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When Cassadines Fall
Thanksgiving
"I can't believe you invited him over." Johnny tells JD as he accepts a drink from his father.
"Who? Edward Q or Ricky Robideau? Tell me again what you know about this kid." JD demands.
"Not much I talked to his father after what happened with Rita. Pete says that Ricky is not actively involved in the family business. He may want to be-- but he's not. He sent Ricky up here to keep an eye on things."
"So he wouldn't be keeping an eye on things down there?"
"Yeah, sounds about right."
"And the young man is okay with this? Being sent out of town?"
"This guy after Maddy is serious ****. Ricky knows if he wasn't here his father would be. Pete's come to town before looking for Maddy. Him being here was like a 6.8 on both sides of the fence. This isn't makework as far as either of them is concerned."
"And that's when he made the deal with you, when he came to town the first time."
"Right. I keep an eye on Maddy and if Rita is ever down south he'll return the favor."
"Only his son has started now. Vicki is going to be here today."
Johnny shrugs. "She's not going to pull anything around you. How's Rita doing on restriction?"
"Rita's all pro at being grounded." JD tells Johnny. "She'll be on for one week and make a successful appeal. I've already seen her rough draft and potential witness list."
"Where do you come up with this stuff?"
"When my first wife died, I had to come up with something. So I took what I had, what I know."
"She's on the general conditions of probation?!"
"With a few modifications." JD admits.
"And you did this with Vicki too?"
"Vicki was already a teenager when her mother died. And she's never been on restriction."
"How did she manage that?"
"Two different kids." JD shakes his head. "Vicki never did anything to get put on restriction. Rita's always been the curious cat who stretches the line."
"I don't believe that." Johnny says flatly.
"I don't either... now. So lets just say Vicki never got caught... or turned in."
Bobbie scores the top of the ham in a criss cross pattern inserting whole cloves at each of the intersection and then pouring real maple syrup over the whole thing. Jerry comes up behind her and gives her a big hug. "Oh yee of little faith." He nuzzles on her neck.
"I can't help it, Jerry. I've done a few Thanksgivings in my day and the turkey takes most of the day-- not a couple of hours."
"Yeah, but this is the more efficient way of cooking."
"You've been reading the instruction book again."
"It worked with that chicken we tested it on."
"And it was delicious. But this is Thanksgiving."
"Is this one of those high stress woman holidays?"
"Don't tease. You parents are going to be here. All the kids. It's a big day."
"Your brother."
"If he doesn't go ice fishing instead. He's been in a funk ever since Laura decided to stay down in Carolina with Lulu and her mother."
Lucas comes in from shoveling walks. "Can we do it now, Jerry?" He asks enthusiastically.
"Nope, hours yet before we get it going. Your mum isn't putting dinner on until three. So about noon we'll get the fryer going. Have you talked to your sister yet today?"
"She wasn't awake yet. AJ says they'll be over about noon. He wants to check this thing out too."
"Oh testosterone overload." Bobbie mutters. She checks the oven. Having to work the day before she didn't get the pies done early. Jane had offered to bring a dessert but it just wasn't Thanksgiving without pumpkin pies. The oven is right so she takes a cookie sheet that has two uncooked pies on it and slides it into the oven and sets the timer. "You boys have a new toy and of course you have to test it." She shakes her head. "Since you have nothing to do... why don't you go see Thunder. Go riding or something."
"I think she's trying to get rid of us, Lad."
"Yep. That's my take on the situation. Is Ricky going to come to Thanksgiving or is he going down to New Orleans?"
"He's had another invitation but promised to swing by for dessert later."
"This is the boy that helped Lucas with his growing pains?" Bobbie remembers. "We'll have to make sure he has plenty of left overs to take with him. Now both of you-- shoo and don't come back until eleven or so."
"Go get your gear, Lucas." Jerry directs. He gives Bobbie another smooch. "You know I could help here. Worked a few restaurants in my time, eaten at a few more. I could peel a few spuds or something."
"I'll keep it in mind." Bobbie gives his hand a squeeze. "Now the best help you could be would be to get Lucas out of here before he trashes the house."
Maddy takes the fresh bird from the refrigerator, rinses it carefully inside and out. She positions it in the pan and then starts stuffing it with a the cornbread stuffing she'd prepped ahead of time. Periodically she stops and looks a the recipe book making sure she is doing this just right. She'd helped with Thanksgiving preparations before but never done the whole thing herself. She'd been on the phone to Granny Sophia the night before to make a timeline of the way things should go. Once the bird is stuffed and covered with foil she puts it in the oven. Carly had warned her to remember the check that the oven is on since her first major dinner party she'd forgotten and ended up with a raw chicken.
"How is it going?" Liz asks as she comes in the back door. Her hands are full so she pushes the door shut with her foot.
"How the hell should I know? We'll know when the dinner happens I guess. What is that?"
"Something for the table." Liz opens up the box so Maddy can see. Inside is a cornucopia filled with Indian corn and decorative squash.
"Oh nice." Maddy compliments. "Nik is in charge of the table. Up to and including ironing the tablecloth and linens last night."
"So we know who is going to be freaking if someone spills something." Liz grins.
"No sympathy from me. He added Ned and Alexis to the guest list last night. With Monica and Em out of town, the Q's aren't throwing a Thanksgiving. Ned and Alexis are coming here, and Johnny's mother invited Mr & Mrs Q and Dr Alan to her place."
"Well let me go see this table and then I'll be back to help." Liz takes the box into the seldom used dining room. Nik had been at work from the night before getting everything set up. Since the dining room is never used (all the citizens of Wyndemere lite preferred the kitchen table) it was safe to set up early. "Wow." Liz mutters. You can really tell that Nik was brought up in a different world. Each setting is perfect, with more silverware than she'd ever seen in one place. The crystal is in descending order from water glasses to cordial glasses. There are crystal candle holders that are filled with tapers that reflect the color of the season. Nik had even gone as far as doing a calligraphy of who was going to sit where. "Rockwell meets Rockerfeller."
"It looks okay?" Nik comes up behind her.
"It looks awesome." Liz compliments.
"I didn't quite know what to do with the napkins." He worries. "They seem kind of... plain." He takes the box from Liz and looks inside. Studying the settings and the table. "I think this would look best on the sideboard?"
Liz checks out the sideboard that Nik had also done up with candles and a matching runner to the table. "Yep." He takes it out of the box and sets it up in the center positioning it minutely exactly right and then steps back. "What do you think?"
"It looks great. Now what were you saying about the napkins?" Nik refers to the table and grimaces. "You want some kind of fancy fold or something?"
"It just seems so plain." Nik says again.
"You have a spare napkin?" Liz asks. Nik pulls an extra out of the sideboard. "This is the one they use at the Grille." Liz evenly rolls the napking along the bias and folds it in half stuffing it in a water glass. Pulling it out, she starts again. "This is the one they use at Porter's." She quickly accordians the napkin and then sets it up behind a setting as a fan. "And if you want something a little fancier..." Liz shakes the napkin free and then smoothes it out. Nik watches as she folds and folds again. He loses track as he watches her nimble fingers until Liz, "Ta DA!" And he sees the napkin folded into a swan.
"How did you do that?" He demands.
"Origami. And they say that kids don't learn in public schools. You want this one?" Nik agrees and starts pulling napkins off the table for Liz to fold.
