Chapter Thirty
Kay decided to have their annual Thanksgiving dinner at the diner after all. She made her family's dinner and received donations for the rest of the food she cooked up for anyone else needing a place to eat. Randie brought Joe to the diner and they took on the task of helping to get the food ready for all of the folks who dropped in. Joe was given the job of carving the turkey.
"Nice job, Joe! You carved all of it?” Kay was amazed and appreciative for Joe's help.
"Figured I'd get it out of the way while we're here.”
"Thank you so much, that's a great help. Are the two of you going to sit and join us for dinner or are you skipping out on me?” Kay's smile was playful.
"Don't let her harass you, Joe.” Randie said, and Joe smiled back at Kay.
"We still have an hour and a half before we're expected at Al's, we aren't leaving even if you try to shove us out the door.”
Kay opened the door to the townsfolk at 1:30, so people were already dropping in and beginning to help themselves. They generally had a turn out throughout the day of about fifty people, give or take. They set up the family table at the back of the diner where they kept the port-a-crib stored. They had a buffet style set up for the rest at the front. Penny was holding Ellie, who started to get a little fussy.
"Go ahead and put her in her high chair, Penny, I'll feed her in a sec.”
"Oh, I can feed her if you'd like?”
"Oh, thanks, Penny, she'll have pretty much anything. Just make sure the pieces are nice and small, you know. Ricky, Markie, come to the table now, we're about to eat.” Kay didn't notice the four adults and three kids slip into the diner.
"Hey lady, you got room for seven more at your table?!” Kay jerked her head towards the front in surprise.
"Oh, no way!!! What are you guys doing here??” Kay hurried over and threw her arms around Rick's brother Bob, his wife Annie, Rick's parents, Lynn and Charlie, and Bob's three kids.
"I can't believe it! Come in, come in!” She guided them towards the back, taking their coats.
"We got a couple of rooms at that bed and breakfast, thought we'd surprise you guys. Hey, kiddos!” Bob gave Ricky a hug and snatched Markie up in his arms. Kay was chatting with Annie and Lynn, while gathering more place settings as Joe and Bob pushed another table up. Randie stood over talking to Charlie.
Rick's dad had gotten a job offer a number of years back, moving his wife and himself to Seattle. Bob met Annie in college in Spokane and after they got married they decided to settle down about forty-five minutes further east of Spokane. Needless to say, they only saw Rick's family a half a dozen or so times a year. With the short time off of school and work, Thanksgiving was not usually one of those times.
"We thought you could use some extra mouths to feed, so we decided to crash your dinner party.”
"Oh, Bob, you guys are awesome. This is great. Come on, sit down and dig in. How long are you here?”
"We're sticking around until Sunday Morning.”
"I think you all remember, Penny, Tyler's fiancé?” They all nodded, Charlie sat and had a chat with her as she fed Ellie while everyone else was getting the extra place settings around.
Everyone sat around chatting and getting their food around for the next forty-five minutes or so when Joe and Randie decided to head out a little early. Joe's sister came home from college for the holiday, and he wanted to stop by and see her and his parents before they went to Al’s. Joe was already about thirteen when Charlotte came along, a late gift to his parents.
"Aw, you guys are leaving already?” Kay hugged Randie and Joe.
"We're going to stop by my family gathering before heading to Al's.”
"All right, see you later tonight maybe?”
"Yeah, we'll see you.”
"Bye, Kay.” Randie gave her sister a kiss and another hug.
About an hour later, after dropping by and seeing his family, Joe walked into Al's, along with Randie. The boys went running up to Joe, grabbing his legs. They were yelling ‘Uncle Joe’, laughing and attacking him.
Mary shook her head, laughing. “You haven't been around as much. They must really miss you hassling them.” Joe laughed, throwing AJ over his shoulder and carrying Joey by his legs over to the couch. Randie stood back laughing, enjoying watching Joe's playfulness with the boys. They had already started eating and the boys’ plates were on a little table in front of the TV.
“Alright boys, you can play with Joe later. Come sit down and eat your food.” The boys settled down to eat their food while Joe and Randie filled their plates, joining Mary, Kit, and Al's mom at the table.
“What's up Joe, you joining the women's group?”
Al knocked his brother in the head. “Leave him alone, they're still a new couple. He has to act like a gentleman for now.” Al laughed.
“The conversation is better over here and they smell better too.” Joe barely looked up from his plate when Randie laughed at him and grabbed his face to give him a quick kiss.
“That's right, Joe, you tell 'em. They're afraid if they sit over here they might miss a touchdown.”
