Thanksgiving

" Miracle do happen," Lindsey gawked while Vince parks the car somewhere. They still have to travel a few more miles to the airport. But, what they have been through is a feat by itself.

The three of them opened their doors to let the water out And take out the garbage on the floor.

Vince burst out from the land cruise panting, knees weak, and hands shaking. He racked his brain to find out where he got the guts to almost walk on water. For a second there, he felt like Moses parting the Red sea and flood almost caving in the last few minutes. He has never been a religious person but has watched her fiancee, who grew up with the nuns, praying and attending mass. Oblivious to the two ladies, he had been praying silently, calling all the saints and God to save them from the disaster. He gave a long sigh hanging on to the car. He felt a pat on his back and several more people cheering him on. He was grateful.

After the water has been drained, they went on their way to the airport. The two ladies have calmed down. On the way, they made a few stops to eat and rest. They arrived at the car rental an hour before their flight. They were lucky enough as the plane was delayed for another hour.

As the ladies climbed down to take their luggage which they were fortunate enough were not damaged. Lindsey returned the car and paid for the damages. Vince accompanied them to the airport. Both girls thanked her for looking after them the whole time. As they ascended up the stairs, Angie turned around and ran to Vince, giving him a hug.

"Thank you for looking after me," she whispered, "See you at Thanksgiving," she added, then quickly turned around to where Linsey was.

Both ladies boarded and flew to Manila. They have 4 hours left before their flight back home.

Meanwhile, Vince stayed in the Philippines. He met his other comrades in the airport an hour after who delivered some relief goods for the flood victim. The province was in bad shape, so they had to stay for another week to help out.

A day before their departure, they were notified that their flight was canceled due to another storm. The people in the province have barely recovered from the previous storm, yet another one came. This led him to stay for another week.

The recent incident sent him a flood of emotions bringing him back when he met Vicky the first time. Like Angie, he rescued her from a disaster. The look in Angie's eyes were the same eyes he has been staring at a few years back. There was no reason for him to back out. He knew he had to protect her.

It was 25th November when Vince got back in Quebec. He went straight to his house, turned on the heater, and tucked right in. The sudden change of weather from 29°C dropping to -7°C upon landing at the airport. His entire body sore from all the physical work. Everything has taken its toll on him. For the rest of the week, he stayed inside his house, going out just to purchase groceries. He has been sober for a month now.

On the night of 28th November, Vince showered, shaved, and wore fresh clothes. He bought 2 bouquets and wine from nearby stores before heading to Hernandez's.

He parked his car outside the Stonehouse with a manicured lawn, tugged at his coat, and long blue sleeves before ringing the doorbell.

"One moment," he heard a feminine voice yelling from inside the house. "Angie, please get the door."

The door opened, and Angie showed up in a black dress with orange flower details. She was sparkling from head to toe. "Hi, Vince. Come in."

Vince was greeted with the smell of turkey from the oven. His eyes roamed around the house and stopped at the massive chandelier in the center cascading from the second floor. To its right was a sweeping staircase to the second floor and to the left was the dining room that opens up to the kitchen. By the looks of it, he can tell that Mrs. Hernandez has a knack for Victorian-style designs from the furniture to the fixtures.

"Good evening. Happy Thanksgiving," he replied as he handed the bouquets to Angie and Mrs. Hernandez. The two ladies led him to the dining room with a six-seater table. The dining room and kitchen separated with a huge island made of marble with four wooden tools. It was a grand kitchen that his mom would have envied with all the modern appliances and utensils that chefs use. Right in the kitchen, next to the enormous window, is a breakfast nook with a U-shape velvet sofa and round table. The family is undoubtedly wealthy, but they were warm, like how everything was set up in their house.

"Take a seat. My husband will come out in a bit," taking the bouquet from Vince.

"Mom, I will tour him around the house while waiting for dad." Angie grabbed Vince by the arm and led him out of the dining room.

He looked at Angie with a confused face but felt relief for a second from sitting and waiting awkwardly at the table. "Thank you for having me," he said.

"Not at all. We are the ones who should be thankful," Angie beamed as she led him to the different rooms in the house.

"But, I am curious. Why are you celebrating Thanksgiving on 28th November when the Canadian Thanksgiving was 14th October?" He asked while looking around her dad's study that was almost a library full of books and mementos.

"We did celebrate Thanksgiving last October for our Canadian friends. But, we also observe American Thanksgiving for our American friends," she opened the door to their backyard. They have a swimming pool, gazebo, and bonfire hub next to the barbecue grill. "I am not sure if you have noticed the design in our house, but my parents love to entertain guests at our house. That's why they didn't mind celebrating two Thanksgiving."

"I see," he nodded. Vince has never been a party person. If not for Vicky, he would have just stayed home and avoided all the parties they were invited to. But, because she was very friendly, they have been asked to nearly all parties in their small town in Nevada.

"Come with me. I will give you something," Angie pivoted and grabbed his arms led him to the 2nd floor. She opened a room and led him in.

The room shouted Angie's name from the pastel pink color on the wall. He was guessing that the size of her room was the same as his tiny house. She has a lounge area full of books and magazines on one side and a working table on the other side. The table has several sketches, fabrics, and art materials on it. Next to it were a sewing machine and a mannequin. Next to hee lounge was her bedroom. She has a white bed with canopy hanging from the ceiling and velvet headboard.

"Here you go," handing him a paper bag. "Happy Thanksgiving," she grinned.

"Thank you. Sorry, I only got you flowers," he hesitated but took the gift anyway. Her mom once said its bad luck to refuse a gift on Thanksgiving.

"I love flowers! How did you know I like tulips, though?" She pursed her lips and tucked her hair behind her ears. "Even the colors were perfect."

He smiled because it was the only flower he was accustomed to buying. "I'm glad you like it," he thought perhaps you will never go wrong.

"To be honest, this is the first time someone gave me the flowers I like. I couldn't believe that it will come from the same person who saved my life twice," batting her eyelashes.

"Oh, really?" Vince grinned, not knowing what to do next. He reached out his hand to pat her shoulder when she looked up, he stopped.

"Angie, bring Vince downstairs. Food is ready," her mom's voice echoed in the intercom in her room.

"Let's go," she led him outside her room to the dining where Mr. And Mrs. Hernandez was waiting.

The table was filled with sumptuous and savory dishes from roasted turkey, mashed potato, pumpkin soup, Shepherd's pie, baked green beans and broccoli, and chocolate parfait. Both her parents gifted Vince with age-old whiskey and knitted shirt. Mrs. Hernandez handknitted herself. Sounds of laughter and chatter echoed across the room. Vince's voice blended naturally to Hernandez's.

The night passed by quickly. They only let Vince off the hook at 11 pm when Angie said that Vince has to go to work the following day. She walked her out to his car.

"By the way, Vince, Lindsey wanted to ask you if you can work part-time at our office while waiting for your next assignment," Angie blurted out.

"I will check my schedule first," shifting his feet and massaging his neck.

"Okay. You have my number, right?" He nodded in reply. "Call us once you're ready. Good night."

Vince grabbed her arm as she was about to turn. Their eyes met, "Uhm, Angie, about your offer… I àm saying `yes.'"

She looked at him, brows squinting and head wrinkled. "Oh! Sure, let me know how I can help you."

"I received a message today asking me to go back to Nevada as my broker already found a buyer for my house. I'd have to fly there to clean the remaining stuff that I left," he gulped before speaking, "would you come with me to sort out Vicky's stuff?"

"Why not? Give me the date and time so I can fix my schedule," she replied.

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