Chapter: A Thanksgiving to Remember

This was promising to be a very memorable holiday indeed. It had been only a few weeks since Renee, Echo, and Horatio had gotten back from Las Vegas. Renee had already given the teen an early Christmas present. Renee and her father had given Piper an eight month old puppy.

Piper's puppy she named Indy, since the canine was blue with brown spots. She even had one blue eye and one brown eye. Indy was Renee's canine Echo's half sister. Indy was also Horatio's new team member Patriot's full sister. Renee had bought Indy when she had gone down to New Orleans to pick up her brother's new team canine member.

Piper was very happy with her early birthday present. Renee had told Piper a little secret.

"Don't worry, you will still be getting Christmas presents from me. You don't have to choose between Christmas and Birthday celebrations," Renee says as she winks as Piper. Ever since Piper was little she had to choose since her birthday was Christmas Eve. Not anymore she thought to herself.

This was already promising to be a holiday to remember. This was the first year since her mom had died that Piper, and her dad James would be celebrating with anyone who was not one of her best friends families. This year they would be celebrating with her dads friend Renee and her brother Horatio. Horatio had saved Piper's

life less than a year ago after she had been shot and pushed off of four stacked cargo containers. Horatio had taken he to the hospital. Had he not done that Piper would have died from a head injury in addition to a gunshot wound to her stomach.

Piper didn't know what to expect. No body knew what to expect since Renee had no family, James had no family besides Piper and Horatio had no family.

Renee was still going to do what she did every year. She was however making it even larger than normal. Renee would normally bring four vets from the VA with no families over and treat them to a family feast complete with all the fixings. This year she was going to be doing that plus inviting James, Piper, Horatio, and his CSI team over for family thanksgiving dinner.

Counting head, Renee needed to make sure that she had enough food for everyone. She would normally cook for the four vets and her. However since this year was looking like a much larger group, Renee decided to cater the event. Renee was still planning on making the dessert for the party. She loved to cook the dessert.

"Let's see, there is James, Piper, Horatio, the four vets, Eric, Ryan, Natalia, Walter, Calleigh, Austin, Patty, and Frank. Plus Echo, Charlie, Indy, and Patriot. Renee wanted to count the canines since she always gave them some of the food too since they are family too. That makes the total of people that will be there to fifteen . If you add the dogs that is nineteen. I'll cook for the dogs so I need to cater for fifteen," Piper could hear Renee talking to herself.

Piper was curious so she continued to listen to Renee talking.

"Fifteen people will mean three or four pies. Let's see obviously one pumpkin pie. Maybe Cherry pie for another."

"Hey, Piper darling, do you like Apple pie or pecan pie?" Renee just saw Piper was eavesdropping on her so she asked the teen for her input.

"Me, I like Apple but dad loves Pecan pie. We both just love your Cherry pie though." Piper confesses to Renee.

"Maybe, I'll make four desserts," Renee continues to talk to herself to get things figured out. Pumpkin pie, Cherry pie, Dutch Apple and Pecan pie. Yes, I'll make four," Renee finalizes her decision.

"Hey Alexa, call Las Terrazas Catering," Renee talks to her Amazon Echo."

"Hello, Las Terrazas Catering, how can I help you," the young lady on the other side of the phone calls says.

"Hi, I'm calling to talk to the owner, Is she in?" Renee asks the lady.

"One minute please, I'll go get her." The lady answers.

A few minutes later, another female voice comes on.

"Hello, this is the owner, How can I help you."

"Hey, Sweetie, It's Renee. You told me to call you if ever need anything. I really need to cater my Thanksgiving dinner this year. I normally can do it, but this year it will be much larger than usual. Looks like fifteen people this year. I will be doing dessert of course. Can you help?" Renee asks the owner.

"My staff is booked, I can do it though, For you I'll do anything, since you did save my life a few years ago." I'll be over tomorrow morning to discuss the dinner. I do still have your address from when you gave it to me. I'll see you tomorrow," the owner then hangs up with Renee.

Getting up, Renee looks at Piper.

"Piper, do you want to learn how to makes some pies. I can teach you how for Thanksgiving," Renee asks the girl as she walks by.

The teen adamantly nods her head, yes.

Thanksgiving was only in a few weeks but Renee wanted to menu to be a surprise for everyone else so she sent James and Piper to the store before her friend got there to talk about the menu that Renee wanted.

With the two of them alone in the house, they quietly built the menu for what promised to be a very memorable occasion.

"I'll be having four veterans who have no families as well as my family and friends over. So lets do the traditional fare. Roasted Turkey, Cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed

potatoes, sweet potato pie, whole cranberry sauce, and I'll do desserts. I really enjoy baking," Renee tells her friend.

During the next three weeks Renee used one of the empty lots that she owned and put up a large white tent to house the larger than life thanksgiving dinner she was planning. Her house was large but no where near large enough to house a dinner party of close to twenty people plus six dogs. Five of the canines were quite large.

At first Renee was planning on having fifteen people but found out that Tobias and Lukas had nowhere to go. As well as Alexx and her husband had nowhere to go either. Renee would not have that so she invited them too. Piper was more than glad since she still adored Lukas.