Meanwhile, Lucky comes into the kitchen. "You seen my girlfriend?"
"She's in giving your brother strokes for setting the table."
Lucky quirks a brow at Maddy but laughs. "Okaaayyy."
"Nik might forget... Mr C too. But will you make sure that Mrs L is treated like a guest today?"
Lucky gets serious and nods. "Yeah, I can do that. She won't lift a finger. Anything I can help you with?" He looks lustfully at the pecan pie Maddy made the night before.
"I swear you're worse than Cinnamon." Cinnamon looks up from her spot on the carpet by the basement door. She'd been waiting for Maddy to drop something all morning. Maddy pulls out a bag of potatoes and a bag of sweet potatoes. "Start peeling."
"I had to ask."
"You don't think they are going to expect courses or something, do ya?"
"If they do then they're going to experience family style." Lucky shrugs. "The idea is to put out a big spread where everyone stuffs themselves and thanks goodness it only comes once a year."
"Yeah, that's one interpretation. Maddy's cell phone rings. "Hello? Hey Poppi... Happy Thanksgiving."
Rita studies the recipe she'd pulled off the Epicurian site on the internet. Cookie told her she could fix one dish on her own before the grounding had come down. She'd picked the Scalloped potatoes with three cheeses. They'd done a dry run earlier in the week so the kitchen was coordinated and she wasn't in Cookie's way. Getting out the food processor Rita alternates between the three cheeses so that they'll be blended in the processor. That finished she peels the yukon gold potatoes and slices them in precise widths... all the same so that they'll cook evenly. Taking a large deep casserole dish she layers the potatoes and cheese to nearly the top and finishes with cheese and then puts the whole thing in the fridge until it's time for it to go into the oven. She cleans up leaving the kitchen ready for Cookie and then goes otu to visit with her dad and Johnny. Johnny who knew the elder Q's were coming had brought a dessert he'd made at the restaurant-- pumpkin cheesecake.
"Mama, you here?" Carly calls out.
"In here." Bobbie replies.
"Where are Jerry and Lucas?" Carly says disapprovingly.
"I kicked them out." Bobbie admits.
Carly looks around and spots the end table behind the couch. It is enough out of the way so Michael would have to really work to get to it. She slides the veggie platter on to it and opens up the dip in the middle. The container holding the dip is butt-ugly but has the advantage of being one of thse insulated containers that can be frozen. "How many people are coming?"
"Well Taggart went down to Brooklyn. And V went home too. So ten if Luke shows up."
"Where are the leaves to the table?" Bobbie answers AJ nods and goes to get them. Meanwhile Carly starts dragging the dining room table out.
"Gees Honey!" Bobbie exclaims, running from the kitchen. "You can't do that!"
"Oh please. Dr Newman says I'm fine, but lay off the salt if I don't want to have fat ankles." Carly grimaces.
AJ gets back in time to see what Carly is doing. He lifts her out of the way and he and Bobbie move the table. "Yep, no more potato chips, no more salt on the popcorn."
"Just shut the hell up." Carly mutters. "It's bad enough that my pants won't fit but if my shoes..." She shakes her head. "... not happening." AJ puts the leaves in the table expanding it out to seat ten people. Carly wipes them down and then starts setting the table using the china from the hutch. Deciding where she and AJ are going to sit she sets a big dictionary and then the yellow pages on the chair in between and cover them with a tea towel. Michael had decided he was a big boy and didn't need a high chair anymore.
Jerry and Lucas arrive from the stables as Carly is finishing up the table. Lucas goes straight upstairs to change into his good clothes. Jerry goes out the back door. AJ follow him out there. Jerry instructs him in the set up of the big fryer. Carly looks out the kitchen window. "What are they doing?"
"Jerry is going to deep fry a turkey. It's evidently the latest thing." Bobbie joins her by the window.
"Deep fried. Yum! Sounds good to me." Carly grins at her mother. "Virginia always got up at the crack of dawn to put the turkey in though."
"Yeah, that's what is worrying me too." Bobbie bites her lip. "They would decide to test this on Thanksgiving."
"They're guys. So have you got enough fixings just incase the bird isn't ready until midnight?"
"Oh yeah. And I made a ham-- just in case. Everything is taking care of itself for now." Bobbie glances down at her watch. "Will you keep an eye on them if I..."
"Go. Just tell me where the fire extinguisher is first... and the first aid kit."
Bobbie opens up the cupboard under the sink to show the first aid kit attached to the door and the fire extinguisher. "It's fully loaded and okay for greases fires."
"Good thinking, Mama." Lucas races down the stairs barely stopping long enough to grab his coat before he goes outside. Michael tries to follow him out but Carly catches him before he can get out. Carly zips him back into his snowsuit. "AJ?" Carly opens the door and calls to her hubby hugging herself to avoid the chill. "Someone wants to hang out with the rest of the Y chromosomes."
"I got him, hon." AJ comes over to collect his son.
Bobbie is upstairs and everyone else outside when the front door bellrings. Carly grimaces and reminds herself. "I can't do anything to them that I wouldn't do to Edward. Be nice it's Thanksgiving." Taking a deep breath she goes to the door and opens it. oh if only they were vampires and couldn't come in without an invitation. "Come on in. You're early." I was kinda hoping to have my family to myself for awhile longer.
Jax decides to make the conversational first move. "Have you heard from Emily?" He steps into the foyer and starts shedding his coat.
"Oh don't take your coat off. You and John aren't staying inside." Carly says cheerfully. "And no, I haven't heard from Em since they got to Tuscany. They're staying in some converted farmhouse being waited on hand and foot. Still no turkey for Thanksgiving but no pizza either."
"Where is everyone else?" Jane asks. "And what do you mean that John and Jax aren't staying inside?"
"The boys are all doing the cave man thing out back. Mom is upstairs getting changed." Carly breathes a little easier when John and Jax go out back. "Can I take that from you?" Carly offers Jane. Jane gives the container with an extra dessert in it to Carly. "Mama has the kettle on if you'd like some tea."
"That would be lovely. We really haven't gotten to talk since moving into Port Charles."
yeah, it's been kinda nice. "Guess it has been kinda busy." Carly says instead. "I did get to check out the photo albums. It was interesting to see when Jerry found that Greek place in Darwin. Next time AJ has to go over there I'm going to take him."
AJ comes in from outside with a sniffling Michael. "He took one look at Jax and started throwing a fit." AJ tells Carly quietly.
"Probably associates him with being put on punishment." Carly reminds AJ. "Maybe he should go upstairs now. Dinner is going to be during his n-a-p time."
"No nap!" Michael protests.
"Of course not, Mr Man." Carly agrees lying cheerfully. "I just wanted you to keep me company while I laid down for a minute and read. I brought Dog and Bird." Michael is molified and nods. Carly picks him up and takes him upstairs to Lucas' room.
"You're really going to have to stop spelling." Jane suggests to AJ. "It doesn't seem to be working."
"Nah, we'll just start spelling longer words." AJ grins.
"It's ready! It's ready." Lucas hollars at AJ coming inside.
"What next then?"
Lucas goes into the kitchen and pulls out the turkey that is already spitted on a stand. He balances it precariously. "Get the door for me!"
