For Jesse and Neil, Thanksgiving was a huge success. Others seemed to enjoy it as well, especially when Dr. Thorne sat down with sixteen of the boarders and about a quarter of his faculty for a rousing good turkey dinner.
"I should remind our young guests that the Society of Friends does not feel the urge to celebrate many of the traditional religious holidays so favored around the world, but Thanksgiving has a universal appeal." And here he smiled. "I suppose we ought to reject Thanksgiving as well because of the credit given to the Puritans in founding the tradition. But we are known as a tolerant and accepting group of people, something they were certainly not at the time these colonies were established.
"The Society, unlike many of those in the Christian faith, does not tout our martyrs of conscience who gave voice to their ministry of the inner spirit and were thus banished or executed for their words. Those times are past and many have been influenced by Friends to accept that we think differently and respect life above all.
"But we now know the Natives provided those early Puritan colonists with the sustenance for their feast during that harvest time. Oh, but if the colonies had been populated with Friends there would have been food aplenty, a good solid table upon which to eat it and a sturdy chair on which to sit."
Laughter from the adults in the room and Thorne shook his head. "I speak too proudly of our accomplishments, it is not fitting. Unfortunately, as men and women of peace, we would probably have hesitated to shoot that first turkey."
Now everyone laughed and so did Thorne. "So let us give thanks where thanks are due. The white man came to this land and enslaved the native population, carted in ship loads of black men, women and children stolen from their own lands and now threatens the poor Mexican who struggles to feed his family. Amidst such chaos the Friends have always been the voice of conscience, reason and especially, peace. We give thanks for the dedication of those who came before us and truly believe that they allowed their lives to speak."
There were nods and quiet smiles around the tables in the cafeteria. And then the food was passed around. Steve glanced up at the clock and smiled. In two hours Red would be here to pick him up for their weekend together. It was beginning to affect him more each time he saw the boy.
At first it was the urges that plagued a teenage boy which brought them together. But Steve was beginning to admire the softer qualities he found in Red and understood the affection between them was growing. They were only a year apart in age and yet they both knew the school would frown upon the budding relationship they were sharing.
Tom Boswell had seen them together the previous weekend when Steve had come back for the rehearsal. They had only been sitting in Red's car and not even touching when Tom walked up to say hello. And then yesterday when Tom found out Red was taking him again this weekend…well, that was when the questions had started.
"I'm only having him help me with my math, he's a wiz at that you know," Steve had replied to the question about why they were together this past Sunday. "Look, I know what you might think, but Red's a good person, I like his mother a lot. At least he's taken an interest in me, I don't like the way freshmen are treated and he doesn't see me like that."
Okay, so it wasn't all that convincing, but Tom wanted to believe that nothing was happening between them and so he did. Steve's mother had done the rest by writing that permission slip which mentioned what a good boy Steve was and how he would never get in any kind of trouble, she trusted him.
And now Steve would have three whole nights with Red, providing the boy's mother didn't begin to question their relationship as well. Steve knew Red's reputation as a horn dog, and even the bisexual label didn't worry him one bit. He might only be fifteen but Steve knew a thing or two about boys, and this one was falling in love with him.
Being out to the other boys at school brought Steve a certain amount of personal comfort and status. The boys in his class were kind, even deferential, because each of them knew it took courage to declare as gay. They may not have reacted so well if they knew he'd spent the last weekend with an upperclassman.
Steve's mother had been divorced since the boy was eight so his dad was a shadowy figure he only saw on occasion, usually when the guy felt guilty about ignoring his sons. Steve's older sister and brother pretty much blew him off, but they were siblings of the worst sort, all stuck up because of their mother's money.
Brad drove a new Mustang but always seemed too busy to give Steve a ride anywhere, his sister was a college freshman and dating some twenty something guy behind his mom's back. Neither of them were aware of their little brother's interests, he figured that a good thing. But Steve had never come around to telling his mother either, being gay was his business and no one else's.
So with his mom busy running her decorating business Steve had the free time to prowl around Pittsburg as if he owned the town. No one seemed to question the kid on his bike even though he might be fifteen miles from home; he was just too independent for his own good.
When Steve’s eighth grade year ended his sister moved to California and his brother graduated high school, quickly moving out of the house. Steve's mother had lost her live in child sitters and she didn't know what to do. Bradford was her best option so she took it.
It was Steve's choice to avoid going home for the holiday weekend. With Red living so close to the school he wasn't about to leave. And now the clock left him an hour to wait, he could only hope Red would come early.
His obsessions over Jesse had kept his eyes focused on the boy at their lunch table. What he saw was Jesse steadily falling in love with Neil and that brought on a surge of envy. But then out of the blue Neil had sat and talked with him, mano a mano. It was a revelation, and now all he felt when he looked at the two lovebirds was warmth, they were so lucky.