Thanksgiving dawned just like any other day. Renee swiftly shooed James away from the house. Sending him out to pick up the vets and bring them to the house. James also had to stop by the local wine store to buy four bottles of wine. Two red wine and two white wine bottles.

With James gone, Renee let the caterer in. Gathering Piper in the kitchen, the two of them set out to bake the four pies. The caterer had control of the kitchen. Renee did have a separate oven set up on the bunker. Piper and Renee took their supplies over two lots and into the hidden underground bunker. This would be the first of many baking lessons for Piper. She really wanted to learn how to bake Renee's Cherry pie as well as Renee's Key lime pie. Renee wanted to teach Piper how to do her Cherry Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, and Pecan Pie.

At about 5 PM the guests began arriving at Renee's house. Renee then led everyone to the white dinner tent. Slowly all the guests got to her house. The last to arrive were James and the veterans. Renee had a red-carpet lied out to welcome the World War Two Marines and Naval veterans.

This would be the twentieth year that Renee has hosted World War Two vets for Thanksgiving. She had done it every year that she was stateside for thanksgiving dinner.

The set up for the food was a party as large as hers was, Renee set it up buffet style. She did however serve the vets their food. These were men that over the last twenty years she considered to be family. Since every year she would bring the same vets home for thanksgiving. By now they were all in their late eighties early nineties.

Always the gentleman though. They were officers and she was enlisted. They outranked her by a long shot, but they stood whenever she came into the room. The Naval officers had their dress whites pressed and parade ready. Ribbons and medals on their left breast. The Marines had their dress blues pressed and boot polished. Their medals and ribbons over their hearts.

Renee knew what it was like not to have a family, so she would never want people who sacrificed so much to be alone during the holiday season. When Renee was sent back to the states the vets were there for her. When she moved from New Orleans to Miami, they moved too. She was the closest thing to family that they had left.

The vets took an instant liking to Piper. The girl was very kind to them. She gave them all bear hugs and kissed their cheeks. You could see them light up with joy.

Renee overheard the teen ask them a very moving question.

"Can I call you my Grandpas?" Is what Piper asked them.

Hearing that they just lit up. They all said in unison, "yes, of course Sweetie. You can all us whatever you want."

While the veteran were there, Renee slept on the couch. Giving up her bed for the Marine Lieutenant Colonel. The other three bedrooms the other vets stayed in for the week.

Renee didn't want them to feel rushed so she had them over for a week. The other Marine was a one star general. The Navy vets were both Rear Admirals. Combined they had more medals than Renee could ever earn in a lifetime. The Marine Lieutenant Colonel actually had a Congressional Medal of Honor.

"Piper, Darling, can you help me by taking these plates to the gentleman sitting on the right side of the table. They are at the end of the table, Renee asks Piper.

"Sure," was Piper's answer to Renee's question.

The girl grabs the plates and carries them over to the two Naval officers. As she walks over to the table, all the veterans stand on their feet. She smiles at them and places the plates down, "here you go grandpas," she tells them.

As she turns around to go get her own plate she nearly walks into Renee. Nae was bringing the Marine Officers their dinners. When they see Renee getting to their table again the vets stand at their feet.

"Please, sit down and enjoy your dinner. We have lots of pies so save some appetite," Renee tells the vets as she places the plates on the table in front of the old Marines.

With everyone sitting and eating, Piper asked the vets to tell some old war stories. Renee knew they didn't really like to talk about it but they obliged telling the group so of their more funny war stories.

Piper didn't want the day to end. She had so much fun. Everyone had a good time. Unfortunately the day had to end. As everyone else left the house it was soon just Renee, James, Piper, and the vets left. Slowly things slowed down and Renee went to the kitchen to feed the dogs their Thanksgiving dinner.

Renee came out to see Piper sitting on the Marine Lieutenant Colonels lap and playing with his Medal of Honor very carefully.

"Grandpas, I glad you came. You are my hero's. Your generation was truly the greatest generation," Renee could hear Piper talk to the veterans.

James sees Renee watching his daughter, so he goes up to Renee. "She's an amazing young woman. If I do say so myself."

Hearing that Renee just nods yes. Her mouth was not working very well. By now it was late, so James tells Piper to get Indy to go home for the night.

"But daddy, I don't want to go," the girl protests.

"Your choice Nae. You're sleeping on the couch so can two more squeeze in on the couch," James says as he looks at Renee.

Looking from Piper, to her dad then to the vets. Renee responds.

"Sure, the more the merrier." We can figure out the logistics of sleeping arrangements."

"The couch pulls out to a queen bed, I don't pull it out since it is just me sleeping on it. You two can take the couch. I'll take the recliner. That chair lays flat so I can sleep very comfortably," Renee tells James and Piper. "The dogs are good where they are," Renee continues to talk.

With that settled, everyone went to their respective sleeping place. The following day no one was particularly looking forward to. Tomorrow is the day that Renee drops the veterans off at their assisted living home.

The vets would be back for Christmas. They came every year. Renee has a secret from them. She was paying for their assisted living home too. She liked to take care of the people in her life but didn't want any credit. Renee was very humble in nature. With less than a month before Christmas it was the holiday rush.