225. Yet another long stretch between chapters! I enjoyed my Spring Break and now on to the next chap!

After Noah got cleaned up and dressed for dinner in khakis and a hunter green oxford he realized he needed to do one more thing before heading downstairs. "Mommy," he said as he walked into the bathroom where Olivia was finishing her makeup, "I gotta call G."

"Oh?"

"Gotta say Happy Thanksgiving," he explained, then, shaking his head in shame, he lamented,"I don't have her number in my phone."

"That's strange," Olivia said.

"I know!"

She took his phone and examined the contacts list. Since it included only his close family members, it wasn't very long, but Olivia immediately spotted the problem. Noah had identified G only with emojis, so he couldn't tell the number belonged to her. Olivia edited the contact with the letter and handed the phone to Noah. "Try it now," she said.

Noah giggled and replied, "Dere she is!" He tapped the Face Time icon and waited for her to pick up. When she did he gave a little wave and said, "Hi G! Happy Turkey Day! Didja watch da parade?"

G informed him that she had watched the parade, the dog show, and a little of the football games.

"Now whatcha doin?" Noah asked.

"I'm going to go have dinner with some people I know from work," G said, "What are you doing? It looks like you're all dressed up!"

"We're gonna have dinner and we have to look nice," Noah said and trained the camera on his mother, "Lookit Mommy!"

Olivia waved and said hello to G, thankful she was already wearing her dress. It was almost the same shade of green as Noah's shirt.

"So, G, I jus' wanted to call and tell ya that I'm thankful you're my friend," Noah said sincerely, "I'm glad we met at Sare Bear's 'partment."

Choked up, G barely croaked out enough words to reciprocate. Noah delivered the words with such ease and assuredness it made them sound even more sincere.

"We're gonna be back in New York on Sunday," Noah said, "So maybe da next week when Sare Bear picks me up we'll see ya!"

"Okay," G said. "Oh, and Noah-Happy Early Birthday!"

"Thanks," Noah said with a slight sigh, "Gonna be eight. I liketa write eights."

"It is a fun number."

Olivia turned off the bathroom lights, signaling to Noah it was time to wrap up. "G, we gotta go. Have a good day!"

G chuckled and nodded. "Okay, Noah. You have a good day, too."

Noah said goodbye and ended the call. He skipped out of the room, leaving his phone on the bed.

"That was so sweet of you honey," Olivia said, "I bet that call made G so happy."

Noah shrugged and said, "Prolly."

"I love that you're so kind to other people."

"You're kind, too, Mommy," Noah said, looking up at her and batting his eyelashes.

Olivia's breath caught in her throat. "Thank you, sweetie," she managed to reply, "How about we go downstairs and get this Thanksgiving meal started?"

"Yes!"

…

Ed walked into Olivia's apartment after a courtesy knock and found the living room in as much disarray as he'd ever seen it. Noah had scattered his toys on every surface, three plastic cups and a glass half full of water sat on the coffee table, and random articles of clothing were draped over two of the chairs. Lucy appeared from the kitchen and smiled. She looked relieved to see him.

"How's the patient?" Ed asked.

"She's okay," Lucy said in her typical polite manner. "She'll be glad to see you I'm sure."

The comment was more personal than Ed was used to hearing from Lucy and he wasn't sure how to respond.

"Noah's asleep," Lucy continued, "So…I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, sure," Ed gave Lucy and awkward smile. He was still holding the accordion file he'd brought from Olivia's office per her request and had a pharmacy bag in the other. Otherwise, he would have considered giving her a collegial pat on the shoulder. "Have a good rest of your day."

"I will. Thanks." Lucy flashed a smile and ducked out.

Ed wandered back into the corridor and made a left to Olivia's room. She was lying on her side facing the window, away from him, and breathing deeply. A circle of used tissues surrounded the box on her nightstand. Ed made a mental note to refresh her water after he made his initial assessment.

"Hey," he said softly, unsure if she was awake even though Lucy said she was.

Olivia turned toward him. "Hi," she said, managing a weak smile and motioning for him to come closer.

For a moment, Ed's mind flashed back all those years ago to when he arrived at the precinct and had to wake her up to give her bad news about Clyde Van Dyne. He could still picture her-even asleep it was obvious she was ill. He remembered the red nose, flushed face, and heavy, congested breathing, and she didn't look much different now. Only, this time, he was there as boyfriend…and courier.

"Brought the files," he said, holding up the brown package.

