Thanksgiving had always been a time of family, food, and football for Harmony. As a preteen, she'd roll out of bed, take a quick shower, and steal sips of coffee while chopping onions and bell peppers. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends would trickle in around one and they would be chewing turkey by three. Old family memories retold, catching up and teasing all went down at the table that sat ten.

Thanksgiving this year wasn't going to be like the others. Harmony knew that just before a verbal invitation slipped out of her mouth during lunch with Laurent. It was something they started after the failed brunch with Wes. Every Wednesday, which they decided was the best time since they were both working on Congress Avenue, they had lunch at a little deli that smelled of pastrami, vinegar, and green chilies. It was probably the turkey on rye that made Harmony think of the holiday but before biting into her pickle she invited him to a Monroe Thanksgiving. At first, he said no. 

After downing their sandwiches, they quietly walked down the sidewalk filled with fast walking men in suits and multitasking women in heels until a red light stopped them at the intersection. "We're all adults. We know how to act." Harmony told before the orange hand signal shined on the monitor. Before she walked back in her office building Laurent said, "Alright, We'll be there." As Harmony rode the elevator she thought about telling her parents she invited the O'Connor's for Thanksgiving dinner but when she reached her floor she had talked herself out of it.

Thirteen bodies were crammed around the unstained pine table. Turkey, cornbread dressing, dirty rice, mustard greens, and candied yams sat in the middle of the table adorned with gourds.  Forks clacked ceramic, ice clinked against the glass and the only thing spoken started with Can you pass...  There was very little eye contact, which consisted mostly of side-eyeing, eye rolls, and death stares.

Samuel dropped his fork. "We didn't say what we're thankful for." He looked at his dad, who was centimeters away from him. Samuel was wedged between his dad and Alyssa at the table's corner. "How God blessed us."

Mr. Monroe glanced at his wife on the opposite side of the table. She shook her head and he mimicked her then plunged his fork in his cornbread dressing.

"Well, I'm thankful for this pie!" Ariel licked her lips cutting another chunk of the dessert.

"That's nasty," Samuel said looking at Ariel's plate mixed with entrees and dessert. He drew in his elbows trying hard not to bump into anyone.

"That's not polite." Harmony and her mom simultaneously uttered.

"I'm thankful for family." Harmony smiled uneasily. Her mother stopped shuffling her food around the plate to look at her. Her father slowly chewed setting his gaze past the table. Laurent looked at Harmony not saying a thing but the smile Cecelia gave her made some of her nerves melt away. 

"Which one." Alyssa blurted then slapped her hand over her mouth. She slowly raised her head to find all eyes were on her. "I said that out loud." Her wide eyes and flustered cheeks assured mostly everyone that her words were uttered by mistake.

"Yeah, you did," Lela said from the opposite side and the farthest end of the table. "But, at least you're aren't butting your nose into places you shouldn't be."

"Butting?"Safiya flicked the accusation off with a twist of her wrist. "If you wanted to keep your little problem a secret you shouldn't have pill bottles in Trey's medicine cabinet."

"Wait!" Trevor leaned over the table looking down at Alyssa. "You were snooping in my medicine cabinet!"

"Lela, what problem do you have?" Harmony asked with concern.

Lela pushed her chair out, "I've lost my appetite."

"She has—" Trevor's words stopped because of the angry glare Lela threw his way. "You claim they're your sisters you should tell them the truth."

Alyssa started applauding, "Finally Trevor! You've said something smart." She stopped clapping. "I knew all those millions your parents spent on education were going to finally pay off someday."

"Don't fucking talk about my parents!" Trevor shouted.

Mrs. Monroe cut her eyes at Trevor, who was sitting by her. "Do not use profanity at my table."  

"Sorry." He apologized as he reached for his glass.

"I should say sorry too," Wes said with his head down. "About how I acted a couple of months ago." He looked over at Laurent, who was sitting next to him. "I shouldn't have behaved the way I did. I just don't like people hurting her." He shifted his eyes to Harmony then back at Laurent.

Harmony held her breath as she held eye contact with Laurent. Laurent held out his hand. "I accept." Wes folded his hand in Laurent's and they quickly shook and released.

Cairo nudged Harmony's arm and she turned to him, "Progress." He mouthed to her and she nodded with a smile that made his eyebrows jump up.

"Why were you meeting Wes?" Mr. Monroe confusingly asked.

Laurent sighed then he said, "Because I'm her Dad."

"You're not her Dad." Mr. Monroe refuted. "I'm her Dad."

"Funny." Laurent huffed. He sat back in his chair folding his arms. "I don't remember you being there the night she was conceived."

Mr. Monroe squared his massive shoulders, "I don't remember you being there the twenty years she was being raised."

"And whose fault is that."

"Your own."

"My own. Are you sure about that?" Laurent's voice deepened as he roared at Mr. Monroe. Harmony prayed as she unconsciously grabbed Cairo's hand.  Her Dad's temper could be managed but once poked too many times he was the fire-breathing dragon no knight could tame.

         Laurent turned his frustration to Mrs. Monroe, "Evelyn, do you want to back that claim up or do you need to tell your husband something."
Evelyn narrowed her eyes at Laurent, "This is not the place."

"Honey." Cecelia sat her hand on Laurent's shoulder then let it fall down his back. "Let it go."

"No!" Cecelia's hand dropped off Laurent when he completely faced her. "I asked her!" He pointed at Evelyn with red-sleeved arm resembling an arrow. "I asked her to let me see my child." His voice broke on the child and Cecelia gently held his face nodding along with his words. "I wanted my baby. You know I wanted my baby. I'm tired of being treated like the bad guy."

The tear that rolled down Laurent's face made Harmony's eyes swell. "There are no bad guys here." She paused to clear the burning in the back of her throat. "I know that, now." She looked at her mom who was hugging herself, her dad whose hand turned red from how tightly he held his fork and Laurent as he brushed the tear from his face. "Just people that had to make a tough decision in a complicated situation." She elbowed Cairo. "See, progress."  The corners of her mouth turned up from his wink.

"That's why I love you," Wes said.

"I love you, too."  Harmony blurted. Lela's face contorted as she peered at her friend. Harmony scratched the back of her neck finally realizing what she said. "I mean..." She paused. She was unable to think of a way to fix what she said without royally embarrassing Wes at the table.

Cairo coughed. "Delicious dinner, Mrs. Monroe, like always." He pushed back his chair then stood. "But I really should call my parents and...." He walked away with his head down.

Safiya slammed her fist on the table shaking the glasses of lemonade, "Shit!" She threw her head back clenching her teeth. "Sorry, Mrs. Monroe." She breathed heavily rubbing her hand over her stomach. "Braxton Hicks."