Wonderfully Normal
2024 Thanksgiving Marathon

Part Three

After slathering sunblock on DJ's back and neck, Steve smiled when his son pulled his shirt back on. They were prepared for a morning on the water with Chin, Aaron and Danny. The boat, which belonged to one of Chin's cousins, bobbed gently at the dock.

"Are you ready to catch your biggest fish yet?" Chin asked DJ, his smile infectious as he helped his nephew with his life jacket.

DJ nodded eagerly. "I can't wait! What do you think we're going to catch?"

"Hopefully a big tuna," Danny replied, swinging a cooler onto the boat. "But if we catch something smaller, we can still make it as a side dish for Thanksgiving."

"Remember," Steve told Danny while playfully tugging on DJ's Cubs cap, "patience is key."

"Sometimes it takes a while to get a bite, but we just wait them out. Right, Uncle Chin?"

"Exactly," Chin replied, while Aaron said, "Can't be worse than your first time catching a tuna, right?" to Danny. The detective had told him about the ill-fated fishing excursion where he and Steve had gotten boat-jacked as soon as they'd planned that morning's activity.

Danny rapped three times on the boat's rail. "Shhh," he looked around exaggeratedly, "don't let them hear you."

"Who?" Aaron grinned. "The fish?"

"The fates. King Neptune. Whoever. Don't jinx it."

"Ahh, got it." Aaron feigned a serious look. "We don't want that."

After a group selfie, they set off with DJ standing next to Steve, taking in the sight of the ocean. It was calm that morning, and he could see several dolphins breaching and twisting playfully in the boat's wake.

Back at the house, the girls were ready for their morning plans. Carrie arrived to a flurry of hugs, kisses and squeals, bearing a bag of malasadas. "Ready for some serious fun?" she asked, slipping an arm around Mary's shoulder.

"Yes!" Joan exclaimed, "I can't wait to get my nails done."

Catherine smiled at the kids' excitement. "You can tell Aunt Carrie about the decorations you're making for this year's Thanksgiving table in the car."

"I need the bathroom first," Angie announced, already moving towards the downstairs one. "Be right back."

With a look at Mary as soon as Angie was out of earshot Carrie said, "Joan, I noticed something the second I saw you," with a grin.

"You did? What?"

"You're looking much older, more mature … wait, are you wearing a bra? You are, aren't you?"

Joan gasped a pleased little gasp. "Really? That's what Aunt Cath said!"

"Then it must be true."

When the pre teen giggled happily and turned toward Catherine, Mary mouthed, 'Thanks' and smiled at Carrie's almost imperceptible wink.

Catherine drove the group to their favorite nail spa, where the air was scented with lavender and soft music filled the salon. Before they settled into their chairs, the nail technicians greeted them with familiar smiles.

"What color are you getting, Joanie?" Angie asked. She loved the nail spa and usually chose a matching mani pedis with her mommy, grandma or aunt.

"Something Thanksgivingy," Joan said while the perused the wall of polish bottles. "Maybe orange?"

"Ohhh can we all match?" Angie asked, swiveling around to look at the adults.

"Whatever you girls pick, we'll match you," Catherine said while Mary and Carrie agreed.

"Yay! Let's do orange!"

As soon as they were all seated in a row, Carrie began with, "So…" her blue eyes twinkling, "let me tell you about the time Steve and John were trying to out pace Catherine and me on a kayak."

"And we're going there?" Catherine shook her head. "Of course we are."

"Yay, tell us!" Angie said, with pleading eyes.

"Oh, a new one." Mary grinned, clapping lightly.

"Luckily, I've got a million of 'em," Carrie said. "This one involves a kayak, a very big snake and a lot of screaming."

"A snake?" Joan asked, her nose wrinkled at the mention of the reptile. "What happened?"

Carrie shook her head, feigning indecision while a smile played on her lips. "Or you might not want to hear this story..."

"Yes we do!" "Please!" The kids said together and by the time everyone's feet were in to soak, she was already in full swing.