Ricky takes a deep breath and exhales. Face the music time. This day had been coming since Sunday when Rita had invited him to Thanksgiving. Her stepmother had reinforced the invitation... forcefully. He'd been reluctant to accept the invitation until he'd talked to his dad at his normal check in and found out that the munchkin was on punishment because of him. He raps firmly on the door. Johnny answers. "You must be Ricky Robideau."
"And you must be the brother."
"John Cook." Johnny tells him. "Who really would have appreciated a heads up."
"I was trying to keep business out of it." Ricky admits.
"Yeah, but you drug my sister into it."
"Never my intention, man. Nobody was suppose to know I was here. I just couldn't sit back while that blonde bitch was trying to take a piece out of the munchkin."
"The blonde bitch is going to be here. So lets just call her Vicki and go from there." Johnny says wryly.
"Ricky! Hey!" Rita comes out of the living room.
"Hey munchkin." Ricky replies. He hands a bouquet of flowers to her. "These are for your stepmom."
"Thanks! I'll go put them in some water. She's in the kitchen now... so it's not a great time to be in there or interrupt." Rita disappears with the flowers to track down a vase not in the kitchen.
"You ready to met the Judge?" Johnny says flatly.
"No, but lets do it anyway." Ricky follows Johnny into the living room. The laser vision of the Judge hits him the minute he clears the entryway. I hope the bamboo under the fingernails is out.
"Mr Robideau." JD says coolly. "It's good of you to join us now that all the... evasions are out in the open. Why don't you have a seat." JD indicates a chair just a little too close to the fire. This kid is going to sweat-- one way or another. "So, you've been hanging out with my thirteen year old daughter."
Ricky catches the last line as he is taking the seat indicated. damn, this is going to be fun. "She's a good kid."
"A child you've encourage to lie to her parents. To be involved in something that is none of her business."
"No sir." Ricky says flatly. "I lied to you. I never lied to your daughter or your wife. And when I lied to you, I didn't know of your relationship with Rita. If I had..." Ricky shrugs. "I probably would still have lied to you."
JD raises a brow. "Oh." Johnny who is sitting on the couch leans forward wanting to know how this one is going to turn out. JD is standing behind the couch in full judge mode.
Rita comes into the living room in time to hear the last. "Oh boy." She mutters. Ricky is on her witness list in her restriction appeal. He can't screw this one up. She takes in a glance the set up of the living room with her dad behind the couch and Johnny on it. It looked just like the courtroom complete with Ricky sitting where the defendant would be sitting. If Ricky blew this one she'd be on restriction for the duration, forget good time. Rita jumps in before her father can ask his next question. She stands up straighter and keeps her hands carefully by her sides. "Mr Robideau, did you come to Port Charles with the intention of messing with my father?"
Ricky looks at Rita. What the hell is she playing at? Rita makes an urging motion with her hand, her eyes pleading with him to play along. "No."
"Did you come into Porter's restaurant knowing that I was related to Judge Porter?"
"No, I came in because my dad said it was the best place to eat in town. Wait... I did know you were the daughter of a judge. Jerry Jacks and Dara Jenson mentioned it while they were down in New Orleans. But it was in relation to some Carly chick that they were telling stories about." Johnny and JD wince picturing that one.
"Do I have any direct knowledge of who you are keeping an eye on?" Rita asks.
"No." Ricky shakes his head. "And you won't unless I see that you're getting close to the guy or he starts branching out from Madeliene and her family."
"Why did you lie to the Judge, Mr Robideau?"
Ricky has begun to realize that he's on playing a role in a family dynamic he is unfamiliar with but remembers what Rita had told him. She'd spent too much free time in courtrooms. And that the judge had been having her read the law. "It's possible that the Judge will have contact with the person I am watching. It would be... healthier for everyone if he didn't have prior knowledge. It could blow my cover and expose Maddy and her Aunt to additional personal risk."
"Dara Jenson has been arrested and arraigned for Official Misconduct. She was fired from the DA's office on Monday afternoon." JD tells Ricky.
Ricky shrugs. "Her lawyer has all the info they need to blow those charges out of the water."
"Then why haven't they?" JD asks.
"I have no idea." Ricky replies. He sees the disbelief. "I really don't. I gave them all the info over three weeks ago. I'm just making sure that nothing else goes down."
"China wall, Daddy." Rita suggests.
Ricky and Johnny look at her blankly. JD nods realizing where this is going. "Did this information clearing Miss Jenson come from your father?"
"Yes."
"And the charges originated out of her knowing your father?"
"Dara Jenson doesn't know my father. She met him at her sister's funeral. My father knows her niece. I used to date her niece."
From the back seat of the Bentley where Edward and Lila look at the passing scenery. Reggie has a rare day off to spend having Thanksgiving with Leticia's family. Alan is driving the car. "This is a bad idea." Edward grumbles. "I've been waiting on that woman to fix me a turkey for the last decade."
"Edward, you will behave!" Lila demands.
"We could have gone to the grille."
"Thanksgiving is a family holiday."
"Family?! That Harridan...."
"Whose son is dating our granddaughter." Lila interrupts smoothly.
"At least Alan is here if she tries to poison us."
"One more word, Edward, and you can drop me off. You and Alan can eat at the Grille with all the other bachelors!" Lila threatens. Edward harrumphs but falls silent.
Thanksgiving
Audrey hesitates coming up the front walk looking up at the huge house. Lucky is a sweet boy and had been nothing but loving and generous in his dealings with her granddaughter but the Cassadines.... There is still a part of her that whispers they had something to do with Steve's death. Not overtly like Helena with her poisons and knives but covertly through stress and machinations, luring Steve into financial straits... he'd almost bankrupted them to save the hospital. The only thing he hadn't touched was the house and her retirement money. All their other savings was gone. She could retire now and make do but to what? An empty house and a cranky cat? Audrey knocks on the door and holds her breath.
"Ms Hardy." Lucky says warmly.
"Lucky." Audrey smiles gratefully. "I was hoping I had the right place."
"Nik's place, of course. But now that the secret is out you'll have to have Elizabeth take you through our place. Can I take that for you?"
"Please." Audrey hands him the casserole dish. "Elizabeth said to bring something from our family tradition. I'm afraid I didn't quite know what to think."
"Well it smells great and I don't even know what it is." Lucky compliments. He sets the casserole down so he can help Audrey with her coat. He hangs it up.
"Where is Elizabeth?"
"I'm afraid things have split up on sexist lines." Lucky admits. He picks the dish back up and leads Audrey back toward the kitchen. "They used and abused us for the prep work and then kicked us out."
"Oh my word!" Audrey is stopped in her tracks by the dining room table.
"Nik's work. Like I said used and abused us." He pushes open the kitchen door.
"OUT!" Liz and Maddy order loudly.
"I come in peace bearing gifts and bringing company." Lucky announces.
"Gram!" Liz hops off the stool of the breakfast bar to give her grandmother a hug. She takes the dish from Lucky and then with a firm hand to the middle of his chest pushes him out of the room. "Gram, this is Maddy Reynolds. Maddy, this is my gram, Audrey Hardy."
"It's a pleasure to met you, Mrs Hardy." Maddy greets her. "We were just taking a break and having coffee... would you like some or some tea?"
"Tea would be lovely." Audrey takes a seat at the breakfast bar. Liz sits next to her. Maddy puts the kettle on. Audrey looks around. The rest of the house is very grand and intimidating but this room is... homey. "I hope I'm not too early."
