Happy Thanksgiving
An excerpt from my unreleased contemporary romance novella, One Year Until Forever
Happy Thanksgiving my friends!
In celebration of today, I’m going to let you all read an excerpt from my unreleased novella One Year Until Forever. As you may know, this is the novella I postponed earlier this year. I hold it very near and dear to my heart and thought it may be nice to share an excerpt of its thanksgiving chapter with you all.
Here it goes:
I turn to walk into the kitchen where the rest of the women are finishing up dinner. I smell the food and nearly gag.
The medicine they’ve prescribed me for pain almost always makes me want to throw up. And now eating has become a miserable chore for me. All the foods I once loved are loved no more.
“Arya, have you been working out? You are as thin as a twig girl!” Auntie Rose comments with her raspy voice. Nearby, mom drops her smile. Auntie Rose has always been known for being blunt but my mother’s never liked it. “Calm down Linda, it’s a compliment. I wish my waist looked like that. Sadly it hasn’t been that thin since having Maria.” She turns to keep stirring the mashed potatoes.
“She does have a point, Arya. Have you been eating?” Mom asks.
I sigh. “Just been making healthier lifestyle choices. That’s all. Is there anything I can help with?”
“The cranberry sauce—could you decan it and put it on a serving plate?” Mom asks, working on the gravy.
I nod at her and reach for the can opener.
“Is one of those healthier lifestyle choices, Levi?”
I halt in place and stare at Addy. She giggles as she rinses the enormous amount of lettuce in the sink below her.
“I told you, he’s my friend.”
“Great, it’s good to have friends,” Auntie Rose adds with a wink.
“Bringing a friend to the family Thanksgiving four hours away, though? I don’t know.” She basically sings the last sentence, making me want to chuck a bread roll at her big forehead.
“She saw her friend was in need, and she acted out of her own good will, Addy. Take note.” Mom puts a hand on her hip, watching for her youngest daughter’s reaction.
“Whatever you say, mom,” Addy responds.
It’s more like I’m the one in need. He came for me after all. But I can’t completely deny that this is good for Levi. He’s probably never had a Thanksgiving this big, with this much family before. A part of me is happy that he can at least experience this once in his life.
A part of me hopes that he will have a big family of his own one day. He deserves as much.
“I’m just glad everyone is here.” Auntie Rose reaches for her wine glass. “This is what makes this holiday special after all. Gathering together to share a meal and be merry.”
Mom smiles and so does Addy. I find myself smiling too. But deep on the inside, I’m fighting. This would be my last time preparing Thanksgiving dinner with the girls in my family. Smiling together. Bickering with one another. Showing love to each other.
And that hurts to know.
As much as this chapter was hard to write, I really enjoyed writing the dynamics between these family members; it’s by far one of my favorite chapters.
Whether you’re having a huge family dinner, a small get-together with friends, or you’re deciding to spend this day by yourself. Know that the Lord is with you today. He yearns to share a meal & sit with you, through whatever you may be facing in this season.
Let us be thankful for the Lord, who gave His life as a sacrifice for us to be with Him for all of eternity.
Oh how He loves us.
Thank you for reading, friends! Have a happy Thanksgiving weekend!
—Tania, the storyteller & Flame Keeper