It’s Thanksgiving week here in the U.S. I’ve spent some of the past two days in the kitchen–my final loaf of sage and onion bread is baking in my bread machine right now for the stuffing we’ll eat on Thursday and the house smells so good right now. I almost hate to wait four days to sample the bread. But I will, and I’ll be grateful for it on Thanksgiving.
We don’t always think about the good things in our lives, the things we have that others envy because they don’t have them. I’ve been trying to be more aware of all of the positive in my life, all of the people and things I have in my life that are worth some gratitude. Family, good friends, a home, a job I like, food to eat. The list is long.
I grumble like many others about household chores, like dish washing, but those dirty dishes mean we ate. Or the laundry, but those dirty clothes mean we have plenty of clothing. Bill paying, but those utility bills mean we have a roof over our heads. It’s all a matter of perspective. Some days, it’s harder to frame those things positively. But I’m working on it.
This week, I am thankful for my family and the dinner we’ll share on Thursday. I will be thankful for Thanksgiving dinners past, spent with extended family I don’t see much anymore, or who are no longer with us–I am thankful we had time together when they were still here.
I am thankful for the season’s first snowfall earlier today, even though the sun came out and melted all of it away–I got to watch it come down, big, fat, wet snowflakes that piled up quickly and made the neighborhood look like winter, just for a little while. I’m thankful I get to write the stories I love, for my friends who also write and get me.
I can keep going, but I’ll stop here. I have a little story snippet to share with you, from my fourth shifter story.
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Laney looked like she might cry.
Anton tamped down the urge to smile.
“Oh,” she said after a few seconds, “you really shouldn’t have, Lareina.”
“Nonsense.” His aunt hugged her tight with one arm. “You’re family now. And they’ll look much better on you than sitting in a locked box.”
Laney’s gaze flicked to his, and he grinned at her.
“Put them on, dear.” His aunt winked at him. “Let’s see.”
Reluctantly, Laney took the earrings out of the box and fumbled them on.
“Perfect,” Lareina said firmly.
Laney murmured another thank-you, but he’d bet she was wishing for a way out.
“And they’ll go with Mom’s necklace,” he said helpfully.
Laney shot him a drop-dead look, which he ignored, crossing to sit on the arm of the loveseat beside her. He brushed her hair back to see the platinum and emerald dangling from her ear. “Very pretty.” He leaned down and feathered a kiss at her temple.
Exhaling a long breath, she turned to his aunt. “They’re lovely.”
Anton rubbed his hand in a small circle between her shoulder blades, feeling a little of the tension ease.
His aunt patted her knee. “Why don’t I refill your glass? I need to check the bread anyway.”
He waited until Lareina had bustled away with Laney’s half-empty wineglass, then he claimed the spot beside his mate. “What’s wrong?”
She met his gaze, then dropped her gaze after a moment. “It’s too much.”
He dragged in a slow breath. “It’s family.”
She swallowed. “But I’m–”
“My mate,” he said firmly, and her gaze snapped back up to his.
She clamped her teeth on her lower lip.
Anton set one hand at the back of her neck and leaned closer. “Merry Christmas, Laney,” he whispered.
She shut her eyes, but not before he caught a glimpse of tears.
Anton kissed her lightly, wondering if she would kiss him back. She did, but only for a moment then leaned away, blushing. He touched her jaw, holding her shiny gaze. “You okay?”
She nodded once, swallowing.
“It’s a lot,” he mused, “all of them.”
Laney shrugged, looking away. “Not so bad. There was always a houseful when I was at home.”
Of course. “How did you spend the last two Christmases?”
She nibbled at her lower lip for a second. “I worked the first one, and last year I spent the day at a homeless shelter, serving dinner. Less lonely, plus I got to remind myself things really weren’t so bad for me.” She shrugged once more.
Anton wished again that he’d done more damage to Shepley the other night. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.
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Now I’m going to go find something for dinner that doesn’t involve leftovers to take up space in the refrigerator (the turkey is taking up a lot of space there right now), and then I’m going back to my revisions.
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving week? I would love to know!
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