"Oh no." Maddy protests. "I was hoping to pick your brain. I need a contact person over at GH for when I want to sneak something in a friend of mine on the psych ward."
"Maddy's friend, Larry, has post traumatic stress and is at Gh being supervised by Dr. Collins." Liz explains.
"Dr Collins is an excellent physician." Audrey states going into reassuring nurse mode. "Steve thought very highly of him."
"Dr Collins has been a life saver. I was worried sick about Larry down at the VA... they wouldn't tell me anything." Maddy nods. "So if I were to try to sneak in a piece of pie later..."
Audrey shakes her head but smiles. "Denise. She volunteered for duty so she wouldn't have to go to her mother-in-law's. But you're going to have to bring her piece too."
Vicki walks into the house she grew up in. On the surface nothing had changed. Her mother's furniture was still in the entry way. But the house just smelled different. It didn't smell like home anymore. She could tell when she drove up that everyone is already here... The Quartermaines Bentley, Rita's protector Johnny's van and some ancient muscle car that probably belongs to the stepmonster. "Daddy?"
"Victoria." JD calls out from the living room. Vicki comes and goes first to her father giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I think most of you know my daughter, Vicki." Edward and Lila nod.
"I've seen volunteering over at GH." Alan indicates with a smile. "I think you know my daughter, Emily."
"Oh no ****." Rita mutters. Her father who'd caught the comment glares at her. Rita makes a zipping motion on her lip. JD nods rebukingly.
"And this is Rick Robideau, he's visiting from New Orleans." JD refers to the one person he thinks doesn't know his daughter.
Ricky had come to his feet when Vicki entered the room. In a breach of etiquette he extends a hand to Vicki. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Victoria isn't it?" The look in his eye dares her to say something, do something.
She takes his hand and shakes it once resisting wiping her hand on her skirt. "Right."
"You want something to drink, Vicki?" Johnny holds up a glass from the bar.
"Coke would be fine." Vicki walks over to the bar. Anything to get away from Ricky.
"You really need to pick where you have your scenes." Johnny says quietly just loud enough for Vicki to hear. Vicki looks over at the Judge. "No, he doesn't know yet. But the longer that Rita is on punishment the more possible it is that it will all come out. You wanting money from Rita and trying to take a swing at her when she turned you down. Mob tactics, babe. Your mother would be so proud. Bet the Judge would let Rita off fast enough... he understands plea bargains... let the little fish go to catch the bigger one."
"That's blackmail."
"So says the extortionist. That's what they call it when you're running a racket demanding money to avoid getting smacked."
"You're vile." Vicki hisses. She takes the drink from Johnny and turns away. Lila catches her eye and pats the seat next to her. Vicki walks over. "Hello Mrs Quartermaine."
"Hello, my dear." Lila pats Vicki's hand. "I was hoping to be able to spend time with you long before this but you didn't involve yourself in your father's wedding. School obligation, I believe."
Vicki covers a wince, there was going to be no sanctuary here. "Yes. It was a particularly tough term. I've learned to pace myself better now." She is actually relieved when Cookie comes into the living room.
"Dinner is ready." She announces. Everyone follows her into the dining room taking their seats.
Edward leans over to Lila rubbing his hands together gleefully. "That woman is finally going to cook me a Thankgiving Dinner!" He looks over the expansive spread of dishes. No pizza, no sirree not this year. Turkey finally! Cookie carries out the Crown Roast of Pork complete with apple and cranberry stuffing and sets it infront of JD to carve. "Where is the Turkey?!" Edward protests.
"I fed it to the dog." Cookie snaps back as she takes her seat.
"Everything looks lovely. It was so sweet of you to invite us to share your family celebration." Lila says sweetly. "So many people have to spend the holidays alone some place impersonal like the Grille." She glares warningly at Edward.
"It's going to be about an hour according to Jerry. Where is Carly?" AJ asks as he comes in from the cold.
"I checked on her a minute ago. She was sound asleep and Michael was reading his book. I didn't have the heart to wake her. Is she still falling asleep at the drop of a hat?" Bobbie worries.
"It isn't as bad as it was." AJ admits. "At least now she isn't falling asleep in the car... while she is driving."
"Oh my goodness!" Jane exclaims startled.
"Luckily it started snowing and she started using the driving service again." AJ says ruefully.
"But I've seen her car around town..." Jane wonders.
"The driver is using the fourwheel drive and leaving the limo at the house." AJ explains.
"I went to see your grandmother last week... your sister seemed to be quite busy getting ready for her trip. She was racing out of the mansion with a friend of hers...."
"Maddy." AJ fills in the name. "She is doing course work with Em. They spend a lot of time together. When Em housesits our place Maddy will come over and do homework with her."
"And Maddy is the one who gave Jerry and me a ride home from the airport when we flew back from Iceland on our honeymoon." Bobbie adds. The guys come in from the cold. Jerry plants a kiss on the nape of her neck. Bobbie shivers. "Oh you're cold! Anyone for a hot toddy?" There is a chorus of takers. Jane realizes she isn't going to be able to manouver the conversation back to Maddy. At least not now.
"I'll have an Irish Coffee without the Irish." AJ quips. "If I had known we were going to get two straight weeks of snow I never would have taken Carly to Whistler to see the snow before this all started. Dang it's cold."
"No, Lad. Alaska is cold." John corrects.
"Afghanistan was pretty damn cold." Jerry adds.
"Norway... now that was cold." Jax laughs.
"When were you in Afghanistan, Jerry?" Lucas asks hanging on his stepfather's chair.
"Winter of 88. Up in the mountains." Jerry keeps it short not wanting to get into it. He'd been up in the mountains with the rebels when the soviets had finally pulled out of the country. For about half a second he thought things might get better in the poor country and then he realized that without a common enemy the various factions would fall on each other-- which they promptly did. There was no government in the country to make a minerals deal with.... a decade later there still wasn't. "AJ, you ever get the bright idea to take Carly to Afghanistan-- don't."
Dara looks out the window of the limo. She frowns as she studies the neighborhood they are passing through. It's filled with beater cars and the building on the corner is boarded up and covered with graffetti. This is where Nikolas Cassadine is living? "It's been very... kind of you to have me stay with you while all this has been going on."
"It's been no problem." Stefan shrugs. "I can tell from your voice that you are ready to resume living at your own abode."
"No offense." Dara nods. "Between the holiday and the weather I think that my little arrest has been pushed off the front page." The limo pulls up infront of a iron fenced property whose gates are guarded by stone lions. He climbs from the car and offers Dara his hand to assist her as well. "You think leaving the car here is a good idea?" Dara looks at the neighborhood again.
"The driver will return when we are ready to leave." Stefan assists Mrs Lansbury from the front passenger seat where she'd been sitting next to the driver.
Two kids come sliding up to the car. "Hey Mr Cassadine! Mr Cassadine! you got any computer games on ya?"
"Excuse me?"
"Lucky says you make computer games."
Lucky. Of course. Stefan frowns. "No. I do not."
"Dang." The kids go racing off again.
"Computer games?" Dara inquires.
"An experiment not to be repeated." Stefan says flatly. Only young Spencer would bring it up and the reminder of the time when he'd cast aside his relationship with Barbara to continue his obsession with Laura and then her surrogate. With a hand not touching but at their backs he escorts Mrs Lansbury and Dara to the front door of Wyndemere Lite. The door is decorated for the season. He raps authoritatively.
