Each girl had a task to complete for Thanksgiving, and after the debacle that was the visit of Dorothy's son and Rose's daughter, they were glad it was just going to be the four of them.

"I remember my first Thanksgiving as a married woman." Rose said wistfully as she buttered the turkey. "Charlie had waited to buy the turkey until the last minute and he got what he saw so we had three little chickens, two fat ducks, and a ham. It was a very lovely Thanksgiving."

"Our first Thanksgiving in the US was very thin." Sophia reminisced. "We had just arrived and we didn't have a coin to rub between us. My Salvadore disappeared for about three days. I was so worried. I tried to talk to the police but he was a mean old Irish-Catholic and he hated Italians. I remember he told me that one missing Wop was just one step away from a dead one, and the world would be a better place. So I went home. I sat for three days in that cold-water tenement by the stove, shivering and eating bites of stale bread dipped in water for three days. Then, just as I was giving up, the door opened and My Sally came in carrying a tiny turkey, a tin can of peas and carrots with the little pearl onions, and a bottle of Chianti. We cooked the turkey over a fire, both of us waking up every couple hours to turn it and check on it. By six the next day we were about ten pounds lighter but we had a beautiful turkey dinner. We made love that night like we never had." She smiled fondly. "We may not have had much but that day we had each other."

"Where did he go?" Rose asked.

"Who?" Sophia asked.

"Salvadore." Rose prompted.

"Oh, I never asked." Sophia said quickly. "I guess he worked three straight days." She threw a handful of minced onions into the stuffing. "Thanksgiving has always been one of favorite holidays."

"I remember the Thanksgiving I learned Stan was cheating." Dorothy sighed. "I wasn't telling anyone yet because I didn't want to ruin the holidays. I made dinner all by myself, Stan's mom came, I was crying over my turkey. Thank goodness I had onions to cut, I just told everyone I was crying because of the onions."

"Stan was a louse for cheating on you around the holidays." Sophia stated. "A low-class louse."

"As opposed to cheating on me around Arbor Day, Ma?" Dorothy chuckled.

"Thanksgiving back home was a beautiful time." Blanche said with a happy smile. "We used to get all dressed up, mama and the help would decorate the house real pretty, we'd use mama and daddy's wedding China and silver. Dinner would last from three pm until the last cup of coffee, the last cup of brandy, the last cigar, around nine or ten pm. The whole family would come, all the aunts and uncles, all the cousins. Thank goodness mama had a thirty-seat dining room table."

The phone rang and she grabbed it off the wall. "Hello?"

"Hi, darlin'." Don greeted.

"Don! How are ya, honey?" Blanche asked happily. "How's California?"

"Well, I didn't make it to California." Don said. "My flight was canceled due to snow in the Midwest. Apparently there's a bad snow storm coming out of Minnesota. Some damn place called St. Olaf is seeing record levels of snow."

Blanche looked away in bemusement. "You don't say. Well, you will just come to us."

"Are you sure, honey?" Don asked. "I don't want to shove in."

"I love a good shove." Blanche urged. She turned to the girls. "Would you girls mind if Don comes for Thanksgiving?"

They gave their blessing.

"You'll come and that's that." Blanche said into the phone. She turned away and lowered her voice. "More than once if we're both lucky." She giggled gaily.

Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia gave her a strange look and kept cooking.

"What am I wearing?" Blanche questioned in a quiet voice. "You naughty boy, my roommates are right next to me." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Two lettuce leaves and a great big smile."

Sophia poured them all a glass of wine.

"I've gotta go, darlin'." Blanche said in a normal voice. "I'm doing the vegetables this year and there are some potatoes that need mashing."

"Is that a hard job?" Don asked. "I wouldn't want you to hurt your arm."

"Oddly, mashing potatoes is real easy for me." Blanche said innocently. "Always has been. I can mash ten potatoes in three minutes."

Sophia knocked her glass back and poured another. "Who's gonna tell her?"

"You come on by around four and I'll give you something tasty." Blanche instructed. "Maybe we'll feed ya, too!" She laughed gaily. "Bye, darlin'."

"See you at four." Don said contently.

Blanche hung up and plopped back on her stool. "Sophia, are those potatoes done boiling?"

"Have at 'em, maestro." Sophia said, setting a colander of boiled spuds on the island. "I'm timing you."

Blanche stuck a stick of butter in the potatoes to melt while she mashed and hummed while she turned the peeled root into mashed, buttery goodness.

"Did I ever tell you girls about my twelve pound potato?" Rose asked.

"No!" They all exclaimed quickly.

XXXXXXXX

Bearing a bottle of Dom Perigon, Don rang the doorbell at three-thirty. He could hear loud, exuberent conversation on the other side.