“Aw, come on, Mary, why don't you sit over here next to me? I'll even carry your plate and drink over here.” Al got up and walked over to grab a second helping of mashed potatoes, giving Mary a love pat on her head and a kiss.
“Thanks, Al, I'll stay here for now. You enjoy your game.”
“Hey, Al, grab me another beer will you?” Dave requested, as Al got into the fridge to grab a couple of beers.
“Joe, Randie...you two want a beer?”
“Hey, thanks, bro.” Al handed Joe and Randie their beers and gave Joe a hug in headlock form.
“Anything for my best bro.” When Joe got loose, he jumped out of his chair, but Al grabbed his plate and two beers, laughing.
“Don't even try it, man, Mary will kill you if I drop the food and drinks everywhere. We'll be scrubbing until dawn.”
“Payback, man, payback. You just wait.”
“My goodness, imagine if you girls played around like that at this age. What would the world come to?” Everyone laughed at the picture Al's mom painted.
“Yeah, that's just the male version of the hugs we give each other. We just aren't as destructive of our surroundings.” They all laughed again.
“Don't worry, Mary, I'll make sure I drag Al outside when I return that hug!” Joe settled back into his chair and Randie gave his hand a squeeze.
“You can sit over there with him if you want, Joe, I'll be okay here.”
“No, thank you, ma'am. I might have to give him a nice little love tap across the jaw if I sit by him right now.” Joe laughed.
“You guys are so funny. My big boys.” Mary quipped.
“I’m a big boy, Mommy.”
“I’m a big boy too, Mommy.”
“Yes, both of you boys are. And you behave so much better than your daddy and Uncle Joe.”
After everyone had eaten, Mary and Al snuggled together at one end of the couch, watching football with Dave and Kit and Al's parents, while Joe and Randie took the kids across to the park.
“They really do make a cute couple,” Kit remarked.
“Yeah, that's funny, Kit. I had actually told Mary I wanted to try to hook those two up that Thursday night and you took the reins without even being aware of our plan.”
“Really? I guess I subconsciously got the hint when you gave her your seat and walked inside. They seem to really be hitting it off. Joe looks so happy with her.”
“And he's so good with the kids. He'll make a great dad.” Mary had the curtain pulled back, peeking out at them across the street. Al noticed she seemed to be looking on reminiscently. He rubbed her arm.
“You okay?” He spoke softly and she nodded, snuggling into his body and turning her attention to the game.
Kay decided to have their annual Thanksgiving dinner at the diner after all. She made her family's dinner and received donations for the rest of the food she cooked up for anyone else needing a place to eat. Randie brought Joe to the diner and they took on the task of helping to get the food ready for all of the folks who dropped in. Joe was given the job of carving the turkey.
"Nice job, Joe! You carved all of it?” Kay was amazed and appreciative for Joe's help.
"Figured I'd get it out of the way while we're here.”
"Thank you so much, that's a great help. Are the two of you going to sit and join us for dinner or are you skipping out on me?” Kay's smile was playful.
"Don't let her harass you, Joe.” Randie said, and Joe smiled back at Kay.
"We still have an hour and a half before we're expected at Al's, we aren't leaving even if you try to shove us out the door.”
Kay opened the door to the townsfolk at 1:30, so people were already dropping in and beginning to help themselves. They generally had a turn out throughout the day of about fifty people, give or take. They set up the family table at the back of the diner where they kept the port-a-crib stored. They had a buffet style set up for the rest at the front. Penny was holding Ellie, who started to get a little fussy.
"Go ahead and put her in her high chair, Penny, I'll feed her in a sec.”
"Oh, I can feed her if you'd like?”
"Oh, thanks, Penny, she'll have pretty much anything. Just make sure the pieces are nice and small, you know. Ricky, Markie, come to the table now, we're about to eat.” Kay didn't notice the four adults and three kids slip into the diner.
"Hey lady, you got room for seven more at your table?!” Kay jerked her head towards the front in surprise.
"Oh, no way!!! What are you guys doing here??” Kay hurried over and threw her arms around Rick's brother Bob, his wife Annie, Rick's parents, Lynn and Charlie, and Bob's three kids.
"I can't believe it! Come in, come in!” She guided them towards the back, taking their coats.
"We got a couple of rooms at that bed and breakfast, thought we'd surprise you guys. Hey, kiddos!” Bob gave Ricky a hug and snatched Markie up in his arms. Kay was chatting with Annie and Lynn, while gathering more place settings as Joe and Bob pushed another table up. Randie stood over talking to Charlie.
Rick's dad had gotten a job offer a number of years back, moving his wife and himself to Seattle. Bob met Annie in college in Spokane and after they got married they decided to settle down about forty-five minutes further east of Spokane. Needless to say, they only saw Rick's family a half a dozen or so times a year. With the short time off of school and work, Thanksgiving was not usually one of those times.
