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He ran up the dune to join her.
“Wow, look at you. You’re clean-shaven.”
“No more beard burn,” he replied.
She turned from him, leading him into the house.
She reached for his coat and scarf.
“Look at this spread,” Ryan said, pointing to all the food.
Holding out her hand to the island, she lifted the lids covering food service trays on ice that held every delicacy, from peeled shrimp with cocktail sauce to caviar with crème fraiche and steak tartare.
“I guess I have to wait to eat,” he said, laughing.
“You have to wait for Thanksgiving dinner. I’m so glad you’re here, Ryan.”
“I am, too,” he said, reaching for her hand. “I am, too.”
***
Everyone arrived on time for Thanksgiving dinner with their offerings. Alison and Adam Marchand arrived first with every fruit pie known to man, including pumpkin.
Ryan returned with Lisa and the children bearing prime rib, mashed potatoes, rolls, and salad. Mary and Sam returned with more side dishes than the crowd could ever eat in a week. Right behind them, Laura and Will arrived with ham, cheese potatoes, and asparagus.
And the pièce de résistance: Sandra and Andy Roman with Brent, and a beautifully browned turkey.
“Thank you so much, everyone! This looks just fabulous,” Pam said. “Let’s get this party started.”
“We forgot stuffing,” Mary said, looking at the huge assortment of side dishes.
“The turkey is stuffed,” Sandra said.
“Mommy did it herself,” Brent said. “Andy even took pictures.”
“Bring one of those travesties out and I’ll kill you, Roman.”
“Ha! Promise, no kitchen shots.”
“We need to make gravy. I knew there was something missing,” Sister Mary said. “You don’t happen to have the giblets, do you?”
“What the hell are they?” Sandra asked, flaring her nostrils.
“You know! The little paper sack that’s inside the turkey cavity that holds the liver and gizzard, and there should be a neck in there, too.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“When you buy it, it’s inside the turkey,” Mary repeated patiently.
“Look, I just stuffed that bad boy with bread, just like the recipe said. I didn’t see any paper bag of guts.”
Pam and Mary glanced at each other, grinning.
“Give me a spoon. This beautiful stuffing belongs in a crystal bowl,” Mary said.
They watched as she scooped out the delectably fragrant sage stuffing and heaped it in a bowl. Then, picking the turkey up by its legs, she peered into the cavity. “There it is! Pam, you got tongs?”
“Here’s tongs.”
