Thursday

November 24th

Thanksgiving

Nikki and I arrived early to help Camille and Sofi out with Thanksgiving dinner.

"Hello." I said as I walked in.

"Where in the kitchen, come on in." Yelled Camille

"Hi Madison, Hi Nikki, were making dinner." Said Daniela

"Oh really, what are you making?" Nikki asked.

"Mommy what are we making?" asked Daniela

"We are making mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin, apple pies, and of course turkey." Camille smiled.

"The boys are out playing hockey." Sofi handed Nikki and I an apron.

"What do you need us to do?" Nikki looked around the kitchen.

"Clean the dishes." Sofi laughed.

"Sofi, be nice. No, you can help set the table. Amelia and Daniela will help you."

"Come on Nikki."

"Stupid Latino bitch, she should just eat shit and die." Nikki and I laughed as we walked into the dinning room.

We waited for another hour till the boys got home.

"Oh little brother I kicked your ass out there on the ice." Bobby came in laughing.

"Who cared about who one, I'm hungry." Jerry whined.

"Well it's about time, Bobby I told you not to stay out to late." Camille grabbed her husband's hand. "Come on baby, dinner is ready."

"Look who decided to grace us with his presence the infamous Bobby Mercer." I smiled.

"Oh where you waiting on me pretty lady."

"Funny, you left me here while you went out and played hockey!" I began to fake cry.

"Oh I'll take you out later, you and me one on one game."

"Did I ever tell you how much I love you." I kissed him.

"Come on guys I want to eat sometime." Jack motioned us into the dining room.

As I looked up at everyone around the table, I knew that this is what a real family felt like.

I looked over towards Nikki, I never saw her smile so much in her life. Jack was really the right guy for her.

"Madison, Nikki would you like to say grace?" Asked Jerry

"Sure, Nikki do you want to start."

After we said grace, it was like a mad house. Everyone dug right into the food like they haven't eaten for days.

"Can you pass the potatoes?" Bobby looked towards me.

"Sure."

"Hey Madison I think you got a little something on your face." Bobby pointed to my face.

"What, what is it? Get off." I kept rubbing my face.

"Oh it's just some..." He took his finger and smeared mash potatoes on my face.

"Bobby!" I took some of my yams and smeared on his face.

"Ok were even, here let me get that for you." He smeared even more mashed potatoes on my face.

"Oh even ha, I don't think so." I touched my face and smeared the mash potatoes on to his.

"Come on guys it's Thanksgiving, for once can you not act like children." Jerry tried to hold back his laughter.

"Jeremiah!" Camille hit him with her napkin.

"What Camille it's funny, see." He smeared potatoes on her face.

"Daddy got mommy!" Amelia and Daniela laughed.

Before any one knew it, it turned into a complete food fight. Everyone was smearing some sort of food on to each other. Laughter filled the room giving it a warm feeling that hasn't been felt for a long time.

"I like to make a toast, to the greatest woman in the world Evelyn Mercer. May she rest in peace." Jack stood up, and we clinked our glasses together.

At that very moment the door bell rang. Jack walked to the front door to answer it. He was gone for a long time, when he came back he said that it was for Nikki and I. I felt my heart drop to the floor, my number one thought was that Johnny found us.

As Nikki and I walked to the front door, we saw a man that we did not recognize.

"Madison, Nikki, I waited a lone time to see you two again."

"Dad." I was shocked to see him.

"Yeah, it's me good old dad." He smiled.

"Oh sorry we don't have a father anymore." Nikki slammed the door shut. "We don't need him Madison we never did."

"But Nikki, he's here the least we can do is say hi."

"You did, now let's go he can't spoil this for us." Nikki took my hand and dragged me away from the door.

After dessert, Bobby told me to get ready.

"Where are you going?" Asked Nikki

"Bobby's and I are going to play a little one on one in hockey."

"Be careful ok." She gave me a concerned look. "Dad might still be out there somewhere."

"Don't worry I have Bobby." I smiled

"Ready to go?" Bobby came down the stairs.

"Yeah, I'll be back later Nikki. Don't worry sis, I'll be alright."

During the car ride there, all I could think about was my sister's face. Was she really that concerned about me seeing my dad? I mean all I did was say Dad, it wasn't like I was going to run up to him and hug him. Tell him how much I missed him and shit. No, he really hurt me and my family. Why on earth would I ever want to talk to him again.

Besides I have a brand new family, maybe not the greatest of all families but one of the best I have ever had.

On the ice, Bobby tried tripping me a couple of times. He was playing unfair, it was time for my revenge.

"Bobby, what the hell is that!" I pointed towards his car.

He turned around to look, and I stole the puck from him.

"Hey, you cheat."

"OH SCORE! Let me see that's 105 for me and oh 55 for Bobby."

"Yeah we'll see about that." He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.

"Put me down!" I laughed as I faked punched him.

He held on to me tightly as he skated over to the bench. "Come on it's getting late." He put me down and sat next to me.

"Bobby."

"Yeah Madison."

"Do you know who your father is?"

Bobby turned his face to look at mine. "I have no father, and neither do you."

That night as I laid in bed, I thought about what Bobby said. In some way he was right, I didn't have a father.