"Then what happened, Grandpa?"
"Well.." Rick paused for dramatic effect. "Then the doctor let me hold Grandma's hand as they took some of your Grandma's strong blood, and gave it to the boy, so he'd get well. As soon as she was rested, the doctor let me bring Grandma home, so we could have the best Thanksgiving ever!"
"Yeah, Grandma!" David cheered, as Katie clapped her hands. "Grandpa, tell us another story about Grandma!"
"I think someone has told enough stories for today….time for dinner!" Laurie interrupted, coming in to round up Rick and her grandchildren. Winking at Robbie and Robin's youngest children, Rick pretended to get up, only to pull Laurie down onto his lap.
"Gotcha, sweetheart!" he teased, then withstood a double "ooh" from David and Katie as he kissed Laurie. As she released his lips, she chuckled. "Thank you, darling. You win."
"All right, break it up, break it up!" A.J. came into the ranch study, and found his brother holding Laurie as the children giggled.
"I think it's time for dinner, kids." Rick got up regretfully, then helped Laurie up.
As they went into Thanksgiving dinner, he realized how many things they had to be thankful for. Business was good, Laurie had almost healed from the nightmarish kidnapping and they had their "extended family" at the same table for the first time ever.
Now Rudy and Oscar had made it their tradition to cook the turkey, and Steve and Jaime the green bean casserole, and Robin her vegetable dip, and so on.
"Oh, Rick, look at this table…." Laurie stood still, and gazed at the decorations.
"I think it looks good enough to eat…." Rick teased, giving her a squeeze.
"Thank you, love." Laurie took his hand in hers and kissed it.
As they prepared to say grace, Oscar Goldman surveyed the table full of friends and family, then bowed his head.
"Thank you Lord, for one more year with our family. Thank you bringing us together once again…"
Outside the kitchen window, two figures watched the teasing and good spirits and smiled.
It was a great Thanksgiving.
Fin.