"Well, they bet us dinner and a movie, winners take all," her voice took on a storytelling aura, "and of course we were all in." She grinned at Catherine who was smirking at the memory.

"Where were you?" Mary asked.

"On a weekend pass. Cath and I were first years and the guys had swung a rare leave at the same time. We were walking through East Potomac Park and your brother saw the kayak rental sign and went into crazily competitive mode. Next we knew we were paddling on the river.

So, gorgeous," she smiled at Angie, "guess who was on the rudder?"

Angie giggled, "Mommy?"

"Winner winner, chicken dinner!" She faced Joan. "That's the part of the kayak that you use to steer. Anyway, we're paddling along, when a giant…" she held her arms apart, "and I mean giant, rat snake swims right up to the kayak."

"Ewwwwww!" Joan recoiled in her seat. "No way!"

"Way." Catherine said, remembering her best friend's reaction.

"And your Aunt Cath was her usual calm self, while I screamed like a schoolgirl… which considering we hadn't been commissioned yet, I technically was."

"I would've screamed loud enough to be heard in Los Angeles," Mary said with a shudder.

"Oh, I was pretty loud. Steve called out, 'Eastern rat snake, it's not venomous,' and kept paddling.

Uncle John knows I don't exactly love things that slither and he yells, 'Carrie, stay in the kayak!' because truth be told, if mister rat snake tried to board, I was totally abandoning ship."

"Again, right with you," Mary said.

"So my bestie here was trying to hold us steady and not laugh. It was a disaster. Needless to say, we lost that bet."

"Aww I'm sorry you lost but that was scary, even though I know you're brave, Aunt Carrie." Joan smiled, genuinely sympathetic. "Daddy says everybody's scared of something."

"Because Aaron's very smart."

Angie tilted her head and asked, "Was the snake okay?"

Carrie hid a laugh behind a cough. "Never change, gorgeous. Yes, he was fine."

"You're a special person, Angie," the technician working on Catherine said with a smile for the little girl she'd known since her first visit as a three year old. "Are you all matching fingers and toes?"

"Yes, please! We all want orange and me and Joanie are getting a pumpkin decal on one finger."

"Perfect," the young woman said as she tapped the footrest area and Angie placed both little feet on it. "Let's get you ready for Thanksgiving."

Back on the boat, DJ was focused, watching the fishing line with serious eyes. "Think we're going to catch one, Dad?" he asked, peering over the edge,

"I've got a good feeling," Steve said, "Fishing is all about being ready and waiting for the right moment. You're doing great."

"I agree, I'm feeling lucky," Danny said, casting his own line into the water.

As they waited, DJ suddenly felt a tug on his line. "I think I've got something!" he shouted and excitement rippled through the group. "Something big!"

"You do!" Aaron exclaimed.

"Reel it in!" Steve said, his eyes on his son as he watched Chin expertly step over to take his rod so he could help DJ.

"Whoa, that is a big one!" Danny shouted, scrambling closer in case they needed help. The atmosphere electrified with energy as they all leaned in, eyes glued to the line, hoping the eleven year old had a good catch.

DJ fought with the fish, grunting with effort. "It's a tuna! I got a tuna!"

Steve stepped behind his son, placing one hand on the rod. "You've got him, nice and steady, buddy, bring him in."

With a final tug, the tuna broke the surface, was pulled in and everyone cheered.

DJ jumped up and down, his joyful laughter ringing out over the water. "It's my biggest fish ever!" He half laughed, half shouted. "My first tuna!"

"Great job," Steve replied, pride swelling in his chest as he shared his son's excitement. "You caught your first tuna, buddy!"

All three uncles were hugging him and patting his back with the slapping gesture they used for other adults. A gesture not lost on the beaming pre teen with the gloriously happy brown eyes. "Wow," he whispered, more to himself than out loud.

"We're adding sashimi to the menu," Aaron said as Chin and Danny nodded.

When DJ held up the catch with his help, Steve bent to kiss his son's temple, musing he seemed to have grown taller in the last few minutes - right before his eyes.

# TBC