Thanksgiving was a favorite holiday in the house of the Diaz. Every year wherever the family might be, one of the occasions they never allowed themselves to be absent from was Thanksgiving. Maybe because the family all share a common love for a good roast turkey or just because they can all be together especially now that their two grown-up kids Ava and Alexandra were already living their own lives.
But this year was more different than the rest of the Thanksgiving they have had had all in the past. Ava Andrea Diaz had just announced her upcoming union with Phillip St. Claire, her little sister's boyfriend's cousin which she considered unfit for her the first time she saw him during the wedding of his cousin Devin St. Claire.
He came to her as an imposing, self-absorbed, narcissistic man which was her first impression on him until Ava had good many champagne during dinner and her tongue went loose and she found herself talking with Phillip and liking him during their conversation. And a month later after meeting him and spending a one night of torrid passion under his arms during the wedding where the two surreptitiously snuck from, the two decided that they were greatly amicable and quite honestly seemed to be tailored fit for each other.
And so after a month before Thanksgiving, Ava announced the happy news amidst the surprised faces of her parents and her little sister Alexandra. Her parents knew she had to get married but they weren't expecting she would be getting married a month after meeting the man.
The family decided to have the celebration in Avery Hills where the family used to celebrate it just like when they were younger and Agnes' parents were still alive to celebrate the merry occasion with them. They then decided to always celebrate in their parent's house in Jackson where her parents live. But this year, they decided to have it in Avery Hills while the house was under renovation.
"Gran and Gramps would have been really happy for you, Ava," said Alex as she mixed the macaroni in the bowl.
"I guess, they must be happy for me," she said to her sister as she chopped veggies on the chopping board, "even if they were already six feet under the ground nine years counting now."
"Ava, don't be sarcastic to your sister," said Mrs. Diaz joining in their conversation throwing a disapproving glance at her oldest daughter while she checked the pots on the stove.
"Mom, you don't have to scold Ava for being sarcastic," said Alex without batting an eye. "You know that older sister has been sarcastic since she was born."
Ava threw her a piece of mincedly chopped carrots.
"You know what, Alex, Phillip must really be my soulmate," Ava chatted to her little sister as they prepared food for the celebration. She let Alexandra's comment slide past her. She was chopping carrots on the chopping board while their mom was in front of her favorite stove and oven, boiling something in the pot while baking her famous pumpkin pie inside the oven. "He told me that he also loves turkey and pumpkin pie best on Thanksgiving Holidays. Do you think that's a coincidence?"
She asked throwing a look at her.
"Ava, turkey and pumpkin pie are also my favorite food during Thanksgiving," said Alex answering her sister's questions. "And I thought you love cherry pie more than pumpkin pie?"
"I love cherry pies during Christmas breaks."
"What time is he arriving anyway?" Alex asked changing the subject.
"He'd be here by 5 pm," she answered back. "He just messaged me a while ago."
"When you two get married, sister, where do you plan to work and stay?" she asked interested to know how her workaholic sister would answer her knowing that Ava was fully glued to her Real Estates job in New York and had no time of leaving it anytime soon.
"Of course, we'll be staying in New York."
She answered with confidence in her voice.
"I see," Alex replied as they continued to make food preparation.
"Alex, how come you have turned into a poly pet keeper now?" Ava asked after a while. "How do you honestly manage to keep all these four pets? And a parrot to add to the boot?"
She asked in a disbelieving voice.
"Smarty is already a handful to take care of. And he's such a big dog."
"Daniel looks after Pecko. Besides, it's only temporary, sister. He's going home once Sarah and Devin are back from their honeymoon," Alex replied.
"But wouldn't that be until after New Year?" she asked.
"I'm not complaining. The cats stayed on the corner and –"
"And fortunately, hasn't yet destroyed any of our slippers, Alexandra but has already murdered the mat in this kitchen," their mother interrupted.
"They're just mats, Mom. I couldn't just leave those two cats alone after I saw them," said Alex looking at her mom from the bowl she was mixing. "They were affected by the storm and I'm even glad that they were still alive when I dound them. Besides, Smarty and Pecko adore them."
"Wasn't those cats the reason how you suddenly realize your feelings for St. Claire, then?" asked Ava forcing Alex to remember the ugly memories before thereafter.
Nimbus and Stratus were quietly sleeping by the basket in the kitchen corner. Smarty wasn't in the kitchen but was in the living room accompanying Mr. Diaz who was watching TV in the living room.
"Can we please move on from the past?" she asked rolling her eyes at Ava. "That's so past water under the bridge now."
"Whatever you say, Alexandra," Ava replied and looked at her mom. "Mom, have you roasted the turkey yet?"
"In an hour, dear. I'm still baking some cakes in the oven."
Ava rose from the chair.
"Let me do it, Mom."
She went to the fridge and took some apples, lemons and onions and went to return to the table. She started to cut the fruits.
"Going to show off your culinary expertise to Phillip?" asked Alex in a teasing tone.
"With Mom's recipe, of course," Ava replied.
