CHAPTER 15

7 am

Tommy's mother woke up to hear laughing and music. She came downstairs and into the kitchen . Kimberly was chopping vegetables as Tommy washed the huge turkey. Kimberly was practicing some dance moves as she chopped. Tommy had the turkey dancing in the sink.

"What is going on here?"

"MOM! Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Happy Thanksgiving to you two as well!" Mrs. Oliver made a list of things needing to be down. Tommy handled cleaning the house and setting up the dining area, as Kimberly continued to help in the kitchen.

An hour later

Tommy had cleared out the living room and cleaned it to welcome the guest. He tackled the dining room, dusting, which he hated.

"Where's Mr. Oliver?"

"Asleep. I usually let him until like 9 or 10 then he really has to work on cleaning up and no game until the table is set and the drinks are cooling." Kim laughed. In just a white tank, pink 'Babe' terry shorts and white/pink Converse hi-tops, Kimberly loved to watch her mother cook as a little girl. Though she never really got that cooking gene, she still loved to watch. Kim remembered all the times she would come over and eat with dinner with the Olivers, they always welcomed her into the family. She loved their warm home at a time, when she was losing her parents to divorce. Mrs. Oliver knew that, she made sure that Kimberly felt like a close daughter to her, Kim would come over just to talk to her when Tommy was hanging out with the boys. Ms. Oliver never wanted to replace Kim's mother, but at that time, Kim felt besides Tommy, she was her other lifeline that got her through that part of her life.

"So, are you going to do that yams dish?"

"I don't know, it was something my Dad did like every year. My mother hated how he would dictate and control the kitchen for that brief moment, but...I'm no chef. I would just ruin it."

"You can try. Tommy told me all about it when he said you were coming. I got some yams, marshmallows, cinnamon, pineapples, go on, I can help too."

"What if I screw up?"

"We all mess up, Kimberly." Mrs. Oliver rubbed the back of Kim's head. "But it is those who chose to keep trying, that really make a difference. Now, you can win 4 gold medals at the Olympics, graduated from high school in a less than 4 years, make straight A's in college, but won't try a yams dish?"

"Silly, huh?"

"Yea."

"Okay, I'll do it."

"That's my girl." Tommy came down from the attic carrying some table clothes.

"Which one, Mom?"

"Uh, try each one on the table, then I will decide."

"There are like 10 here!"

"Well, get to working." Kim laughed, but stopped at Tommy's face.

"I'll help." Kim closed the last big bowl with cut-up fruits. She placed it in the fridge and went to help Tommy.

3pm

Kimberly stood in Tommy's mirror looking over herself. Dressed in fuchsia lacey dress and black H-band sandals, she was putting in the new earrings Tommy brought her. She woke up from a light nap after helping Mrs. Oliver and found the case. Diamond drop earrings, very expense. But Tommy wasn't the only one to give out gifts. Kim handed him a Lorenz watch as he was getting some boxers.

"What is this?"

"Your gift." He opened it and smiled. Tommy had broke his watch the night on the roof, though neither could figure out or remember how.

"Wow, thank you." They kissed. Tommy fixed the earring straighter. They finished getting dressed. Kim slid on the tennis bracelet before she slid on her black crop hoodie. Tommy stopped her as she went to the door. "You are still missing one thing." She looked at him. Tommy fixed the top of her hoodie and caressed around her neck. He undid her blue sapphire cross and pulled it off. Kim felt something drop around her neck. Tommy did the clasp to the 3-stone diamond pennant drop necklace. Kim touched it and went to the mirror.

"Oh my god!" She smiled at it on her. "Why?"

"Because I love you."

"I love you too." They kissed. The doorbell rung. Tommy pulled away from Kim's lips, they were on his bed. His hand slid from her leg beneath her dress, when he heard his mother yell.

"Tommy! Kimberly!"

"Coming!"

"Later." He nodded and helped her up. Tommy and Kimberly fixed her each, then kissed once more before heading down.

Teaser: "Explain to me why you lied to me?" Kimberly held the phone by her hand when Tommy came over.
"Mom wants to start on dinner in like 20 minutes."
"Okay. Mom, I'm sorry, but right now it not a good time."
"Make it."