Mari & Ilna-you're the best.
McRollers-thanks for reading.
Watching the Clock (1/1)
"I don't understand why we can't just leave now." Joan sighed dramatically as she flopped backwards on her bed. "We're all packed. Daddy is home from work. Casey's done with classes. Aunt Deb said she was ready when she called earlier. We could just leave tonight."
"We couldn't get a flight tonight," Mary explained for what felt like the hundredth time as she finished putting the clothes her daughter had decided against taking back in her drawers. "Apparently a lot of people want to go to Hawaii for Thanksgiving. The earliest flight we could get was tomorrow morning."
"I wish we were going right now," Joan said, her voice taking on just a hint of a whine. "I can't wait to see Angie and DJ."
"I took care of anything in the refrigerator that might spoil in a week," Aaron said as he appeared in the doorway. "I'll put the trash can out tomorrow morning before we leave for the airport."
"Thanks." Mary winked at him. "That's my least favorite pre-vacation task. I appreciate you doing it."
"I wish we were leaving toniiiiiiiight," Joan said, adding extra emphasis for her father's benefit.
"Well, if you really can't wait to get going, there is a way." Aaron raised his eyebrows. "But I'm not sure you'll want to do it."
"I will!" Joan sat up excitedly. "What do I have to do?"
"Grab your floaties," Aaron said. "We'll swim to Hawaii! You're gonna have to carry your own suitcases though."
Mary barked a laugh. "You two have fun. Aunt Deb, Casey, and I will meet you there."
"You're silly, Daddy!" Joan giggled. "We couldn't swim to Hawaii."
"Then I guess we better just wait til tomorrow and fly with Mommy and Aunt Deb and Casey." Aaron sat down on the bed and tickled his daughter's belly. "If you go right to sleep it'll be here before you know it."
Cody poked his head in Catherine's office door as she was getting ready to head home. "Jess wants to know if there's anything she can bring on Thursday other than cherry pie."
"I think we're all set," Catherine said with a smile. "I appreciate her making a pie. I know how busy she is."
"She's very excited. Don't tell her I told you this but she's been practicing," Cody confided. "She wants to make sure it's perfect. She's never actually been in charge of making a dish for Thanksgiving before."
Catherine chuckled. "I remember what my first time was like. I felt very grown up."
"She plans on baking two in case there's some kind of disaster," Cody said. "So I hope everyone likes cherry pie. I've had it every night for the last week and honestly I'm not sure I could deal with any leftovers."
"Don't worry," Catherine assured him. "Between Danny, Aaron, Steve, and my dad all the pie will get eaten."
Cody grinned. "With a little help from Angie."
"How many more sleeps until Joan gets here?" Angie asked as she bounced excitedly watching Catherine finish freshening up the guest room.
"One," Catherine said.
"YAY!" Angie threw her arms in the air. "I'm so excited!"
"Me too," Catherine said as fluffed the pillows.
"Will she be here when I wake up?" Angie asked hopefully.
"Not quite when you wake up," Catherine replied. "But she'll be here not too long after breakfast."
"She's gonna sleep in my room, right?"
Even though they had discussed the sleeping arrangements for the LA crew's visit multiple times, Angie wanted to confirm.
"Yes, Joan is sleeping in your room," Catherine promised.
"We can blow up the air mattress tonight," Angie offered.
Catherine chuckled. "Daddy will do that tomorrow."
She heard the front door close and knew Steve was back from dropping DJ at Michael's and making a quick trip to the grocery store.
"Let's go help Daddy put groceries away," Catherine suggested and the two headed down the stairs.
"Aunt Mary and Uncle Aaron will sleep in the guest room, right?" Angie asked as she hopped down each step.
Catherine nodded.
"And Aunt Deb is sleeping in the downstairs bedroom?"
"That's right," Catherine replied as they entered the kitchen.
"Did you get everything on the list?" Angie asked her father. "Even the extra pineapple? Aunt Deb loves pineapple from here. She says it's the best she ever tasted."
He held up one in each hand. "I got the extra pineapple."
"I told Mr. S. that Joan was coming for Thanksgiving and that she would be able to come to our friends and family picnic," Angie reported.
"What about Aunt Mary and Uncle Aaron and Aunt Deb?" Steve teased. "Don't they matter?"
"I'll be happy to see them," Angie said in a matter of fact tone. "But I'm most excited about seeing Joan."
Steve snorted a laugh. "Well, at least everyone always knows where they stand with you."
"She's gonna come to school with me and sleep in my room and we're gonna play games and it's gonna be so much fun."
As she continued to detail her plans for the week ahead she spotted a familiar sight on the kitchen counter. She pulled her stool over, hopped on, picked up Catherine's well worn notebook of lists and studied it.
"Not everything is crossed off." Her eyebrows creased with worry. "We need to be ready when Joan gets here."
"We will be," Catherine promised. "Some of the things on the list are for Thanksgiving so they don't need to be done today."
"Mommy's on vacation from work next week," Steve reminded his daughter. "And hopefully we won't catch a case so I'll be here to help."
"Me and DJ only have two days of school this week then we can help too." Angie continued to study the notebook. "I need a list too, so I make sure I get all my things done."
"Do you think you have enough 'things' to make up a list?" Steve asked.
Angie nodded in the affirmative. "I need to get a new notebook. Not one of my school ones."
"There's one in the bottom desk drawer in the den," Catherine said. "You can use that."
"Thank you." Angie hopped off the stool. "I'll go get it."
"She's getting more like you every day," Steve chuckled as Angie darted out of the room.
Suddenly, they heard the unmistakable sound of a small body landing heavily on the wood floor.
"What are you doing?" Catherine called out.
"I'm not flipping," Angie called from the living room. "I tried to jump over the chair like a vault."
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," she called, her voice getting fainter as she headed for the den. "Next time I'll push off better."
Catherine kissed Steve on the cheek before heading out to check on her daughter. "She's still a lot like you too."
THE END
Stay tuned for next week's Thanksgiving marathon. You'll get a new story each day from Monday thru Saturday.
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