Alexandra hid her smile from Ava and finished making the macaroni. Ava who was never a fan of cooking or more to say a woman ever seen in the kitchen drastically changed the month she announced her engagement to Phillip St. Claire. All of a sudden she liked became a changed woman. She almost looked domestic with an apron in front of her, Alex observed. The Ava she knew that only knew how to wear full suits.
Which made Alex wondered how her sister was changed by him.
"He was good in bed."
Ava suddenly said looking at her with knowing eyes.
Alex frowned at her sister.
"I wasn't even thinking about that," she said. "Besides, is that the only reason why you're marrying him?"
"We'll now, you know," she said breezily without a care. "Phillip is like me in so many ways, Alex. It looks like seeing yourself in a mirror and seeing your own male version."
Alex squeezed the lemons harder as she made fresh orange lemonade in a pitcher.
"And by the looks of it, Alexandra, don't tell me you are still—"
Ava continued on her tirade on Alex.
"Mom!" said Alex turning to her mother.
"Geez, you two—"
Mrs. Diaz started looking at her girls.
"You're just too prude, Alexandra, that's why."
Ava said shrugging her shoulders and continued to work.
"If you two are so like each other, Ava," said Alex glancing at her sister. "I can't wait to chat with him later. It would be very interesting later, isn't it?"
She asked looking at her sister. Ava just gave her a look and she continued what she was doing.
Alex on the other hand looked forward to fully meeting Phillip formally this time because the last time she had spoken with him, it was only a very short conversation if saying 'hi' and 'hello' was considered conversation then because they never really shared a table during the wedding reception and she only saw and spoke to him so very briefly after the wedding was exchanged in the church.
They were almost finished cooking all the foods for the Thanksgiving by five o clock except for the turkey that was just put in the oven. Rain drizzled from the outside. The sound of rain pelting on the ground was heard inside the kitchen.
"Oh, dear. It has started raining," said Mrs. Diaz as she looked at the window from the kitchen slightly concealed by a floral curtain by the sink. "Do you think Daniel brought an umbrella with him?"
Mrs. Diaz asked in motherly concern.
"I think he always bring an umbrella with him."
Alex said sitting on the table now relaxing from the hard work she contributed of preparing food.
"I want to invite Sabina here but she's celebrating it with Alex and her Gramps."
She stretched her arms in front of the table and stretched her legs under the table and wiggled her toes.
"Maybe you can ask her to join us on Christmas," said Ava who sat from across the table.
"If I can persuade her, that is. You know that she always like to be with Gramps Jude during breaks and holidays."
"Tell her on Monday so she can think about it," suggested Ava.
"I'll try," she agreed putting her chin on her clasped hands with her elbows propped on the table. "Rainy days make me feel so lazy and sleepy. I hope it's just passing."
Alex rose from her seat.
"Mom, Ava, just call me when they arrive. I'll take a nap upstairs."
She said and went out of the kitchen and climbed the stairs to her bedroom.
The sound of the rain pouring on the ground was the last sound Alexandra heard as she fell into sleep.
Before Alex could open her eyes wiping the sleep off her unconsciousness she felt someone lips on her leaving just the slightest trail of light kiss for her to remember. She fluttered her eyes to open and saw the bedroom door just opened as she mumbled his name.
"Daniel."
Alex said as she saw his face opening the door to her bedroom. His face changed upon seeing her just awoken form with almost a half-smile on her lips and her eyes still fogged from sleep.
"Dreamt erotic dreams of me, Alex?" he asked in a teasing tone.
Alex eyes cleared as her awareness came to her. She saw the pillow beside her and threw it at him which he easily dodged.
"Ah, shut up, St. Claire." She bit back and went out of her bed. She scowled at him and walked towards him pushing him out of the door.
"It can be easily done, Alex," he said and leaned on her whispering to her left ear. "All we have to do is lock this door."
Shiver ran down her spine as she looked at him with widened eyes.
"Very funny," she said slamming the door in front of him.
Alex went to her bathroom to take a quick shower and emerged fifteen minutes later to change into an orange dress and a pair of orange heeled-sandals. She put light make-up on and opened her bedroom door.
"You didn't have to wait for me outside." She said looking at him. He was leaning by the wall.
"I thought you were never coming out." He answered back.
Mischief passed between Alex' eyes and she walked towards his casually leaning form against the wall. She put her arms around her shoulders and touched his head down. She felt the soft touch of his lips and pressed her lips back to him biting his lower lips in the process. Daniel didn't respond to her kiss but just allowed her take the lead. She ran a tongue on his lower lip and kissed him until she was satisfied.
Then, she tore her lips from him.
"I'd rather have the lock door," he said in a sulky tone.
Alex squished his cheeks together pinching them both his cheeks.
"Stop sulking, St. Claire. I only dreamt of you kissing me when I woke up," she told him.
"Still, I prefer the lock door—"
He insisted as she started to walk ahead of him.
Alex turned to face him and gave him a smack on the lips surprising him.
"Just be grateful, okay? It's Thanksgiving," she said with a friendlier tone. "Come on, Mom, Dad, Ava, and Phillip are waiting downstairs."