Thanksgiving at Magnolia Hill©

by Nita Shoemaker

"They're here! They have two big vans this year." Addy Wampler released her death grip on the heavy drapery and turned to the man sitting by the fireplace. "Come on, Keith, and please don't let the cat out of the bag until Thanksgiving dinner."

Doctor Keith Eversole pushed out of his chair and went to her. He put his hands on her upper arms and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "My lips are sealed, love. Not a word until The Big Moment."

Addy chewed her lower lip. "They're going to be happy for us... aren't they?"

He smiled at her, his vivid blue eyes twinkling. "Of course they are. We're only getting married. People do it every day."

Addy tried to smile back at him, but her lips wobbled. "I know you're right, sweetheart. I just want this holiday to be perfect--for them and for us. Our first Thanksgiving together."

He slipped an arm around her waist and guided her to the hallway. "Yes, it is, and I hope we have forty or fifty more. The only thing that puzzles me is what took us so long to get started."

She laughed. "As I recall, you deserted me in the first grade."

"But I came back," he said as he hugged her close. "If I hadn't left, you would have been an Air Force wife, and you wouldn't have been a famous country and western singer with millions of fans. Plus, you wouldn't have had those two great kids and five grandkids."

Addy leaned against him. "You're right about the kids. I wonder sometimes if I wouldn't have been happier in my marriage, though."

She didn't have time to relive the past because her butler Henry was opening the front door. A chorus of voices greeted him. Addy's heart swelled as she heard them calling out their pet names for her.

"Mom!" Her daughter Marissa said as she came in with her husband Greg. "Ma," her son Chad yelled from behind his wife Dawn. "Hi Granny," the children chorused.

"Oh my," Addy said as she embraced then in turn. "It's so good to see you."

"I'll have the boys see to the luggage," Henry said as he closed the door against the chilly air. "Livvy has coffee and hot chocolate in the great room."

"Thank you, Henry." Addy was turning to lead the way when she noticed that Keith was no longer at her side. He was standing a little distance away, observing the reunion with a smile on his lips.

She held out her hand to him. "Keith, I want you to meet my family."

He came forward and shook hands as Addy made the introductions.

"You delivered the baby last Christmas," Chad observed.

Marissa rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, God... do not send any pregnant girls until Sunday."

Everyone laughed as they trooped into the great room.

Chad's twelve-year-old twins, Samantha and Steven, latched onto Addy's hands. Marissa's three older teens were a bit more reserved. Addy called them Marissa's stair-steps. The two boys, Jack and James were sixteen and fifteen. The youngest was Katherine, or Cat as the family called her. She was only a year older than the twins.

"Where's Clementine," Samantha asked.

"She'll be down in a few minutes, Sammi," Addy told her. "She went upstairs to change."

"Oh, goody," the young girl said. "She tells us the best stories."

Addy smiled down at her. Her life-long companion Clementine was a great favorite with the younger children. She had grown up on the Mississippi River and her stories rivaled Tom Sawyer's escapades.

"I hope she hasn't told all of them," Addy said. "I wouldn't want you to be bored."

"Oh, we won't," Steven said in an excited voice. "Can we play in the game room after we have hot chocolate?"

Addy led them to a large sofa and sat with one on either side. "You sure can. I think you'll have plenty to do," she said. "Keith and I went shopping for video games."

From across the room, Marissa shot her a speculative look.

The next hour passed quickly as Addy and her family enjoyed sandwiches and cookies prepared by Chef Livvy and her helpers in the kitchen. A house full of guests meant extra work so Addy had augmented her small staff with extra hands to help in the kitchen. She had hired two maids and two of Henry's nephews to help with luggage and odd jobs.

She was determined to give her children a holiday vacation to remember. More important, she wanted everything to be perfect for when she and Keith announced that they were getting married on New Year's Day.

Since last Christmas when Keith had come to Magnolia Hill to deliver Summer Grey's baby, their relationship had flowered into love. Even though they were both seventy years old, they knew they were meant to be together... forever.

