Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice, Chapter 14 (Operation Wishbone)

Laura and Jazlyn sat at the kitchen table, their coffee cups steaming as they planned their covert holiday matchmaking. The previous night’s news that Adalynn would be joining for Thanksgiving had sparked a lively debate between them.

“So,” Laura began, tapping her fingers thoughtfully on the table, “we need a name for this. If we’re getting Brandon to finally tell Adalynn how he feels, it should feel… epic.” She raised an eyebrow, smiling conspiratorially. “I’m thinking we call it Operation Romeo and Juliet.”

Jazlyn snorted, shaking her head. “Laura, they both die in the end. Not exactly what we’re aiming for here.”

“Right… good point.” Laura laughed. “Alright, how about Operation Sleeping Beauty?”

“Oh, no,” Jazlyn replied, rolling her eyes. “We’re not comparing Brandon to some random prince who kisses a sleeping princess without her consent. Besides, Brandon’s about as far from ‘princely’ as you can get.”

Before Laura could retort, Garth appeared in the doorway, pausing to listen with an amused expression. “Why don’t you just call it Project Wishbone? Because, honestly, it’s going to take a Thanksgiving miracle for that boy to tell her anything.”

Laura and Jazlyn looked at each other, nodding slowly. “Project Wishbone,” they said in unison, both of them grinning as Garth walked in and poured himself a cup of coffee.

With the operation officially named, they dove into the Thanksgiving dinner plans. Garth settled into a chair beside Laura, listening as she rattled off their menu plans.

“We’re doing the fried turkey, of course,” Laura said confidently, giving Garth a look that clearly communicated, This is non-negotiable. “And I’ve got my sweet potato casserole ready to go.”

“I’m bringing my cornbread stuffing,” Jazlyn added, eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. “It’s Brandon’s favorite, after all.”

Garth cleared his throat, leaning in. “We’ll have the gravy, of course, and Laura’s infamous charcuterie board.”

“Infamous?” Laura protested with mock offense. “I prefer to call it iconic.”

Jazlyn chuckled, rolling her eyes. “I’m sure your Pinterest board will thank you.”

They continued to swap ideas, each of them determined to make their own contributions shine, until a lull settled over the group. In the silence, a new question began to simmer between them: what could they add to the dinner that would help Brandon finally step up and impress Adalynn?

Then, as if on cue, Roberto stepped into the room, crossing his arms and glancing around. “Well, my smoked turkey is going to make this whole spread complete,” he declared, his chin jutting out in a show of pride.

Garth snorted, setting his coffee cup down with a smirk. “Roberto, you don’t even have a turkey. I mean, you’re coming in a little late with this talk of ‘smoked turkey.’”

“Oh, really?” Roberto shot back, his eyes narrowing. “And where’s your turkey, Garth?”

“Picking it up today,” Garth replied confidently, leaning back in his chair. “And good luck to you, Roberto. By the time you find one, the stores will be selling nothing but scraps.”

“Oh, believe me,” Roberto said with a sarcastic smile, “I’ll get a turkey. It’ll just be better than yours.”

Their bickering escalated, both men standing their ground and occasionally glancing at Laura and Jazlyn for support. The women exchanged exasperated looks, and as if reading each other’s minds, they both turned to each other with matching smiles.

“Why don’t we just do a blended Thanksgiving?” Laura said, her eyes brightening as the idea took shape.

“Yes!” Jazlyn agreed, nodding enthusiastically. “We’ve never done it before, and think about it—it’ll make everyone happy. The whole family together, every side dish accounted for. Two turkeys or one turkey and one ham—it’ll be perfect!”

The men paused, staring at them as the suggestion sank in. Garth looked thoughtfully at Laura. “Honestly… that’s not a bad idea. Less stress for everyone, more food, and we don’t have to pick sides.”

Jazlyn nudged Roberto, her eyes twinkling with a challenge. “What do you think?”

Roberto ground his teeth, glancing between the two women. He looked like he wanted to say no, but Jazlyn’s gaze softened, and she gave him a small, encouraging smile.

“Fine,” Roberto muttered, reluctant but resigned. “Blended Thanksgiving it is. But don’t say I didn’t warn you if the kitchen turns into a battlefield.”

“Excellent,” Laura said, clapping her hands together. “This is going to be unforgettable. And I know Brandon will appreciate it, especially with Adalynn coming. She’ll get to see what a ‘proper’ family dinner looks like… sort of.”

Jazlyn and Laura launched into excited planning, quickly moving on to the side dishes they’d be bringing. Meanwhile, Garth and Roberto exchanged a look of mutual understanding as they headed for the door, ready to pick up their respective turkeys—or whatever was still available.

“Don’t expect any miracles at the butcher shop, Garth,” Roberto muttered, grabbing his coat. “If you didn’t pick up your turkey yet, you’re as good as empty-handed.”

“We’ll see,” Garth replied, smirking as he followed Roberto out. “Just keep that smoker warmed up in case you get lucky.”

The door closed behind them, and Laura and Jazlyn shared a conspiratorial grin. They grabbed their cookbooks and recipe notes, swapping ideas for side dishes and desserts, both thrilled with the prospect of an all-inclusive Thanksgiving that would, hopefully, set the stage for Brandon and Adalynn.

At his apartment, Brandon was sprawled on the couch, finally able to relax after the long day. His phone buzzed, and he lazily reached over to check it. His eyes widened as he read the message:

Laura: Great news! We’re doing a blended Thanksgiving this year. Jazlyn and Roberto are joining us, so we’ll all be together!

Brandon blinked, feeling his pulse quicken as he processed the implications. His family was already a handful in separate doses—what would happen when they were all crammed together in one room? He had no idea how Adalynn would handle it.

“Oh, shit,” he muttered, staring at the screen as he imagined the chaos to come.