Giving Thanks

Ben, Liana, Richie, Libby & Dan

by Atonia & Layne

The kitchen was hot and Liana's face was flushed, as Ben leaned against a counter and watched her carefully, trying to make sure she didn't overdo it. The baby was due in less than two months now, and he'd be damned if anything was happening to her or to the child. No way in hell.

He'd tried everything in the world to talk her out of making this Thanksgiving dinner, short of outright forbidding her to do it. He could have done that, and he knew she would have obeyed, but she so looked forward to holidays that he couldn't bring himself to take that step. He hated disappointing her.

Ben had tried telling her that they didn't celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia. To which she'd replied, "We can still uphold American traditions if we want to."

He'd attempted to persuade her to either eat out or to hire someone to do the cooking. "Not the same," she'd told him.

Finally, he'd been the one to give in. "I'm keepin' an eye on you the whole damn time you're in the kitchen, an' you'll quit the minute I tell you to!"

She'd given him a smile, a hug, and a kiss. "Remember Ben-" she'd said. "We have to have family traditions. We're a family now." She'd run her hand over her belly. He didn't like to admit it, but that had gotten to him.

So, he'd been in the kitchen last night and this morning too, keeping watch over her, lifting any pans and dishes he thought looked too heavy, and forcing her to sit down and rest occasionally.

At last, everything was finished and ready to be brought to the table. Liana ran a critical eye over the food. Turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, green beans, yams, rolls. And the desserts--cake, pumpkin and pecan pie.

"There's enough food here to feed an army," Ben told her. "And there's only gonna be five of us."

"Guess you'll be eating leftovers for the next week," Liana said, with a twinkle in her eyes.

"I'm gonna have you on bed rest for a week after this." Ben grinned, putting his arms around her. "And with you spendin' a week in bed, I'll be workin' up an appetite." The look in his eyes left her in no doubt about just how he planned to do that.

"That much more to be thankful for." She returned his grin with a little naughty one of her own.

She heard a car turn into the driveway. "That'll be Richie and Libby."

"This oughta be interestin'," Ben said, as he headed for the door. Richie, Libby, and Dan at the same dinner table was something he was looking forward to seeing.

************************************************************************

Richie had been quiet on the drive over to the Wade house. Libby wondered where his mind was. She hadn't been seeing much of him lately and, when he was with her, he seemed preoccupied and unwilling to look her in the eye.

She'd been surprised by his invitation to accompany him to the Wades' for this dinner. And a little nervous about coming, knowing Dan Evans would probably be there. She found herself unable to turn down the invitation, though, having discovered herself to be in love with him. If she couldn't tell him at least she could spend all the time around him that he would allow.

Libby smiled at him, as he held her door, so that she could get out. "Thanks for asking me to come, Richie."

Richie smiled over at her, “Not many of us Yanks around I thought we might as well band together for the day and eat turkey.”

"You mean, instead of being turkeys, for a change," she grinned.

Ben Wade was waiting for them in the doorway. "Guess they heard us drive up," she remarked to Richie.

Richie got out of the Rover remembering the last time he’d been out there with Toni, it seemed like a long, long time ago. He waited for Libby and walked up to the door.

“Hiya Wade,” he shook hands with Ben and remembered to turn and catch Libby in the middle of her back and bring her forward, “You’ve met Libby haven’t you?”

"A coupla times." Ben turned his most charming smile on Libby. It was a habit with him, where women were concerned. "How are you, Miss Tyler?"

"Fine." Libby offered her hand. Ben Wade was easily one of the most charming men she'd ever met, but that charm concealed something, she was willing to bet.

Liana waited just inside the door. She greeted Libby with a smile. "It's so good to see you." She hoped this wouldn't be a problem for Dan. He hadn't yet put in an appearance and Liana wondered if it was because of Libby.

Turning toward Richie, Liana gave him a hug. "How are you Richie?" she asked warmly. "It's been such a long time since I've seen you."

Richie hugged Liana back and stepped back a little from her rounded middle, “it has been a long time…you’ve changed,” he grinned and winked at Ben.

"More of her to love," Ben drawled.

Liana blushed. "Sit down, you two. Let me get you something to drink."

"I'll do that, darlin'," Ben told her. "You'd best be the one sittin' down. I keep tryin' to get her to take it easy," he said to Richie. "Might as well be talkin' to that chair over there, for all she listens to me."

Libby was watching the interaction between Liana and Ben. She'd be willing to bet that any demands made by Ben Wade got obeyed in that house. She'd always wondered how a woman could live with someone who gave orders like that, but Liana seemed happy enough.

"Can I help you with anything?" Libby asked the other woman.

"Oh, no. You have a seat," Liana told her. "I'll just do that myself too," she added hastily, noticing Ben's intent stare at her.

Dan came into the room. "Libby. Richie. How are you?"

“Hello Dan, happy Thanksgiving to ya.” Richie thought this must be an awkward situation for Dan, he glanced at Libby to see her reaction.

"Hi, Dan," Libby said softly, managing a smile. She wasn't sure what to say.

Dan had delayed coming into the room, because he hadn't been sure what to say either. Still wasn't. He wanted to see Libby, but seeing her with Roberts wasn't what he had in mind. As he looked at her, though, he noticed something different about her. Some kind of change.

He sat down in a chair across from the sofa, where she and Richie were sitting. Ben and Richie were talking and Libby sat quietly, watching them. Suddenly, it hit Dan as though a horse had kicked him. It was the way Libby looked at Roberts. That change in her. What Dan had thought would happen all along had actually happened. She was in love with him.