Nikolas opens the door. "Welcome." He greets them, stepping out of the way so they can enter. Stefan helps Dara with her coat. Nik assists Mrs Lansbury. He hangs them up in the closet taking Stefan's from him as well. "Alexis called and will be here shortly. Mrs Hardy is already here. Everyone is gathering in the living room."
"I'll just go drop this off in the kitchen." Mrs Lansbury looks approvingly at the suit Nikolas is wearing for the holiday.
"Oh no. I'll get that for you, Mrs L." Lucky says blocking her path. "This is your day off." He tells her but the warning is meant for Nik. Lucky takes the dish from her. He goes into the kitchen and like working a rotation Maddy comes out.
"Aunt Dara." Maddy gives her a hug and then steps back. "You look like you're holding up okay."
"Oh yeah. Over the shock and just working into the extremely ticked and vengeful."
"Good."
"Why don't you show me your room here." Dara doesn't even bother to hint. "And isn't this neighborhood kinda.... iffy?"
"Nah, it's not bad especially now that Niknik is the neighborhood watch commander." Stefan who had heard the last, as had Mrs Hardy, both look at Nik as Dara and Maddy leave.
"Neighborhood Watch?" Stefan asks.
"It's a kind of team effort to police individual neighborhoods." Audrey explains in case Stefan doesn't know.
"Thank you." Stefan makes a small bow. "And you're involved in this parapolice organization for what reason?"
"We all are, Mr Cassadine." Liz intervenes. She hands him a hot spiced cider on her way to handing Mrs Lansbury one and then takes the seat between Mrs L and her grandmother close to the fire. "Nik thinks it's the most efficient way to track the neighborhood without involving the police."
Stefan nods and strokes his beard. "I see." Mrs Lansbury nods as well. This was about keeping Miss Maddy safe.
Audrey looks around the room suspecting there is something going on that she has no clue on. "Lucky, How is your mother and Leslie?"
"Nik and I called her this morning and talked to everyone. They're actually having what passes for weather down there." Lucky rises from stoking the fire and replaces the screens.
Meanwhile down in the basement. Dara wanders around Maddy's small room. "You don't have any windows."
"Nope. Poppi calls it a cell." Maddy says cheerfully. "This is where I sleep, not where I live or work. It's good for me. And you have to remember when I moved in Niknik was still in the construction stages. The basement was the only thing totally done and the quietest." She gets serious. "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine." Dara tells her as she goes through Maddy's CD collection.
"Since Mr Cassadine got Larry brought back to GH... I have that insurance money still. If you need it."
"I have my savings. They haven't frozen my accounts."
"But if you need it, it's there. If Alexis needs more money or something." Maddy insists. "Aunt Dara, I'm not going to use that money."
"I'm fine." Dara insists.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm still investigating all my options." Dara gives a nonreply. "First things first I have to get this situation cleared up before I can move on."
"They haven't escalated things again, have they? Called the IRS or anything?"
'Oh bite your tongue." Dara laughs. She has to cause if she didn't she'd probably cry. "What about you? Have you started to hear from the colleges yet?"
"I've sent out my application packages. I probably won't hear back until next year. What about Taggart... why isn't he with you?"
"Before all this went down he promised his mother he'd go down to Brooklyn for the holiday. He hasn't been back in a few years. I talked to him before he left. He'll be coming back tomorrow."
"How ticked is he?"
"Chewing nails. Which is why I'm glad he is out of town. He needs a little distance. We should probably go back upstairs. See if Alexis and Ned have showed up."
Maddy glances down at her watch. "And I have a few things to check on." Maddy escorts Dara out of her room and back upstairs.
Edward discretely loosens his belt. He'd worn pants a size too big in the waist for just this occasion. He exhales with satisfaction. Okay so there hadn't been turkey but it was a damn fine spread just the same. "Ricky, I was surprised to see you when I came in. I didn't know you were in town."
"Wanted to see what the big deal is, Mr Q." Ricky explains politely to the old man. "Dad was impressed when he came up here a few months ago."
"You're not hanging out with my hoodlum grandson, are you?" Edward asks suspiciously.
"Edward!" Lila protests.
"Yes and no." Ricky explains further. "I'm renting from Jason Morgan but we don't do much hanging."
JD rises from the table. Thank goodness Thanksgiving came only once a year. He'd paced himself but couldn't resist seconds. "Why don't we go back into the living room? I swear if I don't move around a bit I'm going to explode. It was great, Cookie." JD kisses his wife on the cheek.
"Excellent, Mrs Porter." Ricky agrees. "But I knew ahead of time you're a fabulous cook." Ricky steps away from the table and rises to hold Rita's chair. He'd been sitting next to the munchkin and across from the blonde bitch. Which might have been enough to put him off his appetite if the wonderful aromas hadn't lured him back. "I've never tasted scalloped potatoes that great before."
"You liked them?" Rita sneaks in, craving feedback.
"I think I have a new favorite dish. I hope you're going to add it to the menu at Porter's." Ricky looks over to Johnny.
"You did good, Rita." Johnny agrees. Cookie goes to clear a plate. Johnny takes it from her. "Oh no, Ma. You cooked; I'll clean up."
"But dessert." Cookie protests.
"I'll get the coffee started." Johnny answers. "I think everyone needs a little settling room before they'll be ready for pumpkin cheescake or dutch apple pie ala mode." There is a chorus of lustful groans. "Go put your feet up. Talk with Miz Lila."
"Yes, my dear." Lila seconds. "I've been wanting to know what you thought of the Ward House fundraiser. Emily gave Edward and me a full report but she was busy circulating evidently." Lila uses her motorized chair to block Cookie's access to the kitchen. JD takes Cookie's arm and leads her away from the table. Edward follows. Alan offers an arm to Victoria who deserts the room as fast as possible.
Ricky grins at Rita. "You made the potatoes?"
"Yeah." Rita says sheepishly. "They turned out okay."
"They turned out way better than okay. Kid, you rock. Is there anything you can't do?"
"Slam dunk." Rita says ruefully. "But I don't think I'll ever be able to do that."
Ricky laughs. "Nope, I think being... vertically challenged is always going to be your future. Work on your three point shot instead." Ricky picks up a few plates.
"Oh no, you can't!" Rita protests taking them from him. "You're a guest. You have to go into the living room. Johnny and I will take care of this." She carries the plates into the kitchen.
"Yeah." Johnny agrees. "Feel free to mess with Vicki's mind. But not before Rita and I get done and can watch the floor show."
Carly comes down from upstairs carrying Michael. AJ hears them coming. "Look who's up."
"I can't believe you let Michael sleep that long." Carly covers.
"We were just talking, honey. You don't have to worry that you missed any deals or anything." Bobbie says wryly.
"Where is Jerry?"
"Out checking on his bird."
"But Mama I thought you were Jerry's bird." Carly quips with a wink. She and Michael settle in next to AJ who cuddles them close.
"Cute." Bobbie laughs. She joins Jane over at the window. Jerry and Jax hook a heavy duty dowling to the frame holding the turkey in the boiling oil. Both wear heavy duty gloves to protect them from burns. They lift the turkey from the oil and move it to a resting area giving it some time to let the oil drain from the skin. John and Lucas supervise. The oil splatters onto the snow melting it instantly to the soil beneath. "Well it looks done." Bobbie tells Jane.