"Thank you," Olivia said, sitting up a bit, "I hope it wasn't too awkward for you."

"Nah," Ed lied, "Smooth as could be."

Olivia chuckled. "I bet," she replied and nodded to the bureau, "I'm not going to be able to work tonight, or, well, I don't want to. I'll deal with those in the morning."

Ed finally relieved himself of the bulky file and eyed the edge of the bed. "Okay if I sit?"

"Of course. Please." Olivia smiled when he kissed her forehead and gave her cheek a quick caress. "Thanks for coming."

"Nowhere else I want to be."

Olivia chuckled once more. "Liar."

"I'm serious," Ed gazed at her and smirked soulfully, "What can I get you?"

"Nothing at the moment," she said, "I think I'm starting to feel better actually."

"Really?"

Olivia laughed. "Do I look that bad?"

"No," Ed replied assuredly, "You sound bad."

"I'll take sounding bad over fever and my head feeling like it did last night."

"You should've called."

"It came on quick…it was weird. And, I didn't want to bother you."

"You, Olivia Benson, can always bother me. I want you to bother me."

"Can I bother you to possibly make Noah's dinner?"

Ed grinned, "Absolutely."

"There's some rice…and chicken…" Olivia sneezed and coughed, "And…"

Ed squeezed her hand. "I'll figure it out," he said softly. Noticing the late afternoon time, he asked, "Should I wake him up?"

"Oh! Gosh, yes. Thank you."

Ed got up, but Olivia didn't release his hand.

"I'm serious," she said, "Thank you."

Ed kissed her knuckles, made sure to make eye contact, and replied, "You're welcome." He walked out of the room, toward Noah's, and thought about how it was really him who should be thanking her. After all, she was allowing him to take care of her which, not too long ago, would have been one of life's greatest improbabilities.

…

Thanksgiving dinner went off without a hitch, and, afterward, Ed, Justin, and Sonny readily volunteered to tackle the dishes. Ed mumbled something about it being the only way he wouldn't fall asleep and the other two men agreed. Noticing the gender division, Noah shadowed the kitchen crew and dragged Wyatt along. Ed smirked at his sons and gave them both dish towels. "You're on drying duty," he said. Noah nodded. Wyatt was already wiping silverware and placing it blindly in the proper drawer for he wasn't tall enough to see inside. Ed smiled. He would fix everything later.

"That was the best turkey I've ever eaten," Justin said, "My family, we always make turkey, but it's never the best thing. I think this turkey was…a highlight for sure."

Ed chuckled. "My mother hates turkey. Or, well, hated it. She came to the U.S. when she was a teenager. Thanksgiving has never been a part of her heart and soul, but she and my dad wanted to assimilate. So she spent the past sixty years trying to figure out a brine and seasoning for the turkey that would make it better. I think she probably figured it out."

"Do you know the secret?" Sonny asked.

Ed glanced at Noah, but it was a warning to Sonny. Ed knew what he was getting at. "I think I do," Ed replied, "I can't be sure. But it's around her house somewhere. I know it."

Noah toweled off a large mixing bowl and put it in the proper cabinet. "I know how Gramma makes her carrots so I like 'em," he said, "She puts Kerrygold and Celtic salt on 'em. I don't like any other carrots." He made a point to look each man in the eye as he said any other carrots and neither Sonny nor Justin had ever seen him so serious.

"I'ove ca'rits!" Wyatt announced. He jumped and almost hit his head on the countertop edge. Ed put his hand in the way at the last second.

"Pops instinct," Justin remarked.

"Yeah," Ed muttered. His heart sank, for he remembered how Justin had lost his own dad as a young boy. It jolted Ed. Even though Justin was almost thirty years old, Ed felt suddenly protective of him and his feelings.

"I remember smacking my head on the corner of the counter when I was little," Carisi chimed in. "Bled all over the floor, it was a mess."

"Didja haveta get stitches?" Noah asked.

"Sure did." Carisi smoothed back his hair and showed Noah a tiny, barely visible scar about a half inch past his hairline.

"Whoa." Noah replied. He proceeded to ask Ed and Justin if either one of them had ever had stitches.

"Yup," Ed replied, "A few times."

Justin, too, reported he had been stitched up twice.

"No stitches for me," Noah said, "Only a cast."

"I remember," Sonny said, "Wow, that seems like a long time ago."

"I was five," Noah reported, "Or maybe six. No, five."

