Chapter 4
The ten of them gathered around the table and began to sit down at Zach's target time of four in the afternoon. Haley's beautiful Thanksgiving tablecloth adorned the table and Jess and Sela had the table perfectly set. Dave rubbed his hands together. "I've been waiting for this all day," he smiled, sitting down.
"You and me both," Merrill smiled. "It looks and smells fantastic."
Aaron, sitting at the head of the table, smiled. "Let's start by making this a true Thanksgiving dinner." He looked at his youngest son. "You're up to bat Jack."
Jack reverently bowed his head and said the Catholic table prayer for Uncle Dave and the Dobson's, then adding the Protestant prayer. They all joined together for the prayer of thanks. When he finished, Dave looked at him with a smile. "Thanks Champino." Jack beamed back. "However, before we dive in, I'd like to make a toast," he said, sitting at the other end of the table. He raised his wine glass holding the Chardonnay he had picked out for the occasion. Everyone smiled and raised their glasses, even Jack with his wine glass of Catawba Juice that Dave bought for him. "To being with family and special friends; and to three angels that are with us as well: Haley," he said looking at Aaron and Jack seated next to each other; they both smiled; "Shannon," he nodded at the Dobson's who smiled as well and "Erin."
"Hear, hear," Sean said. They all took a sip from their glasses.
Zach looked at Dave sitting to his left. "Good thing you made that short or Erin would have chewed you a new one," he said, giving Dave his devilish grin, rubbing his shoulder.
"Yes, she would have," Dave laughed. The rest laughed as well and dived into the wonderful meal.
Thirty minutes later, Merrill leaned back in his chair. "I'm stuffed; that was wonderful." Sela smiled at Zach and Jack polishing off the last of the huge bowl of strawberry Jell-O.
Jack gave Zach his version of his developing devil Hotchner smile and raised his spoon. "For mom," he said.
"For mom," Zach smiled back as they both ate the last bite.
Sela shook her head. "You two are really," the boys joined in, "lean, mean growing machines."
John roared with laughter as Jess started to get up. "Awww come on Aunt Jess," Zach said. "I just finished."
"You cooked," she smiled. "I clean up."
"Excuse me Jess, but so did you," Sean piped in. "And grandma," he said, looking at Hannah. "The clean-up job is on us guys that watched football." Hannah started to say something; Sean cut her off. "You wanna arm wrestle over it," he said with his big Hotchner grin. He put his elbow on the table.
"You know I have a bum right shoulder," she smiled, wagging her finger at him.
Zach looked at Dave. "Grandma has game; but I've got ten bucks on Uncle Sean."
"No bet," Dave smiled. "I agree with him. You in Merrill?"
"Gladly," he smiled. "I've been trained well," he smiled at Sela.
In forty minutes, the kitchen was completely clean, with the leftovers in the fridge so Zach could make the other Hotchner Thanksgiving tradition: turkey pot pie. Sean, cleaning out the sink he used to wash the dishes, winked at Merrill. "Don't tell anyone, but I think I like that more than the Thanksgiving dinner." He clamped his hand on Merrill's shoulder. "We eat well again Sunday night," he smiled. The ladies, sitting at the kitchen table nook, talking recipes all smiled. John was already softly snoring, stretched out in the recliner in the living room.
"Me too," Aaron smiled, putting the towel he used to dry some of the dishes over the handle of one of the ovens.
"Me three," Dave smiled, adding his towel to the other handle. The dishwasher in the kitchen silently did its work. "Where's the boys," he asked, looking at Aaron.
Aaron smiled. "I'm sure they're down in Zach's lair, playing video games together. My oldest son has got my youngest addicted."
Sean looked at Dave with a huge smile. "Christmas ideas," they said together. They pointed at each other.
Aaron shook his head. "Please, just don't buy Jack a system; he can use Zach's," he smiled.
Merrill looked at Aaron. "Would the boys mind if I dropped in?"
Aaron smiled and shook his head. "Not at all; honestly, they're really waiting for the real 'gamer' to join them." Merrill gave him a questioned look.
Dave cracked his knuckles, with a huge smile. "That would be me; and guys are allowed in Zach's lair." They headed to steps together. Aaron and Sean joined them a few seconds later after re-checking the kitchen.
Sela looked at Jess. "I gotta ask; how does Caleigh fit into 'the guys' place?"
"She's allowed," Jess brightly smiled. "Jack loves her; I don't have to tell you about Zach." Sela shook her head with a large smile. "And Sela, don't be surprised if she spends the rest of the weekend here."
"Merrill and I can't wait to meet her. Aaron told us about their relationship when they were at the cabin." She shook her head. "I can't imagine what she had to live with being nearly raped. However," she smiled, "if there's one man walking the face of this earth that make her trust again, it's Zach."
"Zach found himself a wonderful lady," Hannah proudly smiled. "We're all on pins and needles waiting for a diamond ring," she whispered, with a wink.