The grandchildren were the first to desert the party. They noisily clumped downstairs to the basement game room. Marissa and Dawn excused themselves, saying they wanted to unpack. From Marissa's earlier look, Addy suspected they wanted to sneak off and compare notes about Keith. Well, that was all right since he would soon be their stepfather. She waved them away after telling them that supper would be at seven. Across the room, Keith, Chad and Greg were in deep conversation, and Addy suspected they were discussing football. She smiled and winked at Clementine who had joined the family for refreshments.

Addy's children and her ex-husband Billy managed her estate. Even though she had been semi-retired for ten years, her records were still played and she made guest appearances several times a year. Last spring, she and Keith had gone to Nashville where she cut an album of songs for the soundtrack of a movie due to be released at Christmas time. In a few weeks, they would travel to New York and California on a promotional tour.

A January wedding was probably hurrying things a bit, but she and Keith didn't want to wait. Now that they had found each other again, they didn't want to waste a precious second--not at their ages.

When Clementine excused herself to visit with the children in the game room and Addy's son and son-in-law had gone in search of their wives, Addy and Keith were left alone. He smiled at her from across the room.

"What are you so happy about, Dr. Eversole? "

He sauntered over to stand in front of her and took her hands in his warm palms.

"I was just thinking how lovely you looked, sitting with the twins, your eyes shining with happiness."

"It's going well, isn't it, Keith," she asked anxiously.

"Very well, my love." He released her hands and put his arms around her, drawing her close against his chest. "You worry too much."

"I know," Addy moaned against his shoulder. "I've been on pins and needles since we decided to make it official. It's been a long time since I got married." She chuckled in spite of herself.

"Well, it's been a long time for me, too," he murmured against her hair. "I had to wait for my first grade sweetheart to be free to marry me."

Addy leaned back against his arms. "Would you have come to see me if Summer hadn't shown up on my doorstep ready to have her baby?"

He touched her nose with his forefinger. "You know I would have. I only found out you were living here a week before Christmas. I was going to surprise you after the holidays. You and Summer just hurried up our meeting by a week or so."

"And what were you planning on doing, Dr. Eversole, asking for my autograph?"

Keith slowly shook his head. "I was going to ask you to sing for me--like we used to sing when we were five years old and sitting in the choir box at church. Then, I was going to ask you to marry me."

Tears blurred the sight of his beautiful blue eyes. The neatly trimmed moustache and beard seemed so white against his tanned face.

"So many years ago," Addy sniffed.

He pulled her head against his shoulder. "Not so many, my darling. Sometimes, it seems like yesterday. And the best thing is... we have a lifetime of tomorrows to look forward to."

After the children had been put to bed and their parents had retired to their rooms, Keith took Addy's hand as they stood in the wide hallway at the foot of the stairs. "Do you want to walk me to the guesthouse," he asked, his eyes twinkling with humor.

"Do you have to ask?" Addy replied.

When they were strolling along the cobblestone walkway that led from the main house, Keith put his arm around her waist. They stopped to admire the new moon hanging brightly in the eastern sky. "It's funny," Addy remarked, "But it seems like a long time since we were alone." She laughed. "Does that sound like I resent my family being here?"

Keith hugged her closer. "Not at all. We're so used to having unlimited time together. I think we're just a couple of spoiled old coots. Your family is lovely, by the way."

"Thank you for reminding me," Addy laughed and tugged his hand, leading him toward the guest house.

"You're welcome, and just to prove my devotion, I came out earlier and laid a fire in the fireplace. I thought we'd have a glass of wine and cuddle on the sofa. How does that sound?"

"It sounds perfect, darling," she replied.

* * * * * *

Thanksgiving day dawned with a brilliant blue sky and the sun shining gold on the oak leaves remaining on the trees surrounding Magnolia Hill. After a quick breakfast, the children coaxed their fathers to walk with them to the lake so they could feed the ducks and geese. Addy, Clementine, Dawn and Marissa set the table for Thanksgiving dinner while Livvy and her helpers put the finishing touches on the meal. Addy wanted to have everything ready early so Livvy, Henry and the rest of the staff could leave at noon to be with their relatives. Although Addy had urged Livvy to let her and her family fix the meal, Livvy had staunchly refused. She seemed to know that it was a special occasion although she didn't say so out loud.