"I think you were almost six, bud," Ed clarified.

Noah addressed his brother, "Wyatt, you were jus' a little baby then so you don't 'member, but I think Sare Bear helped ya sign my arm."

"Like'a tattoo!" Wyatt said brightly.

Ed laughed. "Uh-oh. No more tattoos, remember, bud?"

"Oh'ly on paper."

"Right."

"You gonna get a tattoo when you're older, Wyatt?" Sonny asked.

Wyatt nodded.

"What's all this talk about tattoos?" Olivia sauntered into the room, patted Ed on the back and winked at Noah and Wyatt.

"Just planning for the future," Ed replied.

"Oh," Olivia grinned and pretended to glare at her husband but she never did a very good job of making anyone think she was actually mad. "We're about ready to watch a movie," she said, "How's it going in here?"

"Almost done, Mommy!" Noah said. "Wyatt and I are drying as fast as we can!"

"Thank you for helping, sweet boys."

"Welcome. What movie are we watchin?"

"We have it narrowed down to three choices. We'll let you and the twins pick." Olivia waved her arm, "C'mon."

"No, Mommy, gotta finish here first."

"Okay." Olivia bent down and kissed the top of his head. "Take your time."

…

Brooke, Sarah, and Olivia woke up early the morning after Thanksgiving and quietly brought in the birthday decorations they had hidden in the shed. They hung a Happy Birthday banner on the porch, tied balloons around each post, and piled presents on the indoor dining table. They used Noah's favorite colors-blue and green-and accented the display with geography-themed trinkets. Sarah turned one of them, a compass, around and around in her hand and remarked that this seemingly antiquated tool would probably become Noah's favorite part of the day. Then, she scavenged around in the outdoor fridge for bloody mary mix.

"I don't know what it is about the beach," she said, "But, summer or winter, I drink too much and I'm hungover and then I drink too much."

"I'm sure you're not the only one with this affliction," Olivia replied. Her maternal instincts had only a few times sounded alarms about Sarah's affinity for alcohol and she speculated privately to Ed that the reason she wasn't more concerned is that Sarah gravitated toward cocktails in times of celebration, not despair. When she was down, which wasn't often, she drank less.

"Make me one," Brooke said, shaking her hair away from her face in the morning breeze. "I, too, drank way too much last night. Ugh."

Olivia smiled, remembering Ed saying something about barely being able to close the recycling bin's lid the night before. They all had had their share of wine during dinner and pre-and-post meal cocktails.

"Livvie? Do you ever get hangovers? You always seem so normal."

"Oh I have had them," Olivia replied breezily, "But I've learned to pace myself. My last glass of wine lasted a few hours."

Sarah tapped the side of her head. "Smart, smart, smart." She stirred the drinks and passed glasses to Brooke and to Olivia who didn't request one but was served anyway. "Cheers."

Brooke took a sip, stepped back, and assessed their work. "Noah is going to love this," she said, "He's going to be so surprised. I don't think he thought he was getting anything more special than a boat ride today. And maybe some cake."

Smiling at the rising sun, Olivia replied, "I know. The boat is so important to him. He's been checking the weather every day hoping it would be warm enough."

"He's so….modest," Sarah said, "Like, any other kid would be bouncing off the walls at his birthday and presents and all he wants is a boat ride."

"Somehow he's figured out that experiences are more important than things," Olivia said.

"That's good parenting," Sarah remarked.

Brooke laughed. "Oh, God. The last experience Sofia had was the aquarium and she was freaked out. But she loved the stuffed whale we bought her. I think she prefers things."

The three women shared a laugh.

"Hey," Sarah said, "Those fish look like they're coming at you through the glass. I don't blame her. It's dark, eerie lighting, I can see how she'd be scared."

Brooke shrugged, "We're resigned to the fact that Sof is a little weird."

Sarah laughed so hard tears rolled down her cheeks. She jostled Brooke's shoulders. "Oh, Brookey," she said breathlessly, "At least you're embracing it."

Brooke raised her glass. "That we are."

…..

The Tucker kids abandoned unpacking duties as soon as they walked through the doors of Sarah's Gulf Coast condo and made beelines for the balcony. When exploring options, the first feature of this particular unit that resonated with Sarah was the outdoor space. The balcony spanned the entire length of the corner unit so the living area and two of the bedrooms had exterior access doors. It was large enough for a four top table and four other side chairs and whenever they visited, Noah, Maggie, and Wyatt spent most of their "inside" time out there.