And so his eyes left that scene and one day he realized Red was looking at him, he could only wonder at how long the boy had been doing that. But when Red was caught and their eyes finally met, his face flamed with embarrassment, and all Steve could think was how cute he really looked.
The following day Steve shifted seats, now he was across the table from Red and returning those curious glances. They talked, and then they walked, it was how Red came to invite him to stay the weekend…that glorious first weekend. And now every time he saw the boy he felt the tightness in his chest as his heart pounded out a new beat, Red wasn't the only one falling in love.
* * * * *
Falling in love was one thing but that Thanksgiving others were ending their need for love. Nora had been met at the airport by her father's driver and whisked away to the Elkin's mansion. It was a place of memories from long ago, and even though she visited twice a year, those emotions always left her feeing warm and fuzzy.
She had just entered high school when her father moved them out of New York to Lansing. It was a time of tears and hatred, all directed at the man who paved the way for her pampered life. But she had found new friends as the old faded into memory, and she had discovered what her feminine charms were worth.
Dating was a little difficult and her first real boyfriend was spooked when he realized her father had them followed and under surveillance the whole night. When he stopped calling Nora moved on, finding herself a boy at a slightly higher level of wealth consciousness. He laughed at the tail, and quickly drove them off to the country club. The man following them wasn't able to get past the guard at the gates, she thought the boy fairly clever.
His name was Dennis and she quickly found his hands had no boundaries when it came to touching her most intimate of places. On their second date they came straight to the club, skipped the table he had reserved and took a walk out on the golf course. Nora was just seventeen, Dennis a year older, and she lost her virginity in the gazebo on the seventh green.
Having a wonderful mother as she grew up gave Nora a strong sense of self, but it all came crashing down when her mother died of cancer just a few weeks after Nora turned nineteen. The grief halted her college career for the rest of that year. It took a lot of strength to go back, but her father provided the impetus, he had quickly remarried.
No one could take the place of her mother and it took Nora a long time to understand her father felt the same way. The women that followed were nothing like her mother. Her father seemed to be on a self destructive bend, and the subsequent marriages only proved that, all four of them. Nora hardly bothered to know these women, they just seemed like guests in her father's home, and she married herself away just to get out of there.
But her first marriage ended badly, six months after it had begun. It convinced her that all men were scoundrels, prone to cheating at the drop of a hat. Imagine finding her husband in their bed with the maid, it was all too much. She had damn near killed them both with her husband's pistol. Maybe she should have taken better aim except she was laughing too hard.
The sight of him scrambling naked to hide behind the poor young girl with his penis waving in the breeze was just too much. She blew several holes in the wall over their heads before the woman fainted, leaving Martin without anything to hide behind. He begged and she laughed, waving the pistol in his face and aiming at his balls.
Instead of emasculating him she stomped out through the patio doors and threw the gun in the swimming pool. She would never allow another firearm in her house. Clayton might have found out the hard way that she was a crack shoot.
Clayton had been a smooth operator, but he came into her life at the right time only because she was ready to settle down and have a family. He gave her every chance to back out but she thought it could work, and then the pregnancy sealed the deal. Neil was a beautiful baby, the first and last one she would ever have. Her body suffered, she had surgery and her child bearing days were over.
But Neil had been a delight, and even Clayton seemed proud of the boy…for a while. It was about the time that Neil was six when Nora noticed the boy clung to her and tried to copy her motherly chores around the house. By eight he was clearing the table and washing the dishes, she saw this as helpful and responsible, Clayton saw something else.
His continued comments about the boy doing woman's work didn't help the frost she felt growing between them, and by the time Neil was ten she took her own bedroom across the hall. It didn't help that Neil had fears at that age, his father being one of them, but it made the boy get up in the middle of the night and crawl in bed with her. Clayton harped on that of course. The boy was less than manly and it was all her fault.
But the very first time she saw Clayton raise his hand to the boy she knew their days were numbered. Reconciliation between father and son seemed impossible, and then when Neil was fourteen Clayton actually struck him. It was some perceived slight but Clayton raised his arm and the hand slapped Neil's face. Neil immediately started crying and ran off to his room.
"You ever touch that boy again and I'll…I'll…" Nora screamed.
"You'll do what, pumpkin" Clayton asked, that slimy smile on his face. He knew she hated that pet name. And Nora grew cold, and then bared her teeth at him.
"I'll tell my father to have you shot." And she stomped off to comfort Neil. It was good thing she didn't have a gun, it would have ended there.