The door flew open. Sophia jabbed a finger at him. "You're early, Don Juan."

"I brought champagne." Don said.

"Get in here!" Sophia cackled. "Someone tell Blanche that Prince Charming is here!"

Blanche came out of the kitchen in a white silk blouse and a grey wool skirt with a pink apron over. She hadn't planned on looking like a domestic goddess, in heels and pearls, her makeup perfect, her hair perfect, but she gave off the effect. "Hi, Don."

"You look lovely." Don greeted.

"Thank you." Blanche said sweetly. "My, my, you've brought champagne."

"Yes, Dom Perigon." Don smiled.

"I'll put it on ice." Blanche said. She took it to the kitchen and put it in the ice tray in the freezer.

Don followed her. "Been cooking all day?"

"Been trying." Blanche chuckled. "I mashed potatoes all afternoon, my arms are right tired."

"You aren't sorry you didn't get to go home to Atlanta?" Don inquired.

"Oh, I just saw my family very recently when my father got married so everyone is sort of Hollingsworthed out." Blanche said with a smile.

Don came around the counter and put his arms around her. "I'm glad. Means you're all mine." He gave her a long kiss.

Sophia came in and walked past them to check the turkey and stir the green beans. "Promise me you'll wash your hands before you handle the food. Not everyone wants VD for Thanksgiving."

Don and Blanche looked at the old lady and laughed.

"I like her." Don whispered.

"I do, too." Blanche whispered back.

The doorbell rang in the living room.

"Well, who might that be?" Blanche questioned.

They went out as Dorothy opened the door.

"Hi, its me, Stan." Stan Zbornak greeted. He held up a bag of chocolate-covered peanuts. "I brought favors."

Dorothy slammed the door in his face and walked away. The bell rang again and she went to open it.

"Hey, babe." Stan said. "I think the wind caught the door." He let himself in.

"Only the wind in your head!" Dorothy exclaimed irritably. "What do you want, Stanley? Its Thanksgiving, I should have one night where I don't have to deal with you."

"I'm all alone on Thanksgiving and I thought maybe my best friends would want to share their table with me." Stan explained, making himself comfortable on the sofa. "After all, entertaining strangers is the point of this holiday."

"Well, I'll break out the scalpers and cholera blankets." Dorothy said sarcastically. "The children didn't want you?"

"Kate is visiting Dennis' family and Michael is busy playing his New Orleans gig." Stan explained. He looked at Don. "Who's the swell?"

"Stan Zbornak, this is Donald Bennett." Blanche introduced. "My fiancé." She showed him the ring.

"Blanche is getting married." Stan remarked. "I guess you couldn't wait for me." He shrugged.

Don turned to Blanchd questioningly.

"Stan and I went on a date because Dorothy couldn't." Blanche explained. "He's her ex-husband and her cross to bear."

"I see." Don said with a nod. "Its nice to meet you, Stan."

"You too, Ron." Stan said.

"Its Don." Blanche emphasized. "Is he staying for dinner, Dorothy?"

"Unfortunately." Dorothy grumbled.

"Well, the Indians and and the Pilgrims weren't the best of friends but it didn't stop their spirit of generosity towards each other." Rose said hopefully. "Isn't that what matters?"

Dorothy looked at Stan and sighed. "Well, it is Thanksgiving."

"Thanks, babe." Stan said gratefully.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Dinner was delicious." Don said, sliding in bed beside Blanche. "I really enjoyed your friends. They're very exciting characters."

"I love 'em." Blanche smiled. "Well, not Stan, but the others."

Don gave her a kiss and drew her close to him. "Shall we give thanks together?"

"Oh, yes." Blanche agreed readily. "I might fall asleep in the middle from all the turkey I ate but we can certainly try."

She let him undress her and do things to her body that she could only imagine. And, she was only too happy to reciprocate. He had brought out a new adventurous side in her that she hadn't know in herself before.

Oh, if only I wasn't pregnant, she thought to herself.

XXXXXXXXX

"Everything looks good with the fetus." Dr. Rivera said, turning the ultrasound screen around. "Good growth, good fluid, no issues with heart rate. We're still concerned with the placenta previa so we're going to plan for a C-section."

"Look at the little darling." Rose cooed to the screen. "Hello, little one."

"Rose, its a TV set, it can't hear you." Dorothy grudged.

"Any chance we might be able to find out what the sex is?" Blanche asked.

"Seeing as its your kid its probably just 'yes, please'." Sophia remarked.

"Let me see if its in a good position to find out." Dr. Rivera said. He maneuvered the wand around. "Hmm, there's the legs."

"It has legs!" Rose said happily. "That's wonderful."

