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Biebe: Thanksgiving
by Atonia
Early the next morning, Donna left to take the boys to school; John was still sleeping, the only ones up were Connie and Jack who came out of their cottages about the same time.
“Good morning,” Connie said and walked over to him.
“Good morning to you, another early riser I see.”
“I’ve been awake for some time, I guess it’s the time difference.”
“No doubt, well shall we walk, I’d like to see what’s inside the boat house down by the water.”
“I wanted to tell you that I’ve read most of the books about you and watched your movie many times.”
“And why did you want to tell me that, to let me know that you know who I am?”
“I’m not sure now, I know of you, but I wouldn’t say I know you.”
Jack gave her a side-glance, “What is it you want to know?”
Connie wished she hadn’t started this conversation with him, he fascinated her…what did she want to know…she couldn’t tell him that. She smiled nervously at him and stuck her hands in the pocket of her jeans. “Um I guess I wonder what you are, how you are possible at all.”
“I’m not sure I know the answer to that, it’s all tied to the magic of the House of Four Seasons. I am Toni’s spring and always shall be. I appear here in this world because of her and for her.”
“And for your brothers.”
“They are her seasons too, we are all connected to her. The four of us make up a whole.”
“But she chose one of you, I wonder how she could do that, it must have been a hard decision.”
“I think when she found out she would have to choose one, it was very hard for her. The next season to come was fall and Terry. He of course knew what she would have to do, and he told her in summer when her grandmother passed away and we were aboard my ship. Terry is one for honesty; he’s up front, you know where you are with him immediately. He’s highly intelligent and is able to put his emotions aside when he needs to. He always put her well being before himself. Where Toni is more governed by emotions, Terry uses his intelligence, he has an intensity that when focused is very powerful.”
“I’ve seen some of that intensity in France, he and I had a talk when I was about to leave Max.”
“I always thought it would be Max she would choose, they are well suited to one another. He needs someone like her, and I think he may have found that in you.” Jack smiled down at her.
“I take that as a compliment.”
“It was meant as one. Let’s see what John has that floats,” Jack opened the door to the boathouse.
Terry, out for his morning run saw them going into the boat house and jogged down, entering behind them.
“Did you run anything down this morning, Terry?” Jack asked, running his hand over an old wooden boat.
“I’m not sure; what have we got here?”
“Merely conversation, about your wife mainly. I believe Connie is an admirer.”
Terry’s eyes softened as he met Connie’s, he slipped his arm around her waist, “Admire, but don’t ever think you want to be her, I wouldn’t wish that on you.”
“Nor would I,” Jack said. “Terry, would you lend a hand, I’m going to take this boat out.”
Connie thought that an odd thing to say, and slipped out of the boat house while Jack was putting the boat in the water, and walked to the house for coffee.
She found John in the kitchen helping himself to the coffee pot, he handed her his cup and got another, “Morning, Connie did you sleep okay up there in the cottage?”
“Like a rock, thanks, John.” She went over and sat at the table. “You look sleepy.”
“I work nights, and so weekends are always hard, anybody else up?”
“Terry and Jack, Jack’s taking the old wooden boat out. I was just down at the boathouse with them and we were talking about Toni, they both said admire her but don’t think I want to be her; what do you think they meant?”
“Oh I don’t know, it’s not easy for her you know, she still loves all her seasons.”
“And you, do you still love her?”
“Yes. I don’t see her that much anymore, but it’s all still there.”
“I’m just trying to understand it all, I accepted the fact that I may have to share Max from time to time. Does Donna have to share you?”
“That’s not happened, Connie, I don’t know that it would, but then we’ve not been in a situation where it might so I can’t really answer that. Donna knows how I feel about Toni…I don’t think she’d be open to sharing.”
Connie took a breath, “You just wouldn’t tell her would you, if it happened?”
“Probably not, what a conversation we’re having.”
“Sorry, I lay awake thinking too much this morning.”
“Where’s baby Claire?” she asked.
“Donna must have taken her with her this morning, she took the boys to school and had some errands to run.” John took a drink from his cup, “so are you and Max gonna get married?”
“He wants to, but I’ve been married, John and found that piece of paper doesn’t mean a thing. I said I’d never get married again. We love each other, I think that should be enough for now.”
John smiled and reached over and squeezed her hand, “I like you, Connie, you’re a good addition to the family.”
Connie smiled, “Well thank you.”
Donna came back with Claire and a couple of bags of groceries. Terry brought her groceries in and put them on the counter.
“Uh oh, Toni and I were going shopping.” Connie said.
“You’d better tell Donna,” Terry replied and moved over to the coffee pot.
“Shopping for what?’ John asked.
“Groceries, and whatever else we consume this week John,” Terry answered.
“You don’t have to do that.”
Terry met his eyes, “Well we want to so take that with your coffee.”
Toni was letting Jacky crawl around and play in the cottage, she had to watch him so he wouldn’t try and pull up on the wood stove. She found coffee makings in the cupboard and helped herself. Connie knocked on her door and came in.
“Oh you’ve got coffee.”
“Yes, you’ve probably got it next door too. What’s going on?”
“Not much, Jack’s taken a boat out, and the rest are down at the house. Except for Max, he hasn’t surfaced.”
“Max is not a morning person. Is Terry down there?”
“Yeah, and Donna has been grocery shopping so I told her we were going to do that.”
“We should do that today, just buy everything we see. It’s awfully late for Max to still be in bed, let’s go wake him up.”
“Okay,” Connie smiled and opened the door.
Max was semi awake propped up in bed, “Ah, two of my favorite people, there’s room for both of you here,” he grinned and patted the bed.
“You’d like that wouldn’t you, Max,” Toni said and deposited Jacky in the bed with him.
Connie found the coffee makings, “It’s time you were up, Max, everybody else is.”
Max buried his head in a pillow and Jacky was trying to find him. “I really need Terry’s offspring on my chest.”
“He’s mine too, get him, Jacky.” Jacky giggled and played with Max, who couldn’t help but smile and play back.
Connie brought Max a cup of coffee, “I’m amazed Jacky hasn’t met a stranger here, he’s not afraid of anybody.”
“He knows we’re all family,” Toni pulled him off Max so he could have his coffee, “Let’s go find your Daddy.”