"And it doesn't look like a piece of fish or chips." Jane agrees. "What's the procedure on this?"
"Same as cooking it in the oven. It has to rest for about half an hour and then it'll be ready to carve. According to the manual." Bobbie's tone indicates how much she trusts that. "I suppose that is my cue to start getting everything else ready to go... and get the rolls in the oven." She takes a last lingering look outdoors.
"It'll be fine." Jane pats her arm. "And look at the bright side. It's kept them out of our hair all afternoon."
"Yeah, there is that. But there are certain things I like deep fried. Chicken, french fries even ice cream... but Turkey?"
Ned and Alexis arrive at Wyndemere Lite. They don't have trouble finding the place after having been there on halloween. Ned knocks on the door. Maddy answers it. "Come on in. Everyone is in the living room." Out of the corner of her eye Maddy sees Mrs L. trying to sneak into the kitchen. "Excuse me." She races over to Mrs L. "Unuh. You have the day off."
"But..."
"No buts. If I run into problems you'll be the first person I call but everything is under control right now. I might need help with the gravy cause I always scorch it and Granny Sophia always handled that personally but everything is under control."
"Miss Maddy..." There is an almost dignified whine in Mrs Lansbury's voice. She can't handle not being in the middle of this.
"Nope. Suffer. You can find out how it turns out with everyone else. Or are you the type that reads the last page first?"
"As a matter of fact I am." Mrs L admits. Maddy links her arm through Mrs Lansbury's and leads her back into the living room. Maddy looks over at Lucky and frowns.
Lucky comes over to Mrs L. "Trying to sneak a peek were ya?" He shakes his head. "Going to have to do something about those workaholic tendencies of yours." Mrs L sniffs and goes back to her chair.
"Tie her down if you have to." Maddy suggests. "She is going to have the day off whether she wants it or not."
Lucky laughs and then looking over his shoulder. "Whoops there she goes again." He sees Mrs Lansbury moving over to the drinks area to pour Alexis and Ned a hot cider. "I'm on it." Nik gets there first and pours Mrs Lansbury another cup of cider handing it to her while he gets Alexis and Ned one.
"Nikolas, your house is beautiful." Alexis comments looking around as she takes the cup of cider from Nik. "That wall hanging is amazing." Alexis refers to the carefully lit crazy quilt.
"Maddy's." Nik tells her. "Granny Rosa made it for her. I brought it back from New Orleans. So are you and Ned going to get your own place? I can recommend independant living."
"Oh I don't know, Nik." Ned answers. "We have our place at the gatehouse. It's handy to the major troublespots and all our meals are catered. Although it was thoughtful of you to sic Mrs Lansbury on us to make sure we didn't starve."
"She bought you a cookbook too?" Nik asks Alexis.
"Oh not me!" Alexis protests. "I don't cook. I take pride in not cooking. She bought Ned a cookbook."
Lucky slides up next to Nik. "Keep an eye on Mrs L. Maddy caught her trying to sneak into the kitchen. I'm going to go help Maddy with a few last minute things."
"Right." Nik agrees.
"Why are you keeping an eye on Mrs Lansbury?" Alexis asks looking over her shoulder at the long time family retainer.
"She won't take the day off." Nik says ruefully. "It's become quite the task to keep her out of the kitchen..." He holds up a mug of cider. "... and stopping her from waiting on people. I think we're offending her sensabilities."
"Let me handle this." Ned says confidently. "Older women love me."
Alexis laughs as her hubby goes off to charm Mrs Lansbury. "So true." She leans in. "Is there a place where I can talk to Dara privately?"
"Use my study." Ned indicates with a tilt of his head. "But don't drag it out."
"Right. Just a few quick things."
Everyone holds hands seated around the table and bow their heads. Jerry says a brief prayer in gratitude for the bounty and the company. "Amen."
"Amen!" Michael chirps as he crosses himself.
Jane and John look at the boy. Neither Carly nor AJ had.... They want to question but don't dare. Bobbie sees the questioning look. "Michael's godparents are both Catholic. They take his religious upbringing very seriously."
"Oh." Jane acknowledges. Following Bobbie's example she starts passing dishes to the left. Jerry rises with the carving set in hand. Bobbie's ham had been carved in the kitchen but the turkey with it's bronzed crispy skin lays before him waiting to be sliced into serving portions. Bobbie holds her breath as Jerry makes the first slice. The clear juices flow as Jerry breaks the skin in a smooth slice. Perfection. Carly hands him her plate for the first piece. She breaks it into smaller pieces and sets it in front of Michael.
Michael starts with his fork but then goes to his fingers. "Good Grandpa." He says with his mouth full.
"Glad you like it, Mr Man." Jerry replies. He looks over at his wife offering her the next slice.
"Yes, please." Bobbie offers her plate.
Thanksgiving
Scruffy looking with his unkept hair and three day beard dressed in heavy flannels over a turtleneck and jeans with boots, smelling like kerosene and cigar smoke with a hint of fish, Luke wanders into the living room of the brownstone where every is still gathered around coffee and pie. "Ah hell." Luke swears. "It's Thursday isn't it? I came back a day early." He turns to walk back out again.
Bobbie runs after her brother. "Luke! Where are you going?"
"Fishing. I still have a whole day before I have to be back at the club for the weekend."
"But you're here now!" Bobbie protests. "Dinner is made. It would take two seconds to put a plate together."
Luke starts waving her off but as he is trying to walk back toward the door he notices an extra weight on one leg. He looks down. Michael is standing on his foot and holding onto his leg with a munchkin deathgrip. Michael looks up at him and grins. "Hey unca Luke."
"There is a tick on my leg." Luke grins back at the kid.
Carly comes over to collect her son. She picks Michael up. She sniffs the air. And then leans over to Luke and sniffs again. "Mama, make that twenty minutes to the hot plate of turkey, ham, butternut squash, potatoes, gravy and choice of pumpkin pie or carrot cake." Carly tempts but then sniffs. "Man, you reek. Gimme your keys."
"My keys? Why do you want my keys?" Luke clutches them closer to him.
"To get your spare clothes out of the trunk."
"How do you know what I keep in my trunk?" Luke asks suspiciously.
"As you announce everytime you get a chance-- you are a Spencer. Gimme." When Luke is distracted by something Bobbie says Carly grabs them and tosses them behind her back to AJ who catches in midair.
"Don't mess with a man and his car, girlie."
"Don't mess with a sister and her holiday, bucko." Carly threatens. She leans in to hiss. "I have been on my best behavior for hours putting up with Jacks coming out the ass. Don't you dare think you are going to walk out of here and leave me with them. I will go postal. I will take them all out and you, dear head of the family, it will be all your fault."
"Don't put this on me." Luke protests. "I'm not the one that married into that herd of Jacks-asses."
"Jerry treats Mama like a goddess. And it's not like you can pick your relatives." Carly gets the finger in play pointing at Luke for emphasis making sure she doesn't actually touch Luke. Cause he really does reek. Michael must be coming down with a cold to not notice.
"Ain't that the truth." Luke agrees resignedly. AJ is already back with a backpack of his emergency supplies. "Fine. But I'm only staying for the food."
"Fine." Carly turns on her heel to go back into the dining room. AJ hands Luke the backpack but keeps the keys.
