Family Thanksgiving
Chapter 4
For the second night running, Mike and Christine fell asleep in each other's arms and for the second morning running, Mike glared at his alarm clock while Christine untangled herself. She had more food to cook, and Mike needed to get up with her, but he was feeling lazy. While she got dressed, there was a knock on the door and Savannah peaked in.
"Can I come in here? Georgie is snoring really loud." Savannah asked Mike as she stood by the side of his bed.
"Sure, but I snore too and Mommy is going to go downstairs to get our lunch ready. I really need to go with her." Mike told the little girl.
"I can spare you for a few minutes if you want to cuddle." Christine offered with a wink and Savannah climbed up next to Mike. She snuggled up close and was almost immediately asleep.
"I'll put the turkey and ham in for you when I get down there. Don't try and lift." Mike instructed. Christine didn't weigh more then a hundred pounds and was as weak as a kitten.
"I'll wait. Enjoy your time with her. She's the cuddler of the bunch, but Carson doesn't mind a good hug." Christine said as she smiled at their youngest daughter.
"I'll keep that in mind. Just so you know, I am really glad that you guys are here. You have no idea how much I missed you." Mike told her. Christine bent down and gave Savannah a kiss and then gave Mike a shy kiss on the cheek. She was still a little nervous.
"We are really glad to be here too and I am personally thankful for the second chance…or whatever number chance this is. I really missed you too and I do love you." Christine said.
"I love you too." Mike answered before pulling Christine back down and giving her a soft kiss on the lips. She didn't draw back and gave him a smile when he did break it off.
"That was really nice." Christine said as she stood up.
"It was. I'll be down there in a few minutes." Mike said with a smile. After Christine left the room, he concentrated on Savannah who was sound asleep on his chest. She and Georgeanna looked exactly alike with a few small differences and they both reminded Mike of Kaitlyn when she was little. Hannah favored Christine, and Lucas had looked like Mike. Kaitlyn and the little girls favored him. Same coloring. Mike didn't doubt Christine when she said that the triplets were his and he knew that the triplets would bind him and Christine together, more than Kaitlyn and Hannah could.
He finally woke Savannah up and convinced her to go downstairs with him. When they got downstairs, Christine had the ham and turkey ready to go in, and was working on Mike's favorite buttermilk pie. It had been his one request. While Mike peeled potatoes, Christine had Savannah cutting up leftover pie crusts and covering them with cinnamon sugar to be baked and snacked on. She had plans of making fruit nachos.
Slowly, but surely the kids came downstairs and Mike was tasked with keeping the younger kids occupied. The older girls helped her in the kitchen. Finally, about two; dinner was ready and they all set around the table, Mike said grace and they began eating. For him it was such a perfect day.
The older girls did the clean up and the triplets had all fallen into turkey comas, so Christine and Mike settled on the couch, with glasses of wine. She had put her head on his chest and was half asleep when Mike kissed her forehead again.
"As good as Thanksgiving has been, I can't wait for Christmas." Christine said with a laugh.
"Me too. Anything special you want?" Mike asked.
"For Christmas? I would really love a new wedding band. I don't even care about an engagement ring. Mine was taken away." Christine told him.
"I'll see what I can do." Mike promised before giving her another gentle kiss on the lips. Christine gave him a smile in response and settle back on his chest.
Years before, Mike would have said his marriage would have never worked out, but he was watching it slowly healing. It would take time and counseling, but they had a nice start and Mike couldn't be happier. He had so much to be thankful for finally.