It was all Dan could do to sit still, but somehow he managed it. That, and to keep a straight face. Inside, though, he was churning. She was in love with Roberts and she was going to get hurt.

Ben was aware of all the undercurrents in the room. People were easy for him to read and Dan in particular, since they'd known each other so long. Ben had thought this would be an interesting evening and he'd been right.

Coming back in from the kitchen, Liana announced, "Everything's ready, if you'd all like to come into the dining room."

Richie let Libby lead the way he wasn’t sure where she wanted to sit, he’d asked her today as a friend and because he knew she didn’t have any plans, he watched Dan as he moved toward the dining room, clearly the man was uncomfortable.

Liana hadn't been quite sure where to place everyone. Ben, of course, was at the head of the table. She supposed tradition would have dictated that she sit at the other end, but Ben liked her sitting next to him. Finally, she'd put Dan at the other end of the table, Libby sitting next to her, and Richie on the other side.

Dan held Libby's chair for her, his fingers lightly brushing her shoulders as she sat down. Libby, though, had all her attention on Richie at the other side of the table. Ben seated Liana and, when he'd had a seat himself, he looked over at his wife. Ben had never been one for saying grace, but he knew that Liana would want to, with this being Thanksgiving.

She closed her eyes and bowed her head, holding Ben's hand tightly. Offering up a short, simple prayer, she gave thanks for the food they were about to share, for family and friends, and for this place which had brought them all together. After a chorus of amen's, they began.

"After all this time, Richie, I still don't know if you keep kosher," Liana remarked. "So I tried to make some things that would work either way."

“I’ve kind of let that go by the wayside lately, Liana this all looks great.” Toni had paid attention to his diet but left on his own he ate whatever was offered, “I appreciate the invitation.” He smiled.

"You're welcome. I'm so glad both of you could come." Liana included Libby in her smile.

"So Roberts," Ben joined the conversation. "How do you feel about investin' in this club I've got going?"

Dan had been wondering about that himself and he turned his attention from Libby to Richie on the other side of the table, looking at him questioningly.

Liana looked at Ben in exasperation and then toward Libby. "No matter how many times you tell men not to talk business at the table, it never sinks in."

Richie picked up his glass, “I’m buying a house right now as soon as that transaction is complete, I’ll be ready to drop a little money into it.” Richie was going to be cautions with this venture. While he wanted to trust Ben, he still had that gut feeling and therefore wasn’t going to invest as much as he had first intended.

"It'll be good to have you involved, Roberts. Won't it, Dan?" Ben looked across the table toward Dan Evans.

"Great." Dan was, indeed, glad to have Richie in the business of the club. Ben was a legitimate businessman now, and having the town solicitor involved in the venture would give it more credibility.

The rest of the meal passed with the men talking more business and Liana and Libby smiling at one another. When everyone was stuffed, they left the men talking in the den. Liana took Libby upstairs to show her the newly finished nursery. Libby stood in the middle of the room, admiring it.

She couldn't help but envy Liana her pregnancy. If only she hadn't lost that baby... She couldn't seem to help the tears that ran down her face.

"Libby!" Liana had noticed the tears. "Are you all right?"

"I'm okay." Libby wiped off the tears. "Not many people know but- I lost a baby recently."

"Oh, Libby!" Liana took her arm consolingly. "I'm sorry. I didn't know." She wasn't sure what else to say. Losing this baby would just about have killed her. She couldn't imagine how Libby felt.

"Oh, I'm kinda getting better now. Emotionally anyway." Libby tried to smile. "And I plan to have another one."

The two talked for a little while longer, then went back downstairs to the men. Libby was no longer crying, but the traces of tears were still on her face. Dan looked at her closely, but didn't say anything. Liana noticed how he looked at Libby, and gave him a reassuring smile. He tried to be happy with that, but he looked over to see if Richie had noticed.

Richie was laughing at something Ben had said and glanced at Libby when she came in with Liana it occurred to him that something was up with her but he passed it off and turned back to Ben.

The two women sat down, but a few moments later Libby got up to go to the kitchen. Following her, Dan found her getting a drink of water and wiping her eyes again. "Something wrong, Libby," he asked quietly, watching her from the doorway.

"Dan-!" He had startled her. "No. Nothing's wrong."

"I'm sorry." He wasn't quite sure why he said it, but he had the idea that he knew what was bothering her.

"Sorry? What for?" Her look at him was confused.

"The baby." He spoke the words softly, watching her eyes as he talked. He saw them widen.

"How did you know about that?" She almost gasped.

"I got it out of one of the nurses at the hospital," he told her. "Was it mine?" He had to know.

"I don't know, Dan," Libby told him honestly, feeling hurt and a little angry that he knew. She'd never intended that. "And it doesn't matter now." Brushing past him abruptly, she went back to the den.

She sat on the sofa next to Richie, hoping he'd be ready to leave soon. The Wades were good company, but she wasn't feeling very good right now.

Richie looked over at her when she sat down and quietly asked her, “you okay?” obviously she wasn’t, “you wanna go?”

"I probably should." She gave Ben and Liana an apologetic look. "Hope I'm not being rude. I just have to be at work early tomorrow."

"Not at all." It hadn't been lost on Ben that she'd just been alone with Dan in the kitchen. What the hell had he done now?

Ben and Liana walked the two of them to the door. As Libby and Liana said goodbye to each other, Ben said to Richie, "If you wanna get the paperwork drawn up on the club, we'll get that worked out."