November 2014
Thanksgiving was a holiday that Gabby did not celebrate no matter how many times Antonio had hounded her that it was the perfect time to thank him for everything he'd done for her, usually dripping with sarcasm and a smile. It was a time of year she didn't like in general. She had very few fond memories around the holidays. Instead, she remembered the homeless shelter with Antonio where they were fed when their father was drinking away his life. She remembered the year their mother came back into the picture for a few short hours until they found her high as a kite in the bathroom. She remembered soldiers reading letters from their families, holding onto pictures and memories.
"Hey babe," Matt called from the bedroom as he got ready. Gabby was already done, just finishing up some last minute things before they left. "Are you sure about this?" She knew this wasn't his ideal Thanksgiving. Herrmann was hosting a feast for those who didn't have a place to go for the holiday, but Gabby had an idea to help and try to get Matt to understand where she was coming from when she said no to the invitation.
It didn't take long to get to their destination. Matt parked the car in the parking lot, only a few cars scattered across the lot. There was a line out the door and memories came flooding back. These people were dressed in rags. Some were ripped, some somewhat new, but all were dirty like they hadn't been washed in days. She felt Matt's hand on her shoulder, steadying her. It wasn't the easiest thing to remember for her. Antonio and her were usually a couple of the many kids there, kids who would go without food except for at school. Breaks were the hardest, and places like this were the only place they could turn to.
Gabby took Matt's hand and slowly walked in, being greeted at the door and led to the kitchen where the other volunteers were making final preparations. They still had a few minutes until serving started.
"Why?" he asked her quietly. "We could be at Herrmann's, so why here?" She took a deep breath. She'd told him all about her family before, but never this part of her life. A part of her felt like if she did, then he would pity her rather than lovee her.
"This is where Antonio and I would come for the holidays. Not here exactly, but homeless shelters fed us and gave us clothes when our father wouldn't." He nodded, and kissed her softly. For once, she knew he understood. And for once, she felt like there wasn't any pity but rather unconditional love despite the hardships.
They spent two hours serving food, and another spent talking to those they were helping. She knew Matt had never been to a place like this, gotten up close and personal with these kinds of people, but she had. She talked to them, told them they could make a life for themselves like she had. The sky was the limit when you'd hit rock bottom.
As the night drew on, they'd found each other again in the crowd. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in and kissing her temple. "Let's go home," she said with a smile. He nodded, escorting her out of the building and to the truck.
"Thank you, Gabby," he told her once they'd gotten in the truck. She looked at him, slightly confused. There was no reason to thank her. "I knew there were people who didn't have places to go for the holidays, but I never gave it much thought until now. I suggest that we do this every year. At least the ones we don't work." Words couldn't describe how she felt about that. Instead, she just kissed him, glad to have somebody who started to really understand.