Thanksgiving was Ray's worst holiday. It meant it was time to pay a visit home. I'm never too prepared to go to the family house , he thought, groaning on the inside. Tim was on holiday too. It was his last free time before the anniversary in the coming days.
As Ray stepped into the family house, the very place he was brought up in, a large portrait of his mother welcomed him first. Everything hit him again. "She always smiled like an angel, but ruined my life like a demon would," he said under his breath.
He turned around to take a good view of the compound. Everything always looked exactly the same. "The flowers are still trimmed in the same pattern, not even a hedge is trimmed differently." Ray noted. He took a long, deep breath of the familiar air and shut the large door behind him.
The Stevenson had always had the old family mansion in their name. There you could find pictures and paintings of every heir before Ray. "So much for preserving memories," Ray thought, recalling the days he would state at the portraits of every heir and wish he would make his father as proud as they made their fathers.
The family mansion had always been furnished with the most exquisite old furniture, dating back to old Kings. "Trust the Stevensons to always go for quality, and quality is in old money." Ray's grandfather would always say.
Ray stood in the too familiar corridor for so long, filtering his emotions to focus on the good memories only. "Yet that's the hardest part of being in this particular mansion. Thanksgiving could be anywhere else when I get to make all the decisions," Ray thought.
The entire living room was like a ballroom. In fact, many years ago, the Stevensons hosted big names and families every year.
It was staff break time, so Ray wasn't expecting to see any one of them. "Good grace, I don't even want to set eyes on their faces." He whispered, checking his watch as he made his way to his room, avoiding looking up at more portraits.
"Welcome Mister Ray." A little voice said from behind Ray just as he was about to go up the stairs. Ray turned to see a little boy still in his pajamas and staring up at him.
"Hi, little one." Ray responded with a smile. The cook hurried towards them, "I'm so sorry sir, I didn't know he had left the room."
"It's no bother," Ray said, leaving them in a hurry. The cook had been with them for many years, Ray had never realized that she had had another child. "I'm in no mood for pleasantries anyway." He said, waving off thoughts of self judgment.
Ray checked his watch again as he stepped into his old room. It was almost time for dinner, he thought. He stared at his old bed and his chest tightened. "I have had rough nights on this bed," he said out loud. Pictures of his mother over him, forcing herself to lie with him plagued him, and he ran to the bathroom.
A tear ran down his eyes and he angrily brushed it away. Outside that bathroom, he was stone cold Ray, one who feels nothing. But as a little boy, he would always resort to crying in his bathroom. Many times, he woke up in his bathroom, having cried all night. Why did I never tell dad? He thought. "I guess for fear of them separating."
He adjusted his shirt, he had on a navy blue shirt and black jeans. After that, he headed downstairs for dinner. "After Thanksgiving dinner, I'm out." He muttered.
Dinner was the typical Stevenson dinner, no one made a sound as they ate. They only communicated nonverbally, and of course, pie was part of the Thanksgiving menu. Distant relatives filled the extra long dinner table. Ray's father's seat remained empty, he was yet to be moved back home.
Ray excused himself, "your plate's half empty, finish it." His old uncle urged. To avoid more confrontation from other relatives, he took his seat quietly.
"You've lost weight, Ray." Ray's aunt, Miss Fidelia said, breaking the silence.
"I've been working out more," Ray said, forcing food down his throat.
"Come on people, it's thanksgiving." His old uncle said, " You don't have to follow my silly son's 'no talking at the table' rule today." He added, referring to Mister Stevenson.
"Ray's dad must be sneezing right now," Little Benny said in her tiny voice. She was Ray's distant cousin. "Papa says that when you sneeze, it means someone's talking about you somewhere." Little Benny added.
Everyone at the table laughed, loosening the atmosphere a bit. Ray returned Little Benny's smile, "at least someone brings a bit of sunshine to this family." Ray thought, downing the juice in his glass.
Meanwhile, Lenae's thanksgiving table was much smaller. With Janette opposite her, lost in her own thoughts. "This is unlike you on Thanksgiving, Janey." Lenae said. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm just tired. Have you gotten an email from Bloom yet?"
"It's Thanksgiving, Janette. They'd all be on holiday." Lenae said, reaching out to tap the back of Janette's hand.
Janette's phone chimed beside her, and she quickly checked to see what it was. She jumped off her seat with a bright smile on her face. "I got accepted. Lenae, I got accepted!" She screamed.
Lenae ran to check Janette's phone. Lenae read it aloud, "Happy Thanksgiving! We're thrilled to inform you that your painting 'Living Wonder' has been accepted for our anniversary auction." She hugged Janette, "I'm so happy for you Jay. This is the best news!"
"You bet, it is!" Janette responded, unlinking her hands from Lenae's. "It's a happier thanksgiving!"
"Sure is! I'll go get more drinks." Lenae said, rushing out of the apartment.
Janette giggled as she did her happy dance. "Lenae's entry was probably too late. I'm sure she won't make the cut." Janette said, laughing hysterically.
Lenae took deep breaths when she stepped outside the apartment building. Her friend was elated and so was she. "This is only the beginning of so much good. I know it'll all be good for us soon," She thought. Her application was the last thing on her mind. She was just happy for Janette.