Dr. Rivera gave her a strange look. "It appears to be a healthy baby girl."

The four burst into cheers and applause.

"Oh, a baby girl!" Dorothy said, wiping a year from her eye. "One more for the gang."

Blanche smiled softly. She had been hoping for a girl. "I'm so happy."

"Hello, Baby." Rose said to the screen. "We can't wait to meet you."

"We really can't." Blanche agreed softly. I promise you this, little baby, I'm gonna be the best mama I can be. I may not always get it right but you're gonna know love and want and happiness. I made so many mistakes before, but this time I'm gonna do it right.

"I'll get the car." Dorothy said as they left the clinic.

"I'm going to find a toilet." Sophia said. "Never miss the opportunity." She dragged Rose off with her.

Blanche sat down on a bench under the doctor's office's sign and stretched her legs. She had finally conceded defeat when her least-favorite pair of stretch pants would go past her thighs and went to the store for maternity wear.

Styles had changed since she last time she was pregnant. Gone were the parachute dresses with so many extra panels to hide and deny a woman's condition. The styles were flowy and feminine.

She felt pretty in a rich blue silk button up blouse and matching silk pants. It was the first day she was publicly acknowledging her pregnancy and she felt great. She'd gotten appreciative stares from men and admiring glances from women.

She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the late-fall sun on her face.
"Blanche?"

Her eyes popped open and she turned red. "Don."

Don stared back, his green eyes going from her belly to her face. "What's going on?" He looked up at the sign above Blanche's head. "Blanche?"

Blanche pushed herself up. "I can explain."

"Are you having a baby?" Don asked in confusion.

"I am." Blanche said apprehensively. "I was going to tell you."

"How far along are you?" Don asked.

"About six months." Blanche answered with a nervous giggle. "Almost six months."

Don nodded, his eyes on the sidewalk. He took a step back.

"No, don't." Blanche implored.

Don looked up at her. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't know how." Blanche admitted. "At first I wasn't sure I was keeping it and then you and I were so new and I didn't want you to think badly of me. And the, so much time had passed." She held her hands out hopefully.

"What were you going to do, show up with an infant and say 'surprise'?" Don questioned.

"No, uh, no, I was gonna tell you." Blanche insisted shakily. "I just didn't know how."

"What was the problem?" Don asked.

Blanche peered at him with wide, tearful eyes. "Because...I didn't want you to know the truth."

"What truth?" Don asked calmly.

"I don't know who the father of my baby is." Blanche finally admitted. "I didn't want you to know that I'm not some poor, lonely little widow. I've been with many, many, many, many men since my husband died. Truth is, I like men and I like sex." She held her belly. "Obviously." She laughed quietly. "I didn't want you to think I was some cheap floozy. I didn't want you to think you were just another notch on my headboard." Her voice broke. "Because, truthfully, I haven't cared about anyone like I do about you. I love you, I truly do. I was just scared."

Don stared at the ground silently.

"Please, say something." Blanche implored.

"Blanche, I don't mind that you're pregnant." Don said finally. He looked up at her. "I like children. I love babies. I wouldn't mind helping you raise someone else's child. I wouldn't even mind that you don't know. A child just needs love. What gets me is that you didn't trust me. How can we be together if we don't trust each other?"

A lone tear rolled down Blanche's face. "Please don't do this." She smiled sadly. "I'm sorry. I've never been so sorry."

"Blanche, I need some time to think." Don said. He turned and started to walk and stopped. He came back. "I have a question. Back when you stopped letting me come over was that because you were actually sick or because of the pregnancy?"

Blanche took a shaky breath. "I had been in the hospital. There was a problem with the baby and I had to go on bed-rest for a few days. Everything is fine now. But, yes, it was about the pregnancy." She looked away. "I'm having a little girl."

"Is everything going well with the pregnancy? You're healthy, the child is healthy?" Don asked.

"We're fine." Blanche whispered.

Don nodded slowly. "Blanche, I don't think I can be with someone who doesn't trust me with something as fundamental as her health. I'm sorry. I have to go. I'm...". He waved dismissivley as he walked away and Blanche could tell she had hurt him deeply.

She stared at the sidewalk long after he'd disappeared. Everything felt numb.

Dorothy came up silently behind her and put a hand on Blanche's shoulder. "Honey?"

"Please, Dorothy. Please, don't say 'I told you so'." Blanche requested tearfully.

"I was just going to ask if you wanted to go home." Dorothy said gently.

"Yes." Blanche whispered.

"Rose, Ma, let's go." Dorothy said. She checked her watch. "We're gonna need to stop at the store on the way home. We need cheesecake, we need ice cream, we need chocolate sauce."
TBC