A McClendon Thanksgiving Read online

  Myra glared at Patrice, not saying a word, squinting her eyes.

  Faith felt the urge to move away from the table since she was sitting so close to her mother. Because she knew their mother didn’t like it when she was being mocked.

  “Girl, don’t make fun of me. It’s true and I’m not singing a song.”

  “Mama, you can call it what you like, but I wouldn’t show up for dinner at anybody’s house without bringing something, even if it’s just a two-liter bottle of pop,” Jennifer said honestly.

  “Right. Who does that?” Renee chimed in.

  “Okay, now that you girls have made that clear, whoever comes will eat and we will all have a good time. Now, let’s come up with a menu and write the grocery list,” Myra said.

  They each busied themselves brainstorming as to what the enormous Thanksgiving meal would consist of. Then they found their own dish and added the ingredients to the grocery list.

  Myra ripped the pages off the pad and pulled her wallet from her purse so that she could get her debit card. Handing Faith the list and card, she turned to Patrice. “Go with your sister to the store so you can get the food. When you get back, Jennifer, Renee and I will put the groceries away.” Myra rose to her feet.

  “Is everybody making their dish here?” Faith looked around at her sisters.

  “I had planned to make mine here,” Renee said.

  “But I thought we each had to do them on our own?” Faith wanted to confirm. The last thing she wanted was for her cousin Gwen to say that one of them cheated. She wanted her to be beat fair and square, even if she wasn’t the one who beat her.

  “I just thought since we were going to be staying all night to help prepare the food, I’d make my dessert here,” Renee said.

  “I don’t see anything wrong with that. It’s a silly, little tradition we made up when you girls were young. You’re grown now and I’m sure that you are quite capable of being in the kitchen at the same time, making your own food,” Myra said.

  Faith was glad that her mother had settled things, so she stood up, grabbed her coat from the armchair and waited for Patrice who, by the scowl on her face, clearly didn’t want to be deemed the driver. Faith was just happy she didn’t have to go alone.

  “Mom, you don’t have to pay for all the food. You know we’ll help,” Faith said, glancing at the list that was several pages long.

  “Oh, I plan to get all my money back,” Myra said before walking away from the table and out the kitchen.

  “You know you ain’t right, Mama!” Patrice shouted.

  Chapter Fifteen

  GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

  2 (4-ounce) packages sweet-chocolate baking bars

  2 cups all-purpose flour

  1 teaspoon baking soda

  1/4 teaspoon salt

  1 cup butter, softened

  2 cups sugar

  4 large eggs, separated

  1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  1 cup buttermilk

  COCONUT PECAN FROSTING

  2 cups chopped pecans

  1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk

  1-1/2 cups sugar

  3/4 cup butter

  6 egg yolks, lightly beaten

  2 cups sweetened, flaked coconut

  1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  Faith waited for Patrice to open the passenger-side door to her late model Infiniti before she got inside and fastened her safety belt. They needed to go to a big-box store that offered everything, so it would take them at least twenty minutes to get to the grocery store. It would give her just enough time, and was the perfect opportunity, to talk to her sister about their disagreement. It had been a while, but she hadn’t had the chance before this to speak with Patrice.

  “Mama is such a trip,” Patrice said as she pushed the button to start the vehicle.

  “I really missed her,” Faith said in reflection. She glanced at Patrice. “I missed everybody. I’m so happy I moved back.”

  Patrice took her eyes off the road for a split second. “Me too.”

  An awkward silence hung in the atmosphere between them, making Faith uncomfortable. She had to say something to break the quietness in the car. “Treecie, I’m so sorry for the way I responded to you the other day.”

  Patrice moved her head from side to side, her eyes on the road. “There’s no need for an apology.”

  “Yes, there is, but not for what you think.”

  Patrice glanced at her, then refocused on the road. “What are you apologizing for?”

  “We’re going to move forward, but you need to remember your references to Kevin are unacceptable. He is not a factor.”

  “Okay, even if Kevin is a nonfactor, you still have to meet these deadlines.”

  “That’s exactly right, but when you’re the sole person responsible for trying to get a new business off the ground, sometimes things don’t work out as planned.” Faith hoped Patrice really heard what she was trying to tell her.

  “When you started managing the store, all of this type of work had already been done, right?”

  “You know it had. Mama had been running it since we were kids.”

  “Right. There’s a lot of pressure involved. You have no idea what I’ve had to deal with these last couple of months.”

  “You have a point. I’ve never renovated a commercial space before. That’s true.” Faith prayed that Patrice meant what she said because the last thing Faith wanted to do was go back and deal with some bull from Patrice that had already been settled.

  “Look, Faith, I wasn’t mad at you in the first place. You were the one who jumped me for my comment. I know that you’ve been through a lot and now you’re trying to rebuild your life. I get that. It’s okay to want to be your own person. Just chill,” Patrice said, turning into the store parking lot.

  Patrice turned off the ignition and glanced at Faith. “Now, get your behind out of my car,” she said then laughed.