"Your wife is out of control." Luke tells AJ.
"What else is new?" AJ grins and walks after Carly.
Luke sighs and pats his pockets realizing that he still doesn't have his keys. Sighing again he heads upstairs to the guest bathroom. Down in the dining room Bobbie looks over at AJ and Carly. "Where is he? He left didn't he?"
"He's going to jump in the shower." Carly tells her. "Lucas?"
"Yeah Carly?" Lucas asks eagerly. Carly has the tone in her voice she gets when she is up to something.
"Go steal his clothes-- just the dirty ones. And take a plastic bag to put them in. They're disgusting. And don't get caught. Total stealth mode."
"I'm on it." Lucas races to the stairs but as soon as he gets to them starts tippy toeing up them quiet as a mouse. He waits outside the bathroom door until he hears the shower running and Uncle Luke starts to sing.
Maddy walks into the living room surveying the scene. Dara and Alexis are missing. Probably off doing lawyer things. Ned is chatting up Audrey and Mrs Lansbury. Nik, Lucky and Liz are all keeping company with Stefan. Things seem to be rolling along smoothly. She had the turkey out of the oven that little plastic doohickey had popped. It looked good. It smelled good. Things seem to be rolling right along. Maddy crosses to where Mrs Lansbury is sitting. "Now you can help."
Mrs L. is on her feet in a heartbeat. "The gravy?"
"Yep. Granny Sophia had me try to make it a couple of years ago and I burned it all to hell. So you're up. Unless you don't mind gravy out of a jar... which is my back up plan."
Mrs L shudders. "That won't be necessary." She adjusts her jacket with a quick tug. Finally. She strides with purpose to the kitchen. Maddy looks over at Nik and rolls her eyes but follows after Mrs L. Mrs Lansbury looks around the kitchen with the eyes of a pro. She can see Maddy's hand in the preparation. The girl had been cleaning as she went. She can also see Lucky's hand in helping... the spray of potatoes against the wall from where he'd been whipping them with too much enthusiasm. "You can start putting the serving dishes out." Mrs L directs. "This won't take long."
"Yes, ma'am."
Vicki is sitting out of the way. Johnny and Rita were still in the kitchen on KP. The elders were caught up in coversation. Ricky takes in the scene at a glance. Casually he walks over to where Vicki is sitting. "Having fun, Barbie?"
"Don't call me that." Vicki hisses.
"But it just seems to fit." Ricky shrugs. "So are you going to need a ride back to campus from this?"
"Not that it's any of your business but I have my car." Vicki snarls and then realizes what she admitted. That she'd used his money to fix her car. Ricky grins. "I'll pay you back." She says grudgingly. It's not like she had asked him for the money. "I get my funds on the first of the month."
"Do or don't." Ricky shrugs. "I didn't do it for you. If you want to pay me back-- get the munchkin off restriction."
"Who the hell are you and what are you doing around my sister?"
"You're a little late in asking that question, now aren't you?" Ricky walks away to where the elders are. Things are a little tense still with him and the Porters. But Rita's cross examination earlier had actually mellowed things with the Judge. With Cookie the jury is still out.
Edward claps him on the back. "So how long are you in town for?"
Ricky shrugs. "Depends on how long it takes." He looks at Edward significantly.
Edward stands up and walks away from the others to talk to Ricky privately. "What the hell are they thinking? Why hasn't this been handled already?"
"You got the same questions I do." Ricky nods. "You should know more than me... You got one grandson who fired Maddy's aunt. And the other grandson's wife is defending her."
Edward grunts. "Justus! We had a falling out a few years ago. The boy doesn't confide in me. I thought about going to talk to him after I read Tuesday's paper but Lila but the brakes on that one."
"Why?"
"I say black... Justus will say white just out of reaction. I go to him about Maddy's Aunt and he'll be looking for agendas rather than doing the right thing. Damn fool." Edward mutters.
"You do have an agenda. We all do." Ricky reminds. "After all the crud that Dara has pulled on your family and friends you'd let her fry if she wasn't Maddy's aunt. And I'm here for my dad. What is Justus' agenda?"
Edward sighs. "I don't know anymore. Once upon a time I would have told you that his agenda was to do the right thing. But I can't say that anymore. It's ironic." Edward has a moment of insight. "After he quit working for ELQ he went to work for the mob and then back to the DA's office. He's alway been interested in Politics but to do the right thing. Now he's just into politics." Now that Justus has gotten flexible in his ethics he has nothing to do with ELQ. Timing is everything.
"Quite a bit of fence crossing there." Ricky agrees. "What about the other one. The one defending Jenson?"
"Hired gun. And a damn fine one." Edward compliments glad that Alexis isn't around to hear it. "There isn't a loophole she can't thread or print fine enough to get by her. But she is a Cassadine."
"Control freak?"
Edward laughs. "You did spend sometime with them down in New Orleans."
"Too much time." Ricky agrees. "I still haven't met this Carly chick you guys were talking about down there. Rita talks about her some."
"Young Rita probably thinks she walks on water... since Carly is her riding coach." Edward nods. "So take what Rita says with a pinch of salt. And don't turn your back on Caroline. Especially if you have something she wants. You should come to ELQ... let me show you around my turf." Edward offers. "Next week. Come. I'll introduce you to my grandson, the one that runs ELQ and has the balls to be married to that nutcase."
Maddy puts the gravy boat on the table and takes a last look at it. Anything she forgot? Pulling a lighter from her pocket she lights the candles on the table and those on the sideboard too. Mrs Lansbury comes out of the kitchen shrugging back into her suit jacket. "Anything left to do?" Maddy asks Mrs L.
Mrs L. looks at the table. "Call them to dinner." Maddy nods and goes into the living room. Unable to resist Mrs Lansbury reaches over and adjusts one of the forks a millimeter to the right. As everyone moves from the living room to dining room they take their places behind the chairs where their place cards indicate.
"Mrs Hardy, since this is an American Holiday I hope you'll say grace." Nik defers to the eldest. Audrey holds her hands out to the people next to her. Everyone follows suit until the table is ringed by the joined hands of the people that will be breaking bread together.
Audrey gives a brief history of Thanksgiving and the coming together of peoples having little in common to share the bounty of a harvest after lean months in a new land. Lean months they would never have survived if not for the assistance of natives who had been there before them. She bows her head to say a traditional prayer thanking God for the gifts he had bestowed.. the bounty, the company, and health and prosperity for all there in the year to come. With a chorus of amens everyone takes their seats.
Ned looks at the turkey. "So that is what a turkey looks like."
Lucky laughs familiar with the pitfalls of Quartermaine living. "Ned, you know what a turkey looks like."
"Sure. I've seen pictures. But I can't recall the last time I actually saw one like this... on a table.... looking like it's ready to be eaten. I think it might have been boarding school... Nope, not even then. Did the boarding school in Europe. No Thankgiving there." Ned takes the linen napkin folded into a swan and shakes it free after examining it then sets it in his lap. He was going to enjoy every bite of this. Goodness knows when he'd get another chance.
