***
The next day the intoxicating smells of Thanksgiving food filled the air at the McCormick house. I didn’t remember anything in my life ever smelling so good. Apparently, Dr. Parrish had similar feelings when he showed up early and began snacking right away on the vegetable trays. The man wasn’t very fat, but he was big and I figured he needed a lot of fuel to keep his large body going. But Parrish hadn’t come over just for snacks and turkey. Parrish was in love with Granny just as much as she was in love with him. Travis told me he felt it as soon as the two adults were in the same room together. They rarely strayed far from each other except when Granny was in the kitchen helping Angie with the meal.
As great as everything smelled, and it smelled utterly wonderful, actually eating the meal almost made me cry. It tasted so good, better than any food I’d ever eaten. I didn’t remember much about the holidays when I was little, except that I really liked Halloween and Christmas. Poor Travis had only been three and he remembered virtually nothing about any holidays. Whenever Jon told him stories about Thanksgiving dinner with our parents, Travis took his word for it. He couldn’t recall a thing about it except the parades on TV with those giant balloon creatures floating over the street. Sadly, none of the other foster families I’d stayed with had ever bothered to make it a special day. When I asked one family why, I was told they couldn’t afford it, that the only reason they kept me was for the money. Ouch! That was one question I never asked again. But Angie made it very special. It was just too bad Jon and Chris weren’t there to spend it with us.
In spite of Angie’s fantastic meal, she stayed depressed the whole day. Word about Chris being in jail had spread pretty fast and by mid-afternoon most of her friends knew about it. Some people called to cheer her up, though maybe they just wanted to learn the gossipy details about what had happened. Angie decided to call Dr. Sanderlyn the next morning, though she was concerned what he might think about her having two nut cases in the same house. Granny suggested they arrange for Chris to be taken to the clinic straight from jail, if possible. Angie reluctantly agreed.
After dinner, we all went into the den to watch football games. We had to drag Angie with us because she really didn’t like sports that much. Angie, Granny, Travis and I all crammed together on the couch and though there really was no more room, somehow Dr. Parrish squeezed in beside Granny. Travis thought it was fun and I could tell Angie needed the laughs and physical contact. But I didn’t think Parrish was very comfortable.
Angie’s afraid Chris won’t ever come back to her, I thought to Travis. She’s afraid of being alone.
So is he comin’ back?
I shrugged. I gave Angie a huge hug and wouldn’t let go. “I’m sorry Chris isn’t here. And Jon, too.”
Angie tried to smile. “At least I know where Chris is. I know he’s safe. I’m worried about Jon. Let’s just try to have the best day we can, okay?”
“Okay. Angie?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
Angie broke down crying. She buried her face into my shoulder. “I…love…you, too. Both of you!” Travis turned it into a group hug session while Granny patted her daughter on the shoulder. Parrish shifted his seat to the arm of the couch and looked like he wanted to be some place else.