It was Thanksgiving today. Rose was in the kitchen with Camilla, Anna, Millie, and Ruth making dinner. Each family brought a different dish to pass so Rose wouldn't have to do so much cooking. Millie stood next to the counter slicing apples and different types of fruit, Ruth helped Rose stuff the turkey, and Anna and Camilla were making crust for pies. Maddy, Audrey, Max, and Leah were in the den with the guys playing with their toys.
"Mother, won't this dinner be superb?"
"It will, Rose. It will."
Jack then walked through the door, making Rose turn her head to see who it was. Rose smiled to see Jack come closer with a smile on his face.
"You shouldn't be in here." Rose wrapped her arms around Jack's neck.
"Why not? It's a big kitchen." He placed his hands on her lower back.
"It may be a big kitchen, but if you keep on standing in here with your hands where they are I might just have to stay in this place forever, and there won't be any Thanksgiving dinner. Also, your friends will get worried and start to search for you."
"Let them search." Jack kissed Rose passionately, and she pulled away.
"No, Jack. As much as I would love to kiss you right now I have got to make this dinner."
Jack sighed, and took his hands off of Rose's back. "All right. I guess I'll go and play a round of poker..."
"You do that."
Rose turned around towards the counter and started to make dinner. Millie walked over to Rose and stood beside her.
"Aunt Rose..."
"Yes, Millie?"
"How'd you meet Jack?"
"Well..."
Rose stopped before she said anything else. She remembered right then that Millie was only twelve, and wouldn't really understand the situation that much. She then looked over towards her mother who gave Rose a slight smile. Rose then shot back a look of what should I do? Ruth then said back, only using her lips, saying, "Just tell her."
Rose took a deep breath, and said, "On a ship."
"How romantic."
Millie then walked away, and Ruth walked toward Rose.
"That was close," Rose whispered.
"You did fine, Rose." Ruth gave Rose a smile.
Rose then remembered the face her mother gave her on the Titanic when Jack and her walked into the room holding hands after struck the iceberg. Just remembering the look that Cal gave her made her shiver. She closed her eyes, and the vision of him was gone. She opened the oven, and placed the turkey in. Rubbing her hands on her white, stained apron, she started to help with the pies and side helpings. She helped Millie make her first apple pie, while the other girls boiled water for different things and made homemade ice cream for dessert.
"Now, for the crust, what you do is press your hands down on the sides of the crust and just go around it like that." Rose pressed her fingers along the tin platter that had a crust around the inside. Rose then handed Millie the filling for the pie. "Now, pour the filling into the platter without making a mess. Make sure it's even."
"All right." Millie carefully did as Rose said, and placed the bowl beside the crust platter.
Rose smiled. "Good job. Now, place this piece of crust over the filling gently. Making sure that it doesn't fold up."
Millie did, with flying colors. Rose then showed her what you could do with the scrapings of crust. Millie made a smiley face, and then sliced three sidelines to give air for the filling. Rose set it beside the rest of the dishes waiting for their turn to be cooked. Rose checked the turkey, which would take another ten minutes until it would be done.
Max then came in and tugged on Rose's maroon colored dress. "Yes, sweetie?"
"Daddy, Uncle Johnny, Uncle Scott, and my tummy want to know when dinner will be ready."
Rose smiled and bent down. "Tell Daddy, Uncle Johnny, Uncle Scott, and your tummy that dinner will be ready in an hour and a half."
"Okay, Mommy."
Max then ran back into the den. Everyone in the kitchen either smiled or let out a chuckle.
"Millie, will you do me a favor and set the table? The plates are in that the top cupboard, and the silverware is in the second drawer beside the stove."
Rose pointed towards their rightful places, and Millie figured out in her head how many plates and silverware would be needed. She got the plates first, and went into the dining room to place them on the table. She then came back in and got the silverware. Everyone else started to go to the dining table to place the hot items on the table. It was not long until the Dawsons, the Cooks, the Brinkleys, and the Taylors were all around the huge oak table with their hands folded and heads bowed for Jack to give the blessing on the Thanksgiving dinner.
