Author's Note: Possible spoilers...although what do I really know!? I would like to thank Shu for reading this story before I published it, and beta-ing. Little did she know what she was getting into when she said she'd read it! Haha! I hope you enjoy reading the story, even more than I enjoyed writing it! :) Thanks to all those that reviewed the the teaser and those that added me to their alert list. Keep the reviews coming, and I'll post the next part! ;)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, except maybe some of the idea for this story...
Turkey Trouble - Thanksgiving in Tree Hill
Part 1
She splashed water on her face in the small bathroom. She heard the front door close. "Luke," she called and stepped into the hall.
"Hey Blondie! How you feeling?" Lucas said putting the mail on the table. His eyes met hers and he already knew the answer. "Come here you." He gestured his arms open and inviting. She wanted very much to relax into his arms for a bit, but she had work to do, and he was partially to blame for her feeling as awful as she did.
"No! I have a turkey to prepare." She stated and turned on her heels heading into the kitchen.
"You're going to make a turkey?" Lucas asked following her into the kitchen, then hesitantly he added, "Do you know how to make a turkey?"
She whipped around fire in her eyes, but said nothing. The message was clear, back off! She then turned back toward the frozen bird, took a deep breath, and began opening drawers looking for an unknown utensil.
He backed out of the room into the hall. He ran his hand through his short hair. He needed to do some quick thinking, because he did not want Peyton to eat whatever the results turned out to be, especially in her condition, and also because he did not want to eat it either. He knew just where to go. "Hey hon, I'm going out. Give me a call if you need anything." He called through the house and quickly made his exit, before she even had time to respond.
***
Haley peeked in the oven to spy on the pie she was baking - pumpkin pie, of course, solely traditional. The delicious smell permeated throughout the Scott home. It greeted Lucas as he entered the house without even knocking. "Well Hales, if I didn't know better, I'd think I had entered my mom's home."
Flattery. "What is it you want Lucas Eugene Scott?" she glared playfully, resting her hands on the island as he approached.
He smirked. Ok, let's try complete honesty. "I need your help. Peyton's trying to make a turkey." He sat down on a stool at the island. "So I need you to call her and invite us to Thanksgiving here tomorrow."
"Ha!" She let out one forced laugh. "What happened to Karen, Andy and Lilly coming home for Thanksgiving?"
Suddenly Lucas looked like a wounded puppy dog. "It's just too expensive to come now for Thanksgiving, then for Christmas, and for the wedding." He shrugged. Pity maybe that will work.
"You realize I already have a full house? Nathan went to the airport to pick up my parents. It's our turn this year for them to visit us for Thanksgiving. Deb will be here of course, with Skills, and Mouth is coming as well. He's pretty upset about the whole Millie situation. I have already taken pity on Brooke; so she and Sam will be here." She was on a roll. "When I first started planning Thanksgiving I thought it would be us Deb, and my parents." She opened the fridge and sighed, "Lucas I would love to have you and Peyton, I would…I'm just overwhelmed is all. That and I think I'm going to need more food."
"Well you're in luck because we have a turkey and who knows what else she bought from the store!" He pointed out, as he handed her the phone.
She dialed, as the phone began to ring, she whispered, "What about her dad, is he coming in?" Her oldest friend just shrugged.
"Hello!?" Peyton answered in huff.
"Oh um Hi," Haley began, "Is now a bad time?"
"No. No. I'm just…frustrated." Peyton sighed.
"Well, hey I completely have no idea how Thanksgiving has snuck up on me! I guess with teaching, writing songs, and just everything else…you know being a mom and wife. It really just came out of no where!" Haley half laughed half sighed, giving Lucas the evil eye. "I know its last minute, but I was really hoping you could join us for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow." Haley nodded and said, "Mmmhmm. Oh, I see."
Jamie entered the kitchen. "Hey Uncle Lucas!"
"Hi J Luke!" Lucas was afraid of what Peyton might be saying on the other line, by the looks of the conversation from his end… She must be turning Haley down! Think fast.
Jamie had opened the fridge. "Mama, I can't even get the milk out with all this food in here!" He complained not realizing she was on the phone.
Luke kept an eye and ear on Haley on the phone as he maneuvered the food items around to reach the milk Jamie needed. "Do you want me to pour you some buddy?" he asked.
"I can do it myself." Jamie explained. Haley saw Lucas and Jamie's interaction and pointed her finger and shook her head 'No!' Jamie then added, "But you can if you want."
The uncle poured his nephew a small glass of milk and settled him up on the same bar stool he had been sitting on seconds earlier.
"I understand Peyton." Haley held up her arms at Lucas in defeat, "Well, if you need any help, just call you know."
Lucas started waving wildly at Haley, to not hang up.
Jamie looked back in forth between the two adults that were acting awfully silly and shook his head.
Suddenly Lucas looked at Jamie, he pointed to Jamie and then to the phone.
Haley rolled her eyes, and said "Hey Peyton hold on second, don't hang up. Jamie just came in here and I must find out what he needs." She held her hand over the phone and whispered to Lucas, "I know I'm good Luke, but don't read minds. What the heck are you trying to say!?"
"Jamie you really want your favorite Uncle and soon to be Aunt Peyton to come to Thanksgiving dinner here tomorrow don't you?" Lucas asked the little boy.
"Sure!" Jamie replied he had yet to drink any of the milk. "Mama can I have some of what you're baking?" he then asked.
"No!" Haley turned around smiling and rolling her eyes all at once. She returned her attention to the phone. "Sorry Peyton, being a mother never ends I tell you. Jamie wants a piece of the pie I'm baking for tomorrow's dinner." She laughed, and then lowered her voice. "He also asked me if Uncle Lucas and Aunt Peyton were coming to Thanksgiving, I haven't the heart to tell him no, yet. He really wanted everyone to be here."
Peyton starred at the turkey that was now out of its packaging, and sitting on a large piece of aluminum foil. She still hadn't taken whatever was inside of it out. She didn't want to think about that again. She didn't really want to make the turkey she just wanted Lucas to have a perfect Thanksgiving. He is going to be such a wonderful dad, she thought. He absolutely loved Jamie. She loved watching how he was with the youngest Scott boy. There is no way I'm disappointing Jamie. "We'll be there." She told Haley.
Haley spun around and gave Luke and Jamie a 'thumbs up.' "Great! Oh he'll be so happy!" Then, she asked, "Did you say you had a turkey?"