Wade whistled as he got dressed, feeling euphoric.  He usually dreaded holidays because after Christina’s death; he had no joy in celebrating.  Now he looked forward to spending Thanksgiving with John and Rose and later on, Kelsey and Hannah.

                 Thinking back to the previous night after Hannah’s play when Fontaine interrupted Travis and his conversation, he cringed.

                 He and Travis were talking about college football and trying to predict which team would win the National Championship when she staggered to them, smiling.  “Are you talking about football?  I think rugby is manlier.”  She laughed.  “I like the name.  Rug-bee.”  She pronounced it in Wade’s face, making him jerk his head back.  Not only did she smell like alcohol, but he could see her rotting teeth, and her face had a couple of red blotches.  He had no doubt she was a meth user.  She was probably thirty-three, but she looked twenty years older.

                 “Fontaine, you’re drunk,” Travis said.  “And you aren’t welcome here.”

                 “Oh, pooh.”  She leaned toward Travis, losing her balance a little before righting herself. “I’ve known your family all of my life.  I babysat you.  Besides, I need to talk to Nick, and I’m not leaving until I do.”

                 Fontaine’s volume increased.  Wade didn’t want her to draw more attention to her than she already had.  Hannah deserved a nice party.  “Travis, could you get some black coffee?  We’ll be outside.”

                 When Travis left, she put an arm around his neck.  “So, you want to be alone with me?”

                 “No, I think you need some fresh air.”  He tried to pull away, but then she put both of her arms around his neck.   

                  When Kelsey had confronted Fontaine, he was impressed. She chewed on her cheek and balled her fists as Fontaine said cruel things to her, but Kelsey kept her temper in relative check.  Wade knew she had dealt with Fontaine before as she told him, probably to help Nick.  Now he wondered why her cousin had gotten mixed up with Fontaine.

                  Is he in love with her?  Is he her sponsor? 

                  He shook his head as he buttoned up his crimson-colored shirt.  Nick didn’t seem like the kind of a person who used hard drugs, but Wade hardly knew him.  Then he remembered when Nick had given him grief about him hitting her van and Kelsey said, “You of all people know that people aren’t perfect.”

                  He and Kelsey had been getting closer in the last few weeks and knew if things kept going the way it was, then there was a chance they would be a couple.  He knew he loved her and hoped she would reciprocate those feelings. 

                  I need to follow Kelsey’s lead.  No pushing on my part.

                  After Wade finished getting dressed, he grabbed a couple of cans of cranberries from the refrigerator, put them in a plastic bag, and left the house.  

​
 

***

                   “Come on in, Wade.”   Rose gave him a warm smile. 

                   After stepping inside, he hugged her.  “Happy Thanksgiving.” 

                   “Thank you.  You, too,” Rose said, breaking the hug. 

                   He breathed in the aroma of turkey, rolls, and green bean casserole coming from the kitchen.  The smells made him salivate.  “Mmm, my nose is telling me that we’re going to have a delicious meal.”

                   She poked his stomach.  “I hope you brought your appetite.”

                   “Yes, ma’am, I did.”

                    “Great.”  She walked toward the living room, and he followed.  “You haven’t been here since I decorated the house.”                              Stopping, she asked, “What do you think?”

                    Wade glanced around the living room and dining room.  She had decorated the room with autumn colors; figurines of pilgrims and small ceramic cornucopias were scattered all around.  The biggest cornucopia sat in the middle of the buffet.

                    Rose even had on a brown turkey apron, a rust-colored dress with long sleeves underneath and turkey earrings.

                    “From what I can see, I think the house looks nice.  Very festive.”

                    “Wait until next week."  John chuckled.  “She’ll transform this house into a Christmas Wonderland.”

                    “I remember the pictures y’all sent me last year.”  Wade smiled.  “Ol’ Saint Nicolas would’ve been envious.”

                    “Every year it gets more elaborate."  John turned to Rose.  “I hope I don’t fall off the ladder from stringing the outside lights or off the roof while putting Santa Claus and his reindeer up.”

                    “Oh, come on.”  She gave him a soft bat on the arm.  “You love it; you know you do. You always volunteer to do it.”

                    “Yeah, yeah.  I do.”  He kissed her on the cheek.  “It wouldn’t be the holidays if I didn’t gripe a little.” 