"We thought you could use some extra mouths to feed, so we decided to crash your dinner party.”
"Oh, Bob, you guys are awesome. This is great. Come on, sit down and dig in. How long are you here?”
"We're sticking around until Sunday Morning.”
"I think you all remember, Penny, Tyler's fiancé?” They all nodded, Charlie sat and had a chat with her as she fed Ellie while everyone else was getting the extra place settings around.
Everyone sat around chatting and getting their food around for the next forty-five minutes or so when Joe and Randie decided to head out a little early. Joe's sister came home from college for the holiday, and he wanted to stop by and see her and his parents before they went to Al’s. Joe was already about thirteen when Charlotte came along, a late gift to his parents.
"Aw, you guys are leaving already?” Kay hugged Randie and Joe.
"We're going to stop by my family gathering before heading to Al's.”
"All right, see you later tonight maybe?”
"Yeah, we'll see you.”
"Bye, Kay.” Randie gave her sister a kiss and another hug.
About an hour later, after dropping by and seeing his family, Joe walked into Al's, along with Randie. The boys went running up to Joe, grabbing his legs. They were yelling ‘Uncle Joe’, laughing and attacking him.
Mary shook her head, laughing. “You haven't been around as much. They must really miss you hassling them.” Joe laughed, throwing AJ over his shoulder and carrying Joey by his legs over to the couch. Randie stood back laughing, enjoying watching Joe's playfulness with the boys. They had already started eating and the boys’ plates were on a little table in front of the TV.
“Alright boys, you can play with Joe later. Come sit down and eat your food.” The boys settled down to eat their food while Joe and Randie filled their plates, joining Mary, Kit, and Al's mom at the table.
“What's up Joe, you joining the women's group?”
Al knocked his brother in the head. “Leave him alone, they're still a new couple. He has to act like a gentleman for now.” Al laughed.
“The conversation is better over here and they smell better too.” Joe barely looked up from his plate when Randie laughed at him and grabbed his face to give him a quick kiss.
“That's right, Joe, you tell 'em. They're afraid if they sit over here they might miss a touchdown.”
“Aw, come on, Mary, why don't you sit over here next to me? I'll even carry your plate and drink over here.” Al got up and walked over to grab a second helping of mashed potatoes, giving Mary a love pat on her head and a kiss.
“Thanks, Al, I'll stay here for now. You enjoy your game.”
“Hey, Al, grab me another beer will you?” Dave requested, as Al got into the fridge to grab a couple of beers.
“Joe, Randie...you two want a beer?”
“Hey, thanks, bro.” Al handed Joe and Randie their beers and gave Joe a hug in headlock form.
“Anything for my best bro.” When Joe got loose, he jumped out of his chair, but Al grabbed his plate and two beers, laughing.
“Don't even try it, man, Mary will kill you if I drop the food and drinks everywhere. We'll be scrubbing until dawn.”
“Payback, man, payback. You just wait.”
“My goodness, imagine if you girls played around like that at this age. What would the world come to?” Everyone laughed at the picture Al's mom painted.
“Yeah, that's just the male version of the hugs we give each other. We just aren't as destructive of our surroundings.” They all laughed again.
“Don't worry, Mary, I'll make sure I drag Al outside when I return that hug!” Joe settled back into his chair and Randie gave his hand a squeeze.
“You can sit over there with him if you want, Joe, I'll be okay here.”
“No, thank you, ma'am. I might have to give him a nice little love tap across the jaw if I sit by him right now.” Joe laughed.
“You guys are so funny. My big boys.” Mary quipped.
“I’m a big boy, Mommy.”
“I’m a big boy too, Mommy.”
“Yes, both of you boys are. And you behave so much better than your daddy and Uncle Joe.”
After everyone had eaten, Mary and Al snuggled together at one end of the couch, watching football with Dave and Kit and Al's parents, while Joe and Randie took the kids across to the park.
“They really do make a cute couple,” Kit remarked.
“Yeah, that's funny, Kit. I had actually told Mary I wanted to try to hook those two up that Thursday night and you took the reins without even being aware of our plan.”
“Really? I guess I subconsciously got the hint when you gave her your seat and walked inside. They seem to really be hitting it off. Joe looks so happy with her.”
“And he's so good with the kids. He'll make a great dad.” Mary had the curtain pulled back, peeking out at them across the street. Al noticed she seemed to be looking on reminiscently. He rubbed her arm.
“You okay?” He spoke softly and she nodded, snuggling into his body and turning her attention to the game.