapped before they were shipped," she added. CJ, however, was not convinced, but just as she was about to interrogate Donna, Josh entered the room.
"So, Josh, how is your mother?" The question came from Danny, who was amused to note that Josh's face had yet to lose the blush.
"She's good," Josh answered taking his seat at the table.
"What did she say?"
"She wanted me to she my gifts," Josh said without thinking. Donna winced once she realised what he had just said, there was no way that CJ would let that go, Donna didn't think CJ seem convinced earlier that she didn't know what the gifts were.
"How about we clear the table?" she said in hopes of avoiding CJ's questions.
"Sure, we'll help," Ainsley said, volunteering herself and Sam for the job. "In fact, why don't you relax Donna, you prepared the meal, it's only fair that we clean up." Josh grinned as Sam looked around like a lost little puppy, sputtering at having been volunteered. "Come on Sam, pick up the plates," Ainsley instructed.
CJ was stopped from saying anything as Danny held her hand and asked, "So, how is Gail these days?"
CJ rolled her eyes and said, "I'll clear the bowls."
*
"You have my stuff!" Josh accused once everyone else was busy in the kitchen.
"I know," Donna grinned.
"You know, you won't be able to hold them to ransom," Josh said with an authoritative look.
"And, pray tell, Joshua, what are you going to do if I don't give them to you?" she asked moving backwards toward his bedroom.
"Josh followed her lead, smiling he said, "I have my ways Donnatella."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. And why Donna, are you trying to seduce me, leading me into my bedroom to have your way with me?" he asked, smirking. "Cause, I gotta tell you, that's one way of distracting me from trying to find out what my presents are. A very good way I might add."
"No you idiot," Donna laughed, rolling her eyes, "I'm going in there to find your stash of 'girly' DVD's."
*
"Where did Josh and Donna go?" CJ asked as she entered the living room again. The kitchen seemed like a hotspot for foreplay as Sam and Ainsley kept throwing each other looks and giggling like they had a saucy secret, only CJ knew exactly what was on their minds. The amount of innuendo Ainsley had crammed into her fight with Sam about who's soup was the best, had CJ wondering whether Ainsley really was a Republican, and left Sam grinning in anticipation.
"Maybe they've gone for a quick romp in Josh's bedroom," Danny joked.
"First, that's not remotely funny. Second, 'romp,' Danny?"
"It's a perfectly valid word. And what, you don't like the idea of Josh and Donna?"
"I never said that."
"You did a good job of implying it," he argued. "It's not like he's the Press Secretary and she's a reporter."
"No, he's the Deputy Chief of Staff and she's his assistant."
"Something that may have been a problem during the campaign, or even during the last four years, but not anymore."
"I know," she said with a smile. She was interrupted from talking further by a loud giggle, and Ainsley's shrieking protests about… whipped cream? "Are they…?" CJ trailed off.
"I think they are."
*
"So, I hear you still have a thing for me," Danny said, his expression smug.
"I've never had a 'thing' for you," CJ answered casually. "You, on the other hand, had a huge thing for me."
"I never denied it."
"Just so were clear on that."
"Although you're wrong about one thing."
"And that would be…"
"The past tense."
"Could you not speak in riddles for once?"
"I thought I was pretty clear there."
"You would."
"You said I had a thing for you. That would imply that I no longer do, which you know, wouldn't be true."
"Danny," CJ blushed.
"I believe you left me with the promise of a kiss once, which you never actually delivered on."
"I did no such thing."
"I read between the lines."
"So, I guess you want that kiss now?"
*
"Hey, where were you guys?" CJ asked.
"In my bedroom," Josh answered, noticing CJ's flushed face.
To CJ's curious look, Donna added, "Josh keeps his 'girly' DVD's in there--"
"Donna!" Josh shrieked.
"Its so that you won't know he has them, so you know, you can't mock him."
"And you know there in there because…?"
"I talk to his mother," she shrugged, while Josh muttered, "Which is something we'll surely be changing."
"Well, I need to be heading back to my hotel. You know, early starts and all," Danny said rather quickly, standing up and walking toward the door.
"Bye," CJ said without looking back at him.
"I don't have a car."
"I'll call you a cab," Donna said, walking back into Josh's bedroom to retrieve the phone.
"Or you know, CJ could give me a ride."
"No."
"CJ."
"Shut up fish boy."
"The hotel is on the way to your place."
"It's really not," Josh piped up, amused at the scene before him. If he didn't know any better, he would think it seemed rehearsed. It looked as if Josh partaking in their play wasn't scripted, as both CJ and Danny seemed at a loss for words. Josh decided to help them along, "But you know CJ, it's Thanksgiving, taxi's aren't usually that easy to get a hold off, so maybe you should give the poor guy a ride."
Danny grinned, and CJ realising the opening, took it, but still holding the pretence, said, "Fine, but you owe me fish boy."
"Not a problem, how would you like your payment?"
CJ hit him over the head as Josh handed them their coats and walked them out. He opened the door and watched the two almost run to CJ's car, grining he muttered, "Now, where the hell are Sam and Ainsley?"
*
To be continued in part five.