                    “Well, if you’re finished, will you make Wade comfortable while I see to the turkey?”

                    “Yes, dear.”

                    “Rose, wait.”  Wade held out the bag.  “Here are the cranberries you wanted.”

                    “Thank you, honey.”  She took it. “I’ll bring the appetizers out shortly.”

                    “Well, sit down, son,”  John said after Rose went into the kitchen.  “The Cowboys’ game will be on soon.”

                    “I hope they win.”  Wade sat on the couch, and John followed.

                    “Me, too.”  John pointed to the round metal tub, filled with ice and sodas under the coffee table.  “Want one?”

                    “Sure.”  Wade laughed.  “Was that your idea?”

                    “No, Rose’s,” John said, pulling two cans out, giving one to him.  “She hates when people walk in and out of her kitchen while she’s preparing Thanksgiving supper.”

                    “Ah,” Wade popped the tab and took a sip.  “No men allowed.”

                    “Yep.”  John sipped his soda.  “So, last night had some drama, I hear.”

                    “Yeah.  That Fontaine is something else.”

                    John nodded, frowning.  “I don’t know why she is the way she is.  She knows she has a loving family and friends who want her to get better.  However, when she’s with them like probably today, they watch her like a hawk.  Fontaine stole money and pawned her mother’s jewelry too many times to count.”  He shook his head.  “I wish Fontaine hadn’t gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd in high school, and Nick, too.”

                    Wade's eyebrows shot up.  “Kelsey’s cousin did hard drugs?”

                    “No, he never tried drugs, but he became an alcoholic when he ran around with that group.”  John shook his head.  “His parents, Sam and Diana, were devastated when they found out, and when Nick was in a car wreck, the whole family had an intervention, and he was angry at first, but when he heard how worried everyone was about him, he agreed to go to rehab.”  He took another sip.  “Nick left after six months, got his G.E.D, got a sponsor, attended AA meetings regularly, and even went to college for a couple of years.  Though, when he saw Fontaine had fallen so low because of her heroin and meth addiction, his heart broke.  He loved her, still does and he tried countless times to help her to get clean, but every time she comes home from rehab, she starts doing drugs again.  Unfortunately, when Fontaine does, Nick gets depressed, and if it’s bad enough, he hits the bottle.”

                    “No wonder Kelsey doesn’t like her.”  Wade sighed.  “But why did Kelsey call him if she knows seeing Fontaine intoxicated triggers his depression?”

                    “Because Kelsey knows if she didn’t, Nick would feel guilty if he didn’t help her, especially if Fontaine had wrecked her car and got hurt as she did two years ago.”  John put his coke down on the coffee table and folded his hands.  “A lot of people would say he’s a glutton for punishment, but no matter how much she has hurt him and disappointed him in the past, he’ll never stop giving up on her.”

                    “Well, then I hope Nick will succeed, and I’ll pray that Fontaine will find the strength to beat her addiction for once and for all.”

                    “Fontaine needs all the prayers she can get,” John said.

                    Changing the subject, Wade asked, “Why didn’t you tell me the Meyers were coming after supper?”

                    “It slipped my mind.”  John tilted his head.  “Why?  Aren’t you happy they are?”

                    “Thrilled,” Wade said, grinning.  “In the last few weeks, we’ve gotten closer.”

                    “Rose and I have noticed as well as everyone else who is close to Kelsey, but still please, tread lightly, my boy.  Don’t push her.”

                    “I won’t.” 

                    “Glad to hear it.”  John slapped his back.  “Well, let’s watch the game.”

***

                    Wade had just finished helping Rose with the dishes when the doorbell chimed.  He peeked through the kitchen window, saw Kelsey’s van in the driveway, and smiled.  Turning to Rose, he said, “I’ll get it.”                        

                    “Wade, wait,” she called out, but he was already out of the kitchen.  

                    “Hey, Kelsey, Han,” Wade said in a cheerful voice.  “Happy Thanksgiving.  Come in.”

                    As they came inside, both had their hands covering their mouths, stifling laughter.

                    He furrowed his brow.  “What?”

                    Hannah giggled.  “Nice floral apron, Wade.”

                    “Shh, Hannah,” Kelsey said.

                    He glanced down and blushed.  “I, ah, was helping Rose wash the dishes.”  He took off the apron.  “I forgot to take it off.”

                    Kelsey smiled, making him warm inside.  “That was nice of you.”

                    Rose came up to them, taking the apron from him.  “I tried to warn you, but you were in a hurry to answer the door.”  She hugged both Kelsey and Hannah.  “I’m glad y’all came.”

                    “It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving if we didn’t.”  Kelsey handed Rose a pecan pie.

                    “Thank you, sweetie.  This is Wade’s favorite pie, as well as mine.”

                    “I know.  Wade told me last night.”  Kelsey looked at him with a twinkle, and he smiled. 

                    Rose cleared her throat.  “Where is everyone else?”

                    “They’re coming in a while.  The guys wanted to see if the Cowboys won or not.”  She glanced around.  “Where’s John?”

                    “In our bedroom doing the same.”  Rose shook her head and put the pie on the dessert table.  “I have a rule; when supper is on the table or when we’ve guests, the TV in the living room goes off.”

                    “Mom has that rule too, on holidays.  Thank goodness for DVRs.”  Kelsey turned to Wade, eyebrows raised.  “Being from Dallas, why aren’t you watching?”

                    “The Cowboys were behind when I was watching, so I stopped.  They do better when I don’t watch.”

                    John pumped his fist in the air.  “The Cowboys won!”

                    “By how much?” Wade asked.

                    “Seven points.”

                    “Alright!”  They high-fived each other.

                    “Now that you know the Cowboys won, John, will you tell Kelsey and Hannah hi?”  Rose gestured towards them.

                    “Oh, welcome.”  John hugged them both.  “Happy Thanksgiving.”

                    “Happy Thanksgiving,” they said in unison.

                    The doorbell rang.   Kelsey smiled.  “Mom and Aunt Diana must’ve made them skip to the end of the game.” 

                    Rose laughed and walked to the door.  “Smart women.”

 

***

                    Everyone congregated in the dining room, the smell of five different types of pies luring them to the dessert table. 

                    Wade thought Kelsey looked fetching in her green turquoise sweater with a v-neck and her turquoise necklace and matching earrings. 

                    Nick touched Kelsey’s arm, getting her attention.  “Kelse, remember when we dared Travis to eat that whole pumpkin pie?”

                     Kelsey grimaced.  “That was awful.  He was sick for a couple of days.  I felt so bad seeing my baby brother miserable that I grounded myself.”

                     Travis groaned, his hands placed on his stomach.  “I still can’t see, smell, or even think about pumpkins without getting nauseous.”

                     “I was grounded for two weeks for that.”  Nicks’ face darkened.  “Then I had my accident.  Y’all were tough on me, especially you, Dad.  You quit your job because you wanted to be home to be sure I was fine, and I stayed sober.  You started your hippotherapy program on our ranch because you knew it would help me as well as the handicapped kids.  I’m sorry I was trouble.”

                     “I know, but now you’re clean.  As long as you stay away from that-“

                     “You know I can’t.  Fontaine needs me.”  Nick looked at his watch.  “I want check on her.  When I took her to her parents’ house last night, Mrs. Theissen said they would watch over her, but holidays are always hard on Fontaine, seeing her siblings doing well; better than her.”

                     Sam scowled.  “Dadnabbit, that’s not their fault.”

                     “It isn’t her fault either.  Well, not completely.”  Nick pinched the bridge of his nose.  “Addiction to heroin and Crystal Meth are hard to overcome, and I’m not giving up on her.  Besides, if she’s upset, I’m the only one who can calm her.  Don’t worry.  I’m taking her to her trailer, not to my house.” 

                     Diana stood and put a hand on Nick's arm.  “Surely, Fontaine’s mom would call you if she was.”

                     “No, Mom.  Fontaine can suppress her emotions until she can’t stand it.  That’s why she was drunk last night; she was depressed because no one in this town would hire her.”

                     Wade heard Sam murmur, “Nobody wants a hard druggy as an employee,” but his son didn’t hear the comment.

                     Nick kissed his mom’s cheek and then turned to John and Rose.  “I’m sorry I put a damper on this evening.”

                     “Oh.”  Rose waved her hand.  “You didn’t.  I know how much you care for Fontaine and that you’re worried about her.  Go and take care of her.”