Nik stands by the bird wondering how the hell he got into this mess. As the boss of the house it was his job to carve. He picks up the utensils and hesitates again. Maddy was seated to his right and Mrs L to his left. Mrs Lansbury notes the hesitation. In a low voice she starts instructing him in how to carve the turkey starting at the top making even slices into the breast and placing them on the platter next to the bird. Like walking him through surgery she continues until the platter is sufficiently filled and can be passed around the table for people to make their selection of dark or white meat. Nik breathes a little easier as he sits down. "Thanks." He tells Mrs L.
"No problem, Master Nikolas." Mrs Lansbury brushes off the thanks. "I should have covered that with you long before this. You did just fine."
Luke looks at the loaded plate before him. Okay so the company is iffy but the eats are the best. And he'd missed grace. Two out of three ain't bad. Lucas sits down next to him. "Did you catch anything?"
"Well they say that the worst day fishing is better than the best day working."
"You didn't, did you?" Lucas guesses.
"Catch and release, man. That way they live to play another day."
"Uncle Luke going fishing is a good thing, Lucas. He can go off drink his bourbon, smoke his cigar and make man noises without inflicting himself on the rest of us." Carly smiles at her uncle with a big toothy grin.
"And the best part.... no women." Luke agrees returning the sharkish smile.
"I thought you liked taking Lulu fishing with you." Lucas protests.
"My little princess is the exception. And as she starts fussing and painting then that will be over too." Luke laments. yeah, and my kid growing up in Carolina that's going to happen before long.
In the kitchen AJ is helping Bobbie clean up. Bobbie keeps a close eye on what is going on in the dining room. "We have to keep Luke here." She tells her son-in-law. "I know Carly's been trying but I think she was on her last nerve, and Jerry is no help cause he is on his last nerve too!"
"I can get him to stick around."
"How?"
"Piece o' pie." AJ walks over to the sideboard where he'd last seen what he was looking for put away and then walks over to the table with a dramatic flourish, he slaps them down on the table in front of Luke.
"Yes!" Lucas goes racing upstairs.
Jerry walks over to see what the commotion is and then grins starts rolling up his sleeves. Luke wolfs down the last of his plate of food. Bobbie would give him his seconds togo at the end of the evening. He starts rolling up his sleeves too. Jerry calls over his shoulder. "Dad, Mum, Jax?"
John and Jax come over to see what the fuss is about. The familiar object has them pulling up chairs. "Oh yeah."
Jane looks over John's shoulder. "I'll wait."
The table is magically cleared down to the wood. Lucas races back into the room carrying a jug. "I'm in, I'm in!" He slides into a seat at a run. "Wild cards are for sissies!"
"Ah the password for any Spencer Gathering." Luke proclaims. He takes the deck of Hoyle cards from in front of him and with a flourish as AJ's dramatic slamming them on the table begins to shuffle. "Ante up people. And you two... I've heard about you. Roll up your sleeves." He refers to John and Jax. They take no offense as they see that Jerry and Luke already have. To be one with the bunch Lucas starts rolling his up too. AJ goes to take a seat.
"Un uh, honey. I'll handle this. I know what happened last time." Carly demands tossing a quarter in for ante. The stakes are irrelevent to this bunch only the game. "If I get into any trouble I'll call ya." She hands Michael to AJ. "You two can play when we start playing 21."
"The lad plays black jack?" John asks.
"The first thing a Spencer learns is how to count to 21." Luke proclaims as he offers the cards to Lucas to cut.
"I thought it was all the numbers that add up to seven?" Lucas asks cutting the cards.
"You're right. I stand corrected." Luke looks at the middle of the table. "Pot looks a little light, people." As soon as all the quarters are in the middle he starts to deal.
Maddy is bringing a load of dishes from the table where Lucky is washing and Nik is drying. The pots and pans were done earlier but the china and crystal needs to be hand washed. Liz was keeping the elders occupied. True to Mrs. L's prediction there are few leftovers. Maybe just enough meat left on the turkey carcass to make some soup stock but not enough for sandwiches. Her cell phone rings. "Oh you have got to be kidding me." Nik protests. "It's Thanksgiving and anyone who should have called you should have called you already or are already here!"
"I have to take it." Maddy is already picking up the phone. "Happy Thanksgiving! Nah, it's okay, Ciela. We're in the clean up stage now and I don't mind a break. I've been missing you for the last couple days. What's up?" Maddy frowns as she listens to her evening dock kiosk help explain her situation. "What did the woman look like and what kind of questions was she asking about me?"
Nik straightens and starts wiping off his hands making no pretense of not listening to Maddy's conversation. "Ask her how she spoke... if there were lots of big words and condescension in her attitude."
Maddy relays the question and then shakes her head at Nik. He starts to breath a little easier. "An accent? What kind of accent? Okay thanks. I'll see you tomorrow." Maddy hangs up. "Some older woman with a british or australian not canadian accent was asking about me?" Stefan walks into the kitchen in time to hear the last comment. "Who in the hell could that be?"
Neither Maddy nor Nik had been at the fundraiser or had much contact with the Jacks, Stefan realizes. "Well there is a continent filled with that accent but around here... the possibilities are limited." Stefan comments. "The first people to eliminate would be the Jacks."
"Why would Jane Jacks be asking questions about Maddy?" Lucky inquires. "When she can just ask her son?"
"Excellent question." Stefan replies.
"Well there is nothing to do about it today." Maddy sighs. She looks over at Stefan. "Mr C, I'm done for the day here... what do you say to a game? We can break in that chess set you gave Niknik. On the house." She offers.
"I would be honored." Stefan agrees.
"You know what I'm getting you for Christmas, right? I'm buying you a timer." Maddy leaves with Stefan.
Nik looks over at Lucky who is still up to his elbows in hot soapy water. "Jacks?" He lifts a brow significantly.
"I'll talk to Aunt Bobbie tomorrow. If she doesn't know she can find out." Lucky nods. "Yo! I signed up to wash... you got the rinse and dry."
I think I'm going to end Thanksgiving there. Or the official part of it. There might be more to do on that Thursday... but if it comes up I'll deal through flashbacks. Whatever I had two weeks ago has rebounded on me-- I feel awful. So definitely no more chapters til Monday and if I feel this awful all weekend it will probably be monday late. Here are the menus I used for the holiday. Most can be found at the epicurious.com site.
Porters 2pm start
Crown Roast of pork
scalloped potatoes with three cheeses
cranberry and apple stuffing with cranberry gravy
broccoli
sweet potato casserole
pumpkin cheesecake and dutch apple pie.
Present: Rita, JD, Vicki, Cookie, Ricky, Edward, Lila, Alan
The brownstone. 3pm start
Veggie tray with Virginia's secret dip. (from Carly)
Deep fried Turkey
Baked ham with whole cloves and maple syrup
roasted potato medley
gravy.
butternut squash with apples
rolls.
pumpkin pie, carrot cake with creamcheese frosting.
Present: John, Jane, Jax, Bobbie, Jerry, Lucas, Carly, Michael, AJ, Luke?
Wyndemere Lite 4p start
turkey w/ cornbread stuffing.
mashed potatoes
yams
green bean with carmelized onion
cranberry sauce
greens with bacon.
pies-- pumpkin, pecan served with icecream
Present: Stefan, Audrey, Mrs L, Lucky, Liz, Maddy, Ned, Alexis, Dara, Nik.
As you can see I was using the menus for an outline LOL. I know that Fridays are a bear... but please do reply and let me know what you thought of this chapter. Your replies will determine how much time I spend on Christmas! Deb