Everyone was called to the dining room at twelve o'clock. They duly admired the fresh flowers, candles, and crystal... and the golden brown turkey that formed the centerpiece in the middle of the table. Just as Addy's son Chad had finished the blessing and her son-in-law Greg was carving the turkey, the doorbell rang.

Addy rose from her chair. "Who could that be?" She hurried from the dining room with Marissa at her heels.

Marissa opened the door and a huge smile broke across her face when she saw the mystery visitor.

"Daddy!"

"Billy!" Addy said in a much more subdued tone.

"In the flesh and all the way from California," he said as he stepped into the hallway and hugged Marissa.

"Daddy, why didn't you tell us you were coming?" Marissa said through her laughter. "I'm so glad to see you."

He stepped away from his daughter and gave Addy a quick hug and a peck on the cheek.

"I didn't know myself until yesterday when I had to fly to Nashville to take care of some of Addy's movie business. I thought that since I was so close, I'd just rent a car and pop over. Hope it's okay with your mother." He gave Addy a sheepish grin that reminded her of how boyish he had always been. His smile could charm birds from their branches.

Although Addy had intended this to be a special dinner with a special announcement, she supposed that Billy being there wouldn't be too awkward. They had been married for thirty years, after all, and they were on excellent terms.

"Welcome, Billy," Addy said. "The only penalty you have to pay for not warning us in advance is that you have to help the men with the clean-up chores.

His grin got bigger. "Now that, I can do, my Country Music Queen."

With Marissa clinging to his arm, he followed Addy to the dining room where he greeted the rest of the family and Keith. Dawn had already rearranged the seating and put down a place setting for him.

"Ah, she's a treasure," Billy said to Chad. "Dawn, do you have an older sister I could meet? It sure gets lonely out there in the Hollywood Hills."

Dawn blushed prettily. "Sorry, Dad, but they're all taken."

Throughout the meal, they talked and laughed. Addy smiled so much she thought her cheeks were going to ache for a week.

Billy was his usual entertaining self as he told stories about the making of Addy's movie. When he got to the part where she visited Nashville, she hastily interrupted him. Keith had been with her on the trip, but the children didn't know that. Billy had taken the relationship in stride, but even he didn't know that she and Keith planned to announce their wedding at this very table.

"Billy, I think it's time for a Thanksgiving toast, don't you?" She said. "Why don't you make it this year?"

He stood at his place at the center of the table and raised his glass. "I propose a toast to a lady who is the sole reason any of us are seated at this table today. Without Addy Wampler, my entire musical career would have been spent as a back-up musician. I wouldn't have become a successful agent--but most importantly, I wouldn't have had two wonderful children and five equally wonderful grandchildren. To you, Addy. Your life has been our song."

"Here, here." Everyone chorused around the table. After all had taken a sip from their glasses, Keith left his chair and came to stand beside Addy.

"That was a beautiful toast, Billy," he said. He took Addy's hand and pulled her chair away from the table as she stood. "Unfortunately, I was six years old when Addy and I parted. I didn't think I'd be lucky enough to ever see her again, much less become involved in her life. She was a beautiful memory that wouldn't go away. You see, I have loved her all these years. And so, today, I am happy to announce that on New Year's Day, Addy Wampler will make me the luckiest man on the planet by becoming my beloved wife."

He raised his glass. "To my bride-to-be. May I be worthy of such a fantastic woman."

Addy smiled into his eyes. "You are more than worthy, my love," she said.

Keith bent and kissed her lightly on the lips, neither of them noticing the silence that had fallen on the room.

"You're getting married?" Billy blurted out what the rest of them were thinking.

Addy looked at the stunned faces around the table. Dawn was bravely trying to smile. The twins looked confused. Marissa's face had turned a deep pink, which meant that she was either angry or embarrassed for her seventy-year-old mother. Chad's mouth had dropped open, but he quickly remembered his manners. He clamped his jaw shut as he left his chair and came around the table to shake Keith's hand and embrace his mother. The youngsters all followed with a hug for their grandmother and a handshake for their future step-grandfather.

