Forever Country by Brenda Kennedy Page A

up at me and
smiles. “She’s beautiful without all that fuss.”  
    I walk over and bend down
to kiss Daddy. “Thank you.”  
    “ Happy Thanksgiving,
Pumpkin.”  
    “ Happy Thanksgiving,
Daddy.”  
    Sawyer Jackson looks at me and asks, “Why did
you fix your hair?”
    “ Because it’s a holiday,
and I wanted to look nice.”
    “ Why are we watchin’ a
parade on TV?”
    “ Because it’s only on once
a year,” Daddy says to Sawyer Jackson as he looks up at me. I shrug
my shoulders. My son is asking a lot of questions today.
    “ Why’s it only on once a
year?” Sawyer Jackson asks.
    Daddy laughs, “Why you askin’ so many
questions?”
    “ Because I don’t know
anything — I’m only four. How old are you?” Sawyer Jackson
asks.
    Daddy laughs. “How old do you think I
am?”
    I watch Daddy and I also watch Sawyer Jackson
think for a moment. “What’s the biggest number in the world?”
Sawyer Jackson asks.
    I try to hide my laugh and quickly turn to
leave before Daddy answers. I help Mom and Samantha Marie in the
kitchen, while Daddy keeps Sawyer Jackson entertained in the livin’
room. Daddy keeps walkin’ in and askin’ if the food’s done. Every
time he walks in, he samples something before leavin’.
    “ He’ll be plumb stuffed
full before suppertime,” Mom laughs.  
    Ethan shows up and spends Thanksgiving with
us. It’s more of a benefit for Sawyer Jackson than anything. This
is the first Thanksgiving since our divorce, and I wanted our son
to have both of his parents with him. I’m grateful that Ethan and I
are still on friendly terms. Sawyer likes havin’ him here, and it
reminds me that I am doing the right thing for my boy.
    After supper, Mom plays a
DVD of the Christmas movie Rudolph for us all to watch. I fall asleep on the floor in
front of the fireplace. When I wake up, Sawyer Jackson is in my old
bed, sleeping peacefully. I kiss him and cover him up before
turnin’ to leave. I take a pillow and blanket out of the cedar
chest and sleep the rest of the night on the couch.

CHAPTER TWO
    Abel
    Thanksgiving Day is just like I remember it
as a child. Momma’s in the kitchen, fussing over piecrust that
isn’t rolling out right, and Pops is sitting at the bar and
laughing at her.
    “ Bud, if you think you can
do it better, go right on ahead.”  
    “ Nelly, it’s gonna be
delicious. Just slap it on there, we’re gonna cut it soon
anyway.”
    She places her hands on her hips. The look on
her face says exactly what she is thinking.
    He stands up and laughs.
“Don’t be gettin’ your panties in a bunch. I’m just sayin’ it’s
gonna be delicious and frankly, I don’t care what the pie looks
like.”  
    Did I just hear him
right? “Pops, did you just say, ‘panties in
a bunch’?”
    Everyone in the room starts
laughing, including Momma.  
    Momma tries not to laugh
but swats the dishrag at Pops. “Go on and git outta
here.”  
    “ Belle, I’m just saying,
purdy or not, your pies are the tastiest
around.”  
    I think I see Momma blush.
Pops leaves and takes a handful of walnuts with him. Yep, just like ole times.
    Just because it’s Thanksgiving doesn’t mean
it’s a day off on the farm. We still have work to do, and Levi is
here helping. Mia and Mom stay in the house, and Pops, Levi, and I
cut more firewood and feed the animals.
    When that’s all done, Pops hooks up the wagon
to the tractor.
    “ What’s up?” I ask. I’m not
really sure what he has in mind.
    “ Let’s surprise the girls
with a Christmas tree.” Dad sits on the tractor and looks back at
Levi and me.
    I look at Dad and then at
Levi. “Will a live tree last that long?”  
    Levi answers, “It
will. It helps to cut off an inch from the
bottom once in a while and to always keep the tree in water. It won’t be in the best shape in a month, but
Momma and Mia like to put them up early.” He looks and smiles and
me. “Mia will love that, let’s go.” Levi walks into the