Sela looked at the two ladies. "Do you mind if I say something on that subject?"
Jess laughed, rubbing her shoulder. "We know Zach as well as you; two words: don't push," she beamed.
"Exactly," Sela smiled back. "He's got plans for his future and he'll take it one step at a time to make the plan work." She shook her head. "And honestly, I feel that his injury last season grounded him a bit; he realized his dream can slip away that quickly."
Hannah smiled. "John and I said the same thing; in retrospect, it was the best thing that could happen to him. And if he does achieve his dream, he'll appreciate the journey more."
Sela looked at the two women. "I'm just so glad all of you are still involved with the boys; and Aaron. They need that connection.
Hannah softly smiled. "We do too."
Downstairs in Zach's lair, the boys were playing Zach's latest version of MLB. They were teamed up against Dave and Sean. Jack torched a long home run off Sean's pitcher. Dave shook his head. "You do know that Zach programmed in these players? He knows all their pitching tendencies."
Sean looked at him. "And the squirt has already picked up on that?"
"Yupppppp," Jack said. Aaron and Merrill shared a laugh. The doorbell rang. "I know who that is," Jack excitedly said, bolting up the steps. He rushed to the front door and looked out the window at the side. His instinct was correct and he smiled as he unlocked the deadbolt. Aaron didn't have the security alarm set, but had that safety for the family in place. Over vigilance my ass he thought. Today; of all days.
Jack pulled the door open. "Hey Father Jimmy! I knew it was you!"
"Jack, my boy, my pride and joy," Father Jimmy smiled as he came in the door. Jack shut the door and re-bolted the deadbolt. The two shared a hug. Father Jimmy pulled off his coat.
"I'll hang that up for you Father Jimmy," Jack smiled.
"Thank you Jack," he smiled. "But I know how to make myself at home here. And my boy, you need to grow another inch or two," he smiled, pulling a hanger out of the front entry closet.
Sela looked at the two ladies at the table. Hannah smiled. "Welcome to the larger portion of our family, compliments of Uncle Dave."
Father Jimmy walked into the living room as John pushed the footrest of the recliner down. "A little after huge meal siesta John," Jimmy asked with a smile.
"You know better Father Jimmy," he smiled. "Zach and his crew did it again." They shook hands. Father Jimmy smiled his wide grin as the rest of the guys came up the steps and the ladies came out of the kitchen.
Jimmy handed Dave a brown bag that obviously held a liquor bottle. "Per you orders sir," he smiled.
"You get dessert, you contribute Jimmy," Dave smiled.
"If I get a piece of Zach's apple pie with some ice cream, I'm more than happy to contribute," he smiled.
The rest joined them in the living room. "I just started the coffee pot Father Jimmy," Jess smiled. Dave handed her the bottle. "And you know how much I love some Bailey's in my coffee."
Jimmy kissed her cheek. "You and mom both," he beamed, giving Hannah a huge hug.
"Father Jimmy Davison," Dave said, "this Sela and Merrill Dobson."
Father Jimmy, pulling out of hug from Zach looked at them. "As in the Dobson's that get me a crappie dinner?" Zach smiled at him. "It is an honor and pleasure to meet you. And my stomach thanks you as well," he smiled.
"Jimmy likes to eat good here too," Dave smiled at them.
They all milled into the kitchen. Zach shook his head at his dad and Jess. "What did mom always say?"
Jess rubbed his arm. "The saying that was on our grandmother's wall that was in her kitchen." Hannah beamed. "'No matter where I serve my guests; it seems they like my kitchen best'," she smiled, putting her arm around his waist.
"Can't argue with that Aunt Jess," he smiled, kissing her forehead.
"I remember that too," Aaron smiled at Jess. "I only met her once but Grandma Sarah was a wonderful woman; and an awesome cook."
"Seems to me it's in the genes," Merrill smiled.
The coffee pot finished; Sean grabbed mugs from the cupboard for the Bailey's and the fresh brew. He and Dave did the mixing, passing around the drinks to the adults.
Suddenly, Mudg rose from his sleeping spot in the nook and went to the front door. Merrill, with his trained law-enforcement ear, heard the deadbolt open. That takes a key he thought and started to smile. Sela noticed him as they all heard Mudg loudly bark his happy greeting.
Sela looked at Hannah. "Do we finally get to me her," she smiled.
"Hi Mudg," they all heard a female voice say.
Hannah beamed at Sela.
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A/N: I know: I've got some explaining to do. :D Catawba Juice is a non-alcoholic wine; it comes in different varieties, aka color, depending on the grapes used. In Angel Maker, the Season 4 episode that introduced us to Merrill and Sela Dobson, it was explained that Cortland Ryan killed Sela's daughter. Her name was never mentioned. I picked one at random. MLB once again is Major League Baseball.