A deep hurt settled around Addy's heart. Her family didn't want her to remarry. For whatever reasons, they had counted on things going on exactly as they had for twenty years. She wanted to run from the room and weep.

With every ounce of the old stage presence she could muster, Addy smiled at her family. "I know you're all surprised at our announcement, but I promise you--everything will work out. It always has and it always will because we're a family. We're just adding a new member." She turned to Keith and said, "Sit beside me, dear, and we'll finish dinner."

Chad brought Keith's chair and the twins politely passed his plate and utensils. "This reminds me when we used to perform behind chicken wire, Billy," Addy said. "Remember those days?"

Billy had collected himself enough to take the hint. He started talking about how he and Addy had made the rounds of honkytonks, playing and singing wherever they could to get gas for their old car so they could drive to the next gig.

"Hey, we were in Tupelo our first Thanksgiving," he said. "Would you believe the Baptist minister was at Roy Junior's Bar and Grill and he invited us to stay at his house and eat with his family. Of course, we had to go to church first." He soon had everyone in a better humor, but Addy noticed that although Marissa and Chad smiled and laughed at Billy's stories, they were troubled about the change in the status quo. Whatever was she going to do to get them to accept Keith?

With Billy's help, dinner returned to an almost-normal affair. "This turkey is the best I've had since last Thanksgiving," he quipped as he took a big forkful of white meat.

The twins giggled. "Aw, Grandpa, you're so funny."

Billy started to answer, but the words lodged in his throat. He suddenly jerked to his feet, overturning his chair. His hands flew to his chest and his eyes bugged out.

"Oh, my God!" Addy grabbed Keith's arm. "He's choking."

Keith was out of his seat like a shot. He grabbed Billy around the chest and put his fist in just the right spot in Billy's solar plexus. With a quick jerk backward, he sent the piece of turkey flying out of Billy's mouth.

Billy took a gasping breath as everyone gathered around him. "Sit here, Dad." His son righted the chair and helped him sit down.

"Cheez," Billy weakly uttered.

"Sit still for a few minutes and I'll get my bag," Keith said. "I'm going to check your pulse and listen to your heart."

As soon as he left the room, Addy gathered around Billy's chair with the family. She bent and kissed his hair. "I'm so glad you're all right," she said.

Billy gave her a half-hearted grin. He knew a near miss when it almost hit him in the face.

Keith shooed them all aside as he knelt beside Billy and felt his pulse. He clipped his stethoscope in his ears and listened to his heart. After a minute had passed, he smiled at his unexpected patient. "Steady as a rock. What I prescribe for you is: finish this delicious dinner."

Addy watched as everyone resumed their seats. Again, the twins proved helpful in getting Billy a fresh plate and utensils from the kitchen. She hoped that sitting down to the table for the third time would be some kind of charm, but she was still a bit wary of her daughter. She glanced at Marissa and what she saw almost knocked her out of her chair. Her daughter was smiling... honestly smiling at Keith.

"Dr. Eversole," Marissa said. "I'm going to bring dessert from the kitchen. Which do you prefer, pumpkin pie with whipped cream or pecan cake? Or, maybe you'd like a slice of both."

He smiled back at his soon-to-be stepdaughter. "You read my mind. I'll have a small piece of both."

"Hey," Billy piped up. "Don't I rate ahead of my new husband-in-law?"

Marissa playfully stuck out her tongue at him. "I already know you want both. Besides, he just saved your life. That makes him a bonafide member of the family." She gave Keith a solemn look. "Thank you, Dr. Eversole." When she came around the table, she bent and put her arms around Addy's shoulders. "I'm such a pill, Mama. Can you forgive me for being so rude?"

Addy hugged her in return and kissed her cheek. "If you weren't a pill, I'd think there was something wrong with you."

"Does that mean that I'm a pill, but I'm your pill?" She playfully asked.

"Always," Addy answered. "Now, I'm ready for my pumpkin pie."

