Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice, Chapter 27 (Giving Thanks and Giving In)

Garth stepped into the backyard, the scent of smoky, roasted turkey greeting him as he approached Roberto. They shared a quick handshake and a nod, both understanding that today was about putting their differences aside for family. Garth took over the fryer station, casting a quick, approving glance at the golden-brown turkey as he adjusted the temperature for its final moments.

Meanwhile, Jazlyn entered the kitchen, where Laura was working through a checklist of side dishes. Jazlyn poured herself a glass of water, pausing to let out a small laugh at the controlled chaos around them.

“Need a hand?” she asked, her voice softer than it had been all day.

Laura smiled, grateful. “If you’re up for it.”

As the two women fell into an easy rhythm, Damarae wandered over to where Brandon and Adalynn were standing, each observing the family bustle around them. He raised an eyebrow at Adalynn, his voice light with amusement.

“So… are you sure you want to date this guy?” Damarae teased, gesturing at Brandon with a playful smirk. “Joining a family like this isn’t exactly for the faint of heart.”

Adalynn laughed, squeezing Brandon’s hand. “I think I can handle it. It’s kind of… charming in its own way.”

Their laughter must have carried, because Laura and Jazlyn turned from the kitchen, their faces lighting up with realization. In an instant, both women rushed over, pulling Brandon and Adalynn into quick, affectionate hugs.

“Oh, this is wonderful!” Laura gushed, practically glowing. “We always thought you two would make a great couple!”

Brandon’s cheeks flushed as he shot Adalynn an embarrassed grin. “Uh, guys, can we maybe keep this low-key?”

Garth and Roberto returned just then, each carrying a platter with a beautifully cooked turkey, their faces beaming with pride as they entered the dining room.

“What’s going on here?” Garth asked, eyeing the festive atmosphere and the big smiles.

Laura barely held back her excitement. “Brandon and Adalynn are dating!”

Brandon quickly clarified, a bashful look on his face. “I asked her out. We haven’t actually gone out yet.”

Garth chuckled, setting his turkey down at the head of the table. “Good job, son. About time, if you ask me.” He clapped Brandon on the shoulder, then turned to Roberto, who was positioning his turkey in the center, giving it a reverent look.

Roberto took a dramatic step back from his smoked turkey and cleared his throat. “Thank you, everyone. I just want to say a few words about this… masterpiece.”

Brandon and Adalynn shared a glance, suppressing laughter as Roberto began what could only be described as a Thanksgiving performance.

Roberto held his hands out, gesturing to the turkey with a wistful expression. “The day after Thanksgiving last year, I dreamed of this bird. I knew I wanted to make it perfect. I secured my turkey early, and, well… it fell through. Then, I went through a whole competition, risking life, limb, and pride to win this very bird.” He paused, looking around the room as if savoring each face. “And here we are. I’m thankful for all of you, for putting up with my… passion for Thanksgiving.”

The room filled with laughter, and Roberto took his seat, looking content, his grand speech having brought both amusement and a genuine warmth to the table.

Garth cleared his throat, standing with a more subdued but heartfelt expression. “I’ll keep mine short, but I need to give thanks too. First, to Roberto. Without his drive, I wouldn’t be getting the chance to fry a turkey today, so thank you.”

Roberto inclined his head, pride evident in his eyes.

Garth continued, his gaze moving around the table. “I’m thankful for my wife, Laura, and for Jazlyn, my ex-wife. Despite everything, you two came together to make this day happen. And I couldn’t have asked for a better support team for Brandon. You’ve all made co-parenting easier than I could have imagined.” He glanced down, a small smile on his face. “Next year, though, we’ll just do it with a bit less drama—and a better turkey supply.”

The group laughed, and Garth’s voice softened as he turned to Brandon. “Brandon, you’ve been the glue keeping this whole family together. You’re thoughtful, honest, kind—everything a father could hope for in a son.” Garth’s voice caught for a second. “Today, I’m grateful for each of you at this table, for putting up with all the bumps along the way. I love every one of you.”

A beat of silence passed as the weight of Garth’s words settled in, then Laura reached out to take his hand, her eyes misty. Jazlyn smiled as she raised her glass, signaling it was time to eat.

Laura said grace, her voice low and reverent as she gave thanks for the meal and the people gathered around her. Jazlyn added her own words, saying a prayer for loved ones who had passed on, leaving a moment of quiet in their memory.

With that, Garth and Roberto stood, picking up their carving knives as they prepared to tackle their respective turkeys. Roberto looked up, an eager grin on his face as he addressed the group.

“I’ll get this smoked beauty started,” he said, waving his knife. “Prepare to have the best turkey of your lives.”

Garth rolled his eyes, lifting his own carving knife with a determined grin. “Not if this fried one has anything to say about it.”

The table buzzed with laughter and anticipation as everyone took their seats, watching as the two men carved with a mix of pride and competitive spirit. Platters filled up with perfectly sliced turkey, and the family finally started passing around the sides and filling their plates. Brandon couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen so much food on one table.

As they settled in to eat, the table filled with laughter, warmth, and the clinking of glasses. They shared stories, teased each other about old memories, and enjoyed the unique—and at times chaotic—company that only family could bring.

Brandon took a moment to pause, looking around at the people surrounding him. He felt a surge of gratitude that was hard to put into words, and a few quiet thoughts drifted through his mind.

Families can be tough, he thought. Blended families are even tougher. Not everyone with more than one family gets to experience this—the good, the bad, and everything in between. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My only hope is that we keep learning to get along, to check in with ourselves and each other, to find love and respect, even on the difficult days. We only get one life, and if we’re lucky, we get one family. This one’s mine—and it’s perfect, chaos and all.

He smiled as he glanced over at Adalynn, who was laughing along with Jazlyn and Laura, clearly enjoying herself. He suddenly felt sure of something he hadn’t realized until this moment: his family had given him a solid foundation, and he wanted to share it with her. Maybe someday soon.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Adalynn turned to him with a grin, leaning close. “This was really nice, Brandon. I can’t wait for you to meet my family at Christmas.”

Brandon’s eyes widened in surprise, his face going pale. Across the table, Laura and Jazlyn overheard, and their expressions lit up.

“Oh, Christmas! We should make it a real celebration,” Laura said excitedly. “We could invite Adalynn’s family here and make it even bigger!”

“Yes!” Jazlyn agreed, her eyes sparkling. “We could do an entire Christmas feast and maybe even add a gift exchange!”

Brandon’s eyes darted between Adalynn, Laura, and Jazlyn, and he felt a familiar sense of panic creeping up his spine. He took a deep breath, his voice coming out as a half-joking, half-desperate murmur.

“Oh… shit,” he said under his breath, earning a round of laughter from the entire table.