Now as she rode on the highway towards her father, Nora hated the idea she would have to tell him the details of what had happened. Neil's sexual feelings had never been discussed between them and she had no idea how her father would react. But he was a thoughtful man. He didn't get this far by being callous to his family, just the ex-wives.
The driver pulled through the front gates and on up the long circular drive, stopping at the front door. He got out and opened her door.
"I'll get the bags, Mrs. Dennison."
"Thank you." Damn, she didn't even know the man's name.
But she never even tried to learn who they were since her father seemed to go through so many staffers it wasn't funny anymore. The wide brick steps led her up to the white double doors and just as she approached they opened, and she saw Consuelo.
"Missy Nora…you have come," Consuelo said, and they hugged.
The woman had been with the family since day one here in Lansing, she had been a young woman herself in those days, now the gray was starting to show. But Nora had sought the comfort of her kitchen, and she was the only other woman Nora wanted to see in this house. Her father would never think of dismissing Consuelo, he knew Nora would disown him.
Her father was sitting in the library, probably trying to look busy. Nora swept into the room and smiled.
"Hello Dad," She said.
"Hey sweetie, how was the trip?"
"Fine, smooth sailing…thank you for sending the car," Nora said.
"So, I see Freddy found you, good…come, sit down."
Her father was semi-retired from the business, probably the greatest gift he could give the employees of the company. He could be cantankerous and angry, but never mean spirited; it was always a love/hate thing with him. She was the beloved child of his first wife Edith and that marriage had lasted almost twenty-three years until cancer had provided the divorce.
She couldn't blame her father for taking another wife, or two, or three…yes, there had been five now. He had powerful needs, as befit a powerful man…he just made poor choices. And Nora gazed around the room for a photo of number five, Denise…or was it Bambi? The woman had been a stripper, what was her father thinking? But he was only seventy-four and he still had a lot of life in him, or was it Viagra? Nora figured Bambi would be put out to pasture soon enough.
"Where's Denise?" Nora asked, failing to find the sought after photo.
"Off with her family in St. Louis and that’s fine with me." Her father replied.
"Oh Daddy, what happened now?"
"We should have introduced her to Clayton…they're two of a kind."
"Oh Lord, you had to mention that…bastard. He hit Neil you know," Nora said.
Her father chuckled. "I saw the mug shots, nasty welt on the side of his face, fry pans do that."
"I don't even know where he is, I just hope he stays away…" Nora began.
"He will…he's in San Diego looking for work."
"San Diego? What the hell?"
"He received a job offer and a plane ticket," Her father said, and then he smiled.
"Unfortunately no one met the plane and he doesn't have enough cash to get back…most unfortunate."
"Oh Daddy that's mean…and very funny," Nora laughed.
"So, are you going to change your name back to Elkins?" Her father asked.
"No, I won't do that to Neil, he needs to move on and so do I. Maybe down the road."
"How is the boy?"
"Just fine, Bradford is a great school and his grades are top notch," Nora said.
Her father smiled. "I know you well enough by now, I see that look on your face…what else?"
Nora sighed. "I just got here and already you want depth…okay, he's in love."
"Ahh, how wonderful for him…who is she?"
Nora laughed. "Now there's an issue you'll have to chew on a while, it's a boy…Neil is gay."
Her father closed his eyes, his head nodding, and then he looked up at her. "Were you ever planning to tell me?"
"I'm very proud of him, Dad. His being gay doesn't affect me in the least, except that I won't have any grandchildren. He's found himself the most wonderful young man, a brilliant pianist, and they are deeply in love. I give them better odds at success than you or I ever had."
"The gay thing…I know it exists, I don't understand it…I don't know if I want to. Is he sure?"
Nora nodded. "I'm sure Jesse is his first true love, but if you could see them together…"
And she sighed. "He's become like another son to me. I can't reject what I see…I can only envy what they have."
"I suppose I'll have to take your word for it since Neil didn't bother to come see me."
"He's with Jesse in Philly at the moment, but he's coming here for Christmas. And Dad, I was going to ask Jesse to join us for the New Year."
"You want that boy…all right…I suppose, if that's what Neil wants."
"It is, and I'll ask him if you'll behave," Nora said.
Her father smiled. "You sound more like your mother every day, she would be so proud."
Nora nodded, sensing the sadness in her father's voice. "We'll make it a joyous Christmas season. It will be good to have the sound of young laughter within in these old walls. But you have to get a piano, Dad. Buy one, rent one, I don't care, but it has to be the best one available."
"This Jesse must be pretty special then…all right, a piano."
"He is special, but then you'll decide that for yourself just as I did," Nora said.
"You think I like playing the part of a Scrooge? No sweetie, it was forced upