Jillian Chantal

As is appropriate, the writers of Tuesday Tales are writing to the word prompt Turkey this week. I am working on my NaNoWriMo story.

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“You never talk about your family. So none of them live here? I thought you grew up here.”

“I did. Mom passed away. Dad remarried and moved to Ireland to love with the woman he fell in love with on a seniors’ cruise that some woman from his church organized.” Lu laughed. “Backfired on her though as I’m pretty sure she was angling to land him for herself.”

“And where is your sister?”

“She’s working for the Miss America organization. Travels a lot and lives in New York when she’s home. She rarely comes back to Florida. Unless it’s pageant related.” Lu paused. “I also had a brother. He was a war casualty. I miss him most of all. He was fun and always up for a good time. You couldn’t be sad around him. He just made people smile.”

“I’m sorry you lost him. I’d like to have had the chance to meet him.”

“You’d have liked him.” She touched Malcolm’s arm. “We both lost a pretty awesome brother, didn’t we?”

“We sure did. Something in common for sure.” He looked up at Galvez’s statue. “Mom wanted me to ask if you and Aneto wanted to come for thanksgiving dinner but I hesitated as I figured you might have plans. Now that I know you don’t have family plans, would you like to join us? Mom makes a traditional roast turkey and ham, but we also have naan and something curried. Pecan and pumpkin pies as well as kheer which is like a rice pudding.”

“I’m actually working a double shift that day. I normally do so someone who does have local family can have the day off. I’ll catch a nap when it’s slow and keep working.”

She could see the disappointment on his face. “You could have Aneto for the day and night. I know he’s like to gnaw on a turkey bone and your girls enjoy playing with him.”

“He does he feel about kittens? You made me take them, remember?”

“He’s fine with them. He loves to play with them. They’re young enough still to adapt to a dog, I would say.”

“We’d love to have him as our guest. You, too. Next year, don’t volunteer for the extra shift, okay?”

Thrilled he saw them together still as friends or maybe something more in a year, she nodded. “All right. We’ll plan on next year. Tell Meera I’m sorry to miss it.”