Rob stood to face him and the smile returned to his face. "If you're here then, yeah, I would."
Julian was so happy to hear that. "I'm glad. Does that mean you'll be here for Thanksgiving? I understand if you want to go and be with your family."
"If I was going to some big family dinner, you and Danny would be invited too," Rob told him. "But my dad is spending Thanksgiving with his girlfriend. Her daughter's baby wasn't well so they're sticking close to home. I'm not sure if Christie is going over there."
"Does that mean you can have Thanksgiving here with us?" Julian said hopefully. "You could invite your sister, and maybe she could stay a few days."
"OK. I'll ask her," Rob said, his eyes bright.
"Look at him. He's a different man when he's looking at you," Rico said as he appeared next to Julian. He was squinting at Rob, whose expression had changed to a scowl thanks to Rico teasing him.
"We were just discussing Thanksgiving. Rob is going to be inviting his sister," Julian told him as Sam and Wyatt arrived for their own volunteering shift, bringing their kids as well as their dogs.
"You're inviting her to a Thanksgiving with two guys who can't cook?" Rico asked.
"Just don't try to cook the turkey. Don't even touch the turkey. Don't even look at the turkey," Sam told them.
"We only want to eat the turkey," Rob reassured him.
"In that case come over and have Thanksgiving at Grandma's," Rico told them. "My parents are coming, so we're all having it over there."
"She did invite us," Julian said, but he was going to decline.
"We are going and some of Wyatt's friends will be there too," Sam told them.
"And I was really looking forward to figuring out how to tackle a turkey," Wyatt said.
"You understand that people want to be able to eat a turkey, right?" Rico asked him.
"That would be the general idea," Wyatt said.
"I mean eat the turkey and not die," Rico said to make himself absolutely clear.
"So will you guys be there?" Mitch asked Julian and Rob.
They looked at each other. "We could go, right?" Rob said.
"OK. I'll let Mrs. Del Rio know," Julian said. He wasn't sure what kind of Thanksgiving it would be, but he liked the feeling of making plans with Rob.
It wasn't long before the kids started to come out from the school. Watching Danny leading Lenny out the big front doors gave Julian a preview of what it would be like to pick up his little brother at the end of a school day. Gloria and Sammy came out with them, and they all ran over to the Hayes boys and their dogs.
Wyatt told them their plans. "After we load up on some supplies, we're going to go paint the pie float at the Lubbock's barn. It's nice there and the weather has warmed up. We're taking the girls with us. Danny and Lenny should come with us too. What do you say?"
Hearing the invitation, all the kids stared at Julian eagerly while he considered it.
"Let all the dogs and all the kids stay together, Mr. Julian," Gloria urged him and all the other kids clamored their agreement.
There was a hopeful look in Danny's eyes so Julian said yes. He got down to give Danny a hug and told him, "If you need anything, Sam or Wyatt can get me or Rob on the phone right away."
Then it was Rob's turn and he got on one knee in front of Danny. "Be good and listen to the grown ups and have fun."
"I can send you guys updates and pictures," Sam offered. He always knew how to reassure Julian.
"It's a plan," Rico said. "And this means that you two should go get busy."
"I will be busy working," Julian told him, but Rico refused to accept that.
"What's wrong with you? This is a prime makeout opportunity," he said in a low, urgent voice. Clapping both Julian and Rob on the shoulders, he pushed them together and got in their personal space. "You're wearing comfortable clothing. You're a little filthy, a little sweaty. Make the most of it." Rico threw in a wiggle of his eyebrows and an evil chuckle.