Los Angeles held the hopes of their dreams. It's either this or nothing. She thought. After getting Janette's favorite drinks, she bumped into someone on her way out of the grocery shop. "I'm so sorry," Lenae said, balancing the drinks in her bag.
Their eyes met. "Hey!" They both said as they stepped out of the corridor and hugged.
"It's so good to see you Bella." Bella was Lenae's bunkmate from school.
"You too," Bella said, equally exhilarated.
"It's been so long, what are you doing here?"
"I relocated to LA last week. I work at a firm down Delby Avenue."
"That's amazing, Bella." Lenae said. Her eyes caught a glimpse of a ring on Bella's finger. "You're engaged?"
"Yes!" Bella squealed, waving her fingers. "He proposed last week. How the hell did we lose touch with each other, Lenae." She added.
"It was just crazy. I'm so happy for you, Bella. You should come meet Janette at home." Lenae suggested.
"You live together?"
"Yeah we do."
"You've both been so inseparable."
"Right? Although it's a wonder how we lost contact with you."
"I know, right? I'm here to get some drinks though. I could come over instead and get them on my way."
"Sure." Lenae replied, leading the way up to their apartment.
"You have a wonderful place," Bella said as she stepped into Lenae's and Janette's apartment.
"We try." Lenae responded, and she was cut off by Janette.
"Bella? Bella!" Janette screamed as she saw them. She hugged Bella and Lenae grinned, staring at them.
They drank and sang karaoke together for hours. "It's so crazy how you're both chasing your dreams," Bella said above the sound of singing Janette.
"Isn't it?" Lenae said and giggled. She downed the drink she was holding. "You know, Bloom is yet to send me an email. I wonder if I'd make the cut."
"You will," Bella said, patting her shoulder to encourage her.
"Who's your fiancé?" Lenae asked, changing the topic.
"His name is John. He works at an insurance company here in LA."
"That's really nice, Bella."
"You've not mentioned Dan since. Are you still together?" Bella asked, referring to Lenae's ex.
Lenae's mind wondered. He's a thorn in my flesh. She thought. "No." Lenae replied plainly. Dan had sent her threatening messages that she changed her phone number and moved out of her house into another in her old City.
"What happened to you two?" Bella inquired, raising an eyebrow. "You were so good together." Janette had stopped singing and sat beside Bella.
"He wasn't who I thought he was. He wasn't right for me."
"In what sense?"
"He got violent. Really violent." Bella's eyes lit up in surprise and Lenae continued. "We were expecting a baby and he proposed. I was scared he could hurt my baby someday because of how he already treated the pregnant me."
"Are you being serious?" Bella asked, sitting up.
"Yes." Lenae said calmly. "I had doubts and I didn't say yes t his proposal. He said I basically rejected him and even hurt me in the heat of our argument. He kept throwing stuff in the house at me."
"And you were pregnant for the man, you said?"
Lenae nodded. "I was. He became even worse after I turned down his proposal and I knew I had to leave him."
"And the baby?" Bella asked.
"He didn't let her live." Janette said, making Bella jump to her feet.
"What? What do you mean?"
"One night, we had a really bad fight and I lost the baby."
"My goodness. Lenae." Janette said calmly, and knelt to lock her hand with Lenae's. "I'm so sorry to hear that."
"It's okay." Lenae said, tapping Bella's hand with her other hand. "I've moved on."
"I'm proud of you. Let's make a toast, bigger tomorrow." Bella said, opening more drinks and handing them a can each."
"Cheers." They chorused and sat next each other in silence. The chime of Lenae's phone broke the silence, and she checked it. It was a mail from Bloom. She jumped from the couch.
"Everything alright?" Janette asked.
"Janey, Bella. Bloom accepted my entry!" She squealed and the others joined in.
"That's amazing Lenae!" Janette said, jugging her tightly.
"I'm glad I get to witness you both hit a milestone." Bella said hugging Lenae too.
"Now we can win together!" Lenae said to Janette, rubbing Janette's elbow.
"Just what I wanted." Janette lied. "Why on earth did she get in?" She thought to herself, still retaining a convincing smile.
Bella's phone rang in her purse, "It's my fiancé." Bella informed them as she answered the call. "It's a video call." She quickly informed them. "Hey baby, I'm with friends." She informed him.
"Friends? That was fast, for you." He teased Bella.
"They're old friends, okay? Remind me I don't make friends so easily." Bella rolled her eyes and she blushed.
"They're sweet love birds." Lenae thought, smiling as she watched them.
"He wants to say hi." Bella informed them.
Lenae and Janette drew closer, giving their brightest smiles. "Hello! Happy Thanksgiving." They chorused.
"I'm John." He said, beaming with a smile too.
"Bella already told us about her precious." Janette teased.
"She's just as amazing," John said and they all laughed. The call was brief, Bella made sure of it.
"I have to go now," Bella said and they saw her off.
"We have to start preparing our portraits, Janette," Lenae said as they stepped back inside. "You bet," Janette said, walking to their art room and Lenae followed behind her. The next few days was going to be different, and they both knew it.