"We gotta get out there!" Maggie exclaimed. The waves were perfect for body surfing.

Wyatt shifted his weight from bare foot to bare foot. He kicked off his shoes as soon as they piled into the rental SUV. "I know!" He said through clenched teeth, his mind churning with ideas on how they could possibly skip or postpone unpacking.

Noah started to deliver the wise suggestion that they suck it up and help unload the car, but Maggie was a step ahead of him.

"How does Sof just get to lay on the couch and read?" She asked bitterly.

Noah and Wyatt turned around. Wyatt's jaw dropped. They were in paradise and Sofia was sitting in an armchair facing away from the balcony with her nose buried in a book. Wyatt could appreciate the book part of the scene, but not Sofia's preferred view of the kitchen.

"Wyatt?" Maggie asked, "How can she just do that?"

Wyatt shrugged. His own copy of The Catcher in the Rye was in his cargo shorts pocket. Last summer he'd discovered a list of the one hundred best American novels and immediately began making his way through it, crossing off titles as he finished them. Sofia preferred fantasy graphic novels and comics which were among Wyatt's least favorite genres. He preferred to read about events that had or could have actually happened in real life.

"I dunno," he mumbled.

"C'mon," Noah said, asserting his role as big brother and oldest kids, "Let's go inside."

Maggie and Wyatt groaned but followed him.

"Hey, Sof," Noah said, "Where are the parents?"

Sofia looked around the room as if she was surprised to find herself there and not in her New York apartment. "I guess they're in the car."

"Why are you whispering?" Maggie asked.

"Mari and Anthony are sleeping." Sofia nodded in the general direction of the bedroom Sarah and Justin were going to share with their two children. With the newest additions, the number of the people in the condo swelled to twelve. Both Ed and Sonny had offered to rent a place in the same complex, but Sarah insisted everyone stay there. Each family had their own bedroom and bathroom she had argued before begging them to humor her for one more year.

"I'm gonna go help," Noah said, giving his siblings a pointed look.

Wyatt nodded dutifully.

Maggie plopped down on the couch across from Sofia. "I'm going to stay here with Sof," she said sweetly.

Noah narrowed his eyes at his sister, silently telling her to behave.

She grinned back at him.

"So," Maggie said to Sofia even though the younger girl returned to her reading, "Are you ready for Crab Island?"

Sofia slowly turned her head toward Maggie. Technically her aunt, Maggie had never extended much kindness of affection toward Sofia. She was too young to remember Maggie's toddlerhood snubs, but she definitely sensed an iciness from her.

"I'm not going," she said.

"Why not?" Maggie asked, twisting her face into a curious grimace.

"I'm just not."

"Why? Not?" Maggie pressed for answers. Crab Island was a highlight of the trip for everyone. "You can read on a float."

Sofia sighed. She thumbed through the unread pages of her book and stared straight ahead. "I'm just going to stay here with Mari. She's too young."

"She's not too young," Maggie protested, "And we can take them back if they get too hot. We always stay out all day. Or almost all day."

Sofia shrugged.

Maggie had trouble processing her emotions. Though she and Sofia were not close and she couldn't even call her a friend, she was borderline angry about her decision to stay behind. "I don't get it," Maggie said, shaking her head, "Why would you want to stay here in the air conditioning when there's a whole ocean out there?"

"Maggie," Sofia replied sharply, "If you really must know, I got my period yesterday."

Maggie fell back as if she'd been gut punched. "Oh," she said in a conciliatory voice. "I'm sorry." She truly was sorry, for Maggie had not yet experienced her first cycle and by all accounts and despite her mother's assurances, it sounded awful.

"So…yeah."

Maggie had always had the upper hand in interactions with Sofia, so she was unsure how to navigate this particular conversation. Suddenly, the quiet, mousy girl seemed older and more mature and, though Maggie would never outwardly admit it, a tiny bit intimidating.

"You can…uh…still go?"

"My mom got me some special swim bottoms, but…"

"You don't trust them." Maggie finished for her.

"No."

"Well I think you should still go," Maggie said brightly, "We always have to go back to the marina for a bathroom break. It'll be okay. And nobody's gonna ask why you're not getting in the water because you hardly ever get in anyway…"

Sofia managed a tiny smile. Maggie was not wrong.

"My friend at school uses tampons…" Sofia said in a barely audible voice.

Maggie cringed. "I've seen the directions for those," she said, "It looks scary."