  Faith knew there was some truth to what Patrice said, even if she wasn’t willing to admit it. On the flip side, she now felt that, because of the incident, her sisters would be more careful in trying to tell her what to do.

  Patrice waited until Faith walked to the front of the car, then she looped their arms together as they walked to the entrance of the store.

  “I don’t want to be in this store all day,” Patrice said to Faith as she pulled the buggy from the holder.

  “Neither do I,” Faith said in return.

  “Give me half the list so we can finish sooner. We’ll meet by the checkout line in the front of the store once we’ve gotten everything,” Patrice suggested.

  Faith tore off the top two sheets that were stuck together, gave them to Patrice, and she took the other three. Pulling a buggy from the stall, she went in one direction and Patrice went in the other.

  Needing to get all the dessert ingredients for baking, Faith turned her shopping cart, almost slamming into Margaret, who was exiting the aisle.

  Faith drew in a quick breath; then her mouth flew open. “Margaret, I’m sorry,” Faith said, moving the buggy to the side and kissing her on the cheek.

  “Looks like you’re getting ready to feed an army,” Margaret commented as she glanced at all the things Faith had in her cart.

  “I’m getting the things we need for Thanksgiving dinner.” She was so happy that she hadn’t hit Margaret. Faith leaned over to see what was in the other woman’s buggy. “What are you making?”

  “My son asked me to make him a German chocolate cake tonight.”

  “Does your son know that you are trying to get your client’s dress designs done?” Faith chuckled at her attempt to sound businesslike. She touched Margaret’s hand. “I’m just kidding, but please save me a piece because, if I remember correctly, Michael doesn’t like to share his German chocolate cak
e.”

  Margaret giggled. “I’m certain he’ll share with you though, my dear. But I’ll be sure to tell him.”

  Faith wondered if Michael had told his mother about their budding relationship. Her next thought was, if he had, how did Margaret feel about Faith seeing her son? She didn’t want to be the one to mention it to her. It should be a conversation that Michael had with his mother.

  “Tell me what?” Michael said, coming up the aisle with Patrice in tow.

  Patrice peeked around Michael and into Faith’s shopping cart. “Did you get everything?” Patrice asked Faith.

  Faith glanced at her list. “I was turning down the aisle when I ran into Margaret, so I still have to get the sugar, flour, etc.”

  “You might need to get a little extra,” Patrice announced.

  “Why?” Faith looked at her sister questioningly.

  “I invited Michael and his mom to Thanksgiving dinner,” Patrice announced.

  “Oh no, we can’t just show up. Thanksgiving is for family,” Margaret said.

  “You are family. Please come and join us,” Faith said, trying to reassure Margaret. She meant every word she said. She did feel as if they were close enough to be family.

  But when she got in the car, she was going to tell Patrice a thing or two, since she was the main person complaining about the number of people coming to dinner. Now she was adding more folks to the guest list. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Michael and Margaret to share dinner with her and the family. She wanted Patrice to see how easy it was for the numbers to add up.

  Michael came around the shopping carts to Faith’s side. “We’ll be there.” Leaning close to Faith’s ear, Michael whispered, “Where are you going when you leave here?”

  “Back to Mom’s and then home.”

  “Why don’t you come to my place instead? We haven’t spent any time together this week.”

  Faith blushed and nodded. “I’ll call when I’m on my way.”

  Michael kissed Faith on the lips. “See you later.” Then gave her a wink before taking his mother’s cart and pushing it down the aisle.

  With a wave, Margaret and Michael were gone, leaving Faith with her sister staring at her.

  Faith put the rest of the list in Patrice’s hand. “Help me get these things so we can get out of here.” She could feel Patrice staring a hole in her back, but she wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of turning around.

  Faith reached over to pick up the condensed milk for the cheesecake and sniggled because she could see Patrice leaning against the shopping cart still staring at her.

  Patrice snatched up the list and started putting things in the buggy without saying anything about the kiss Michael had placed on Faith’s lips. Faith knew Patrice wanted to, but was mighty glad she didn’t.

  Once they had crossed everything off their lists, they paid for their items and walked to the car.

  After putting everything in the trunk and backseat of the car, they were ready to head back.

  Patrice glared at Faith when she got into the car and pulled on her safety belt. “Uh…so when did that happen?”

  “What?” Faith asked, batting her long lashes. She realized she was pulling her sister’s leg, but it was fun.

  “When did you start seeing Mikey?”—Patrice wanted to know.

  “I told you—”

  Patrice cut her off, waving her hands. “I know, I know. Michael…like a brother. Forget about that. I want the 411 and I don’t mean the condensed version either.”

  Placing her right hand over her chest, Faith batted her eyes again. “What do you mean? A good girl never tells.”

  Patrice pressed the brake and started the engine. “Umph…good girl. Child, please. Tell that to somebody who doesn’t know better.”

  She turned to face Faith, then looked out her rearview mirror. Making sure it was clear, she eased out and rolled onto the street.