                     Nick nodded and after saying goodbye to everyone, he left.

                     Kelsey looked at her uncle.  “I know Scott’s deputy, Ray Bauer, is watching the trailer park where she lives in hopes he can catch the drug dealers.  Don’t worry.  He’ll be fine.”

                     “I hope you’re right, puddin’.”  Sam sighed.  “That girl’s gonna be Nick’s downfall.” 

                     Diana wiped tears that had pooled in her blue eyes and squeezed Sam’s shoulders.  “Whether we disapprove of Fontaine or not, our son is an adult and he loves her.  I pray every day she’ll stay clean this time and turn her life around.  If not, we’ll be there for him like every time before.”

                     “You’re right, darling.”  Sam took one of her hands, turned it over and kissed it.

                     Kix looked at Sam.  “You need to have faith in your son, big brother.  He won’t let his alcoholism beat him in the end.”

                     For a couple of minutes, silence enveloped the room until Rose said, “Why don’t we have more pie, and then we play our annual Pictionary match?”

                     Everyone agreed, and since Wade sat by Sam, he asked, “What is the name of your program?”

                     Sam eyeballed him suspiciously.  “Why do you want to know?”

                     “I think hippotherapy is wonderful for handicapped kids and kids with autism,” Wade said.

                     Sam narrowed his eyes and Wade suspected he was trying to decide to tell him.  “It’s called Hope Trails Ranch.”

                     “How many kids do you get in a week?”

                     “You're full of questions, aren't you?"

                     Wade smiled and waited.

                     Uncle Sam played with the right side of his graying mustache and sighed.   "Depends.  Right now we have maybe ten who come from San Antone and around these parts to ride on the weekends.  Spring breaks and summers are our busiest times.”

                     “I bet y’all enjoy it.”

                     “Sure do,” he told Wade, beaming with pride.  “I love when kids enjoy getting out

of their wheelchairs or put their walkers aside and ride.  They feel a sense of freedom.  They all smile and laugh the whole time.”  Sam turned to Hannah, who rolled up beside him and said, “Especially this one.  She loves riding her horse, Charlie.”

                     “You own a horse?” Wade asked in a surprised voice.

                     “Not really.”

                     Kelsey, who was in hearing distance, entered the conversation.  “Uncle Sam gave Charlie to Hannah to ride, but he’s the owner. “

                      “I believe Charlie misses you,” Sam told his young great-niece.  “You’ve scarcely ridden him since school started.  You and your mama need to come on by.”

                      “Yeah.”  Hannah looked at Kelsey with pleading eyes.  “Please, Mama, can we?”

                      “We can go this Sunday if you do your homework beforehand.”

                      A smile lit Hannah’s face.  “Great!  I promise I’ll get it done on Saturday.  It’s not much.”  She turned to Wade.  “Can you come, too?”

                      “Um, well...”  He glanced at Kelsey and her uncle.  “Would that be alright with y’all?” 

                      “Sure,” Kelsey said, her eyes sparkling. 

                      Uncle Sam rubbed his chin, and then looked at Kelsey, who nodded.  “I reckon so since you’re Kelsey and Hannah’s friend and all.  Can a city boy like you ride?”

                       “I might be rusty. I haven’t been horseback riding in years, but I think I’ll manage.”

                       “Well, Mama can ride beside you,” Hannah said.  “She’s a great rider.”

                       Kelsey shook her head.  “I’ve got to be your side walker.  Remember, Uncle Sam gives his volunteers time off on holiday weekends.”

                       “Aw, Mama, I can keep my balance better now, “Hannah said, folding her arms.  “I almost fell once and that was three years ago.”

                       “I believe Nick’s coming Sunday,” Sam said.  “He can be her side walker.” He rubbed his forehead.  “On the other hand, he might have his hands full with helping that tra.... um, Fontaine.  If that’s the case then your Aunt Diana can be her side walker.  You haven’t ridden in a spell either.  It would do you good.”

                       Wade held his breath, waiting for Kelsey’s answer.

                        Kelsey turned to him, giving him a smile.  “I guess, in that case, you’ve got yourself a riding partner.  And do you draw?”

                        “I think I draw where you can make the picture out.”

                        She laughed.  “Then will you be my Pictionary partner, as well?”

                        “I would like that.”