"Uh-huh."

"But I'm still gonna try them."

"I guess." Hearing footsteps, Sofia looked at the door and closed her book. The conversation had to conclude in a matter of seconds.

"Come to Crab Island," Maggie said, "I'll check on you. I promise."

Sofia replied with a sarcastic snort.

"Seriously," Maggie stood up and stretched like her father stretched after a long flight or road trip, "I will."

Like the rest of the family, Sofia knew Maggie's eyes always betrayed her true feelings. Maggie was the worst liar because she absolutely could not control the emotions in her blue peepers. Sofia could tell Maggie's offer was sincere and compassionate. She nodded seconds before the rest of the family burst through the door, shouldering the remainder of their bags.

"Okay," Sofia whispered so only Maggie heard, "I'll go."

….

Ed managed to keep Noah upstairs for enough time to allow everyone else to gather in the kitchen. They huddled together and shouted "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" when Noah appeared at the foot of the stairs. His jaw dropped and he struggled for words. Olivia thought he might cry. Ed held him by the shoulders and whispered, "Lookit that, bud. Your favorite colors." Noah nodded. Still unable to speak, he rushed to his mother and she wrapped him in a hug.

"Happy birthday, sweet boy," she whispered. "I love you so much. Eight years old…"

The mention of the eight snapped Noah out of his trance. "I love those eights!" He exclaimed into her shoulder.

"I know you do."

Maggie and Wyatt could not contain their excitement. Wyatt yanked open the door leading to the porch and pointed outside. "BOONS. NO! BOONS!"

"You got more dec'rations out there?" Noah asked incredulously.

"We went all out, Noey," Sarah said gleefully.

"Wow…" Noah wandered out onto the porch. He was still dressed in his pajamas and wore nothing on his feet, but the sun was out and the blue skies portended a perfect day. He read the banner and gently batted each balloon bouquet. "Dis is great," he added before spinning around on his heel, looked directly at Ed, and asked, "We're still goin' on da boat, right?"

Ed chuckled. "Yeah, bud. We are."

After breakfast and a few games of cornhole, it was time to leave for the marina. Ed and Noah left before everyone else to prepare the Pontoon which had been sitting idle for three months. On the way, Noah rattled off the list of chores-uncovering everything, wiping the seats and life jackets, and testing the navigation mechanisms.

"We don't need ta make sure we have da tow rope," Noah said cheerfully, "Cause we're not gettin' on da tube!"

"No, bud, we're not," Ed replied, "A little too cold for that. But we're going to have a nice time out here on the bay."

"Yup!" Noah replied, not sounding the least bit dejected about not having a summer-type experience on the pontoon. "S'gonna be a great day! And, it's kinda hot!"

"It is a little warm," Ed agreed, "But it'll be cooler out there on the water with the wind."

"Yeah…"

Ed sensed an abrupt shift in Noah's mood. "Y'alright, bud?" He asked, looking at Noah via the rear view mirror.

"Daddy, I have to tell you something."

Ed's stomach flip-flopped. The kid was barely eight-years-old. What did he have to tell? Ed maintained his composure. "What's that, pal?"

"I just remembered something," Noah replied, sticking his tongue through the gap in teeth on the right side of his mouth. He had recently lost the second of his baby incisors.

"What's that?"

"I know da tooth fairy isn't real."

Relief washed over Ed. He could deal with this. Well, for now he could. He remembered the elaborate story that they'd told Noah about baby teeth feeding gardens in Central Park and momentarily cringed. "How did ya find that out?" Ed asked, conceding the parental defeat, for Noah sounded as convinced as ever.

"The money I got last time-it had a smiley on Abe Lincoln."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Noah replied, "And I drew da smiley!"

Through laughter, Ed asked, "Ya drew the smiley face and put it back in my wallet?"

"Uh-huh," Noah said, starting to giggle and assuming he was forgiven.

Ed steered into a parking spot at the marina and quickly hopped out. He helped Noah from the backseat and jostled his head on their way to the docks. "So, why'd ya draw on Abe?"

"Da beard didn't look right!" Noah said, "So I fixed it a little and then I drew a smile 'cause I never see Pres'dent Lincoln smile."

"Oh, well, then, I'm glad you did it."

"Did he ever smile?"

"I'm sure," Ed replied, "Once or twice in his life, he did."

"I've smiled a gabillion times."

Ed grinned. "And you'll smile ten gabillion more."

…..

#Tuckson