  “I’m waiting,” Patrice said.

  Faith gave her a sheepish smile. “It just kinda happened.”

  “Well, it’s about time you two got together.”

  Faith stared at Patrice for several seconds. “He said that he couldn’t remember a time when he didn’t love me.”

  “You do believe him, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” Faith simply said.

  “He’s a good guy, Faith. You don’t find men like him anymore.” Patrice gripped the steering wheel with her left hand and gave Faith a fist bump with her right. “My girl.”

  When they finally made it back to the house and started taking grocery bags inside, Patrice said, “I can’t wait to see their faces when they see all these bags.”

  Faith chuckled to herself when she noticed Renee and Jennifer’s smiles fade when they brought the grocery bags into the house, one after another. They thought it was funny that Faith and Patrice had to spend a couple of hours in the grocery store, but they weren’t laughing anymore. They had to bring all those grocery bags in the house and put the food away. “Priceless,” Faith whispered.

  Galloping down the steps, Faith headed to the family room so she could see her father before she left the house. She found him stretched out on the couch with Mariah- they were both sound asleep.

  Her heart was overjoyed as she watched her father sleep holding his granddaughter. Even asleep, he was still a protector. She stared at Mariah’s angelic, little chocolate-brown face. She was such a beautiful baby.

  It had been a long time since Faith thought about having a child of her own. It wasn’t because she didn’t want to have children, but every time she’d mentioned it to Kevin, he would either ignore her or tell her they would revisit it at another time.

  Kevin was too focused on his career and money to be unselfish, so later never came, and now she was happy that she didn’t have children with him. They’d be tied together for the rest of their lives.

  For now, she would enjoy her niece and nephew, spoiling them as much as their mother would allow.

  She went over and kissed her father on the forehead then left the house.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Faith sprinted to her car, but before she could open the driver’s-side door Michael called. She answered giggling, “You just couldn’t wait until I called you, huh.”

  “I rushed home so that I could get things together for my baby, and when you didn’t call, I just had to find out where you were,” Michael said. “You good?”

  “Yes, I’m on my way to your place right now.” She loved his concern for her well-being.

  “Good. I can’t wait to get my hands on you, girl,” Michael said in a husky tone of voice.

  Faith turned on the engine. “I thought we were going to have dinner or something.”

  “We are, and depending on what happens when you walk in the door, the something may come first.”

  “You are bad, Michael.”

  “No I’m not. Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed of loving you over and over again?”

  Faith was silent.

  “Too many to count. Now I don’t have to dream anymore since you’re all mine.”

  Faith loved that Michael desired her. Each time he touched her, she felt wanted; every time he entered her body, she felt cherished. Michael made her whole body sing and feel so good all over.

  “I’m pulling out of my parents’ driveway right now. I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.”

  “I’m waiting,” he said before ending the call.

  Before long, Faith pulled alongside the curb at Michael’s place. She got out of the car and went inside the building after he buzzed her in.

  He must have heard her coming up the stairs and down the hall, because he was standing in the doorway of his apartment, posing in a robe. She guessed he probably didn’t have a stitch of clothing on underneath it.

  Faith didn’t even t
ry to hold it in. She laughed so hard her face turned red, tears streaming down.

  She tried to speak, but each time she looked him in the eye, he’d change his stance. Faith attempted to go around him to get inside the apartment, but he blocked her way.

  “Let’s go inside,” she said to Michael, who was still posing.

  He reached out, pulling at both her jacket’s lapels, their faces merely inches apart, and kissed her lips. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.” He dropped her hand and led her inside.

  “What are you doing in that robe?” Faith asked, reaching for the cloth belt around his waist.

  “Do you really want to do that?” Michael asked, looking her up and down.

  Faith was getting used to the brazen way they spoke to each other. After his little modeling demonstration, she wanted to make it even more fun. She slipped off her jacket, laid it on the arm of the sofa and sat down.

  “Come here, big daddy,” Faith said, teasing Michael because he had been trying to get her to call him that while they were making love. She knew he’d been kidding, but by the surprised look on his face, Faith figured she’d gotten him.

  He walked anxiously a few feet to where she had taken a seat.

  Michael lifted his right leg onto the sofa and Faith’s eyes followed the dangle of the belt on the robe, between his legs.

  He leaned closer to her, so close that she could feel his breath on her face. “You know what, babe? I figured something out today.”

  The low huskiness of his voice, in particular, got Faith’s body to react every time. She could feel her body responding to his nearness, the tone of his voice, the heat from his body. Her eyes dropped to the belt, still dangling, and she unconsciously licked her lips.

  “What did you figure out today, big daddy,” she said, her own voice low and husky.

  Michael dropped to his knees, wedging himself between her legs, and kissed her lips, softly the first time, before retreating. “I am so happy that we are in each other’s lives again.”

  Faith searched his eyes before pulling him even closer. Returning the kiss with ferocious hunger, she opened her mouth, giving him access.