* * * * * *

While the men cleaned the table and loaded the dishwasher, Addy took the female members of the family to the great room for coffee. The children disappeared down the basement stairs. Assuming they were involved in their video games and using the computer, Addy siezed the opportunity to talk to Marissa and Dawn about her decision to remarry. "I didn't tell you sooner for the obvious reasons," she explained. "I know I'm pretty old to even think about marrying again, but Keith and I really love each other. We could have settled for a simple relationship, but we both wanted to make a committment--to each other. I hope that makes as much sense to you as it does to me."

Marissa was silent for a moment. When she spoke, it was clear she did so with measured words. "Mom, I don't mean to sound ungrateful for everything you've done for the family. I was just concerned for the business we've built around you." She pressed her lips together as if she actually hated bringing up the subject. "I just couldn't bear to see you involved with someone who would want to jump in and ruin everything."

Addy moved closer and put her arm around Marissa's shoulders. "Don't you think Keith and I have talked about those things? He knows all about the trust funds and the investments. Keith is an only child and his parents left him well off. He's also a retired colonel. He neither needs, nor does he want money from me."

Marissa sniffed into a tissue she clutched in her hand. "I know I sound mercenary. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry, sweetheart," Addy assured her. "Keith insisted on a pre-nup and we both made new wills. The lawyers will send you copies of everything. I asked them not to say anything until we could make the formal announcement."

Dawn came to sit on Marissa's other side. "I'm sorry, too," she said. "I had the same doubts as Marissa. I just didn't say anything."

Addy looked at her two lovely daughters--one by birth and the other by marriage. "You know, I am the luckiest woman alive. I have the greatest kids and grandkids... I'm going to have a wonderful husband. I'm even grateful for that rascal known as my manager, your father. Isn't it grand he didn't choke to death at my table. What a field day the tabloids would have had with that?"

Marissa was the first to laugh. "Mom," she said. "You are absolutely insane."

"I know." Addy chuckled with her. "If I hadn't been a little off-balance, I don't think I would have done the things I've done."

A voice from the hall interrupted. "Can we come out of the kitchen?"

"Only if those dishes are done," Dawn warned.

Chad sauntered into the great room followed by Greg, Keith and Billy. "Mission accomplished, Mom," he said.

Clementine stood up. "If you can still waddle after all that food, the young people have invited us downstairs for some entertainment."

"What's all this?" Addy asked as she descended the steps into the darkened basement. Years ago, the room had been turned into a comfortable living area. As time had gone by, Addy had added games for the children. Keith had seen to the wireless computers. There was a bathroom and another bedroom to accommodate her large family. Just now, the lights were dim as they felt their ways down the steps.

Suddenly, a mirrored ball started twinkling from a far corner of the room where chairs had been arranged in a semi-circle.

Jack stepped forward and took Addy's arm. "Front row seats, Granny," he grinned. "Dr. Eversole."

Addy sat down and Jack moved into the dim corner behind the twinkling ball. When everyone was seated, the lights came up to reveal a makeshift stage.

"Oh my," Addy gasped. All the children were dressed to perform and they had brought their instruments.

Jack took his seat behind the drum stand and played a flourish and the entertainment began. They played and sang all the songs Addy had written during her long career. At the end of the performances, Billy stepped up on the stage and took the microphone.

"Remember when I told you about the Thanksgiving night I was playing backup at Roy Junior's? Well, the crowd was really rowdy and along towards the end of the evening, beer bottles and fists started flying out on the dance floor. The chicken wire in front of the stage was the only thing keeping me and the boys in the band from getting beaned by flying glass. Addy slipped back there and had a word with the band. Then she stepped to the front of the stage and started to sing. After only a couple of notes, those rowdies settled right down. It was the first time she performed before an audience and by the end of her number, there wasn't a dry eye in the place."

He reached out and brought Cat to stand beside him. "This is the song she sang."

Cat took the microphone and waited for Billy to be seated in the front row. A quiet note sounded in the darkness and she started to sing. Addy watched through a blur of tears as Cat sang--as clear and pure as she remembered her own voice being at that age. When Cat motioned for her to step on stage, she gladly went, harmonizing with her lovely granddaughter on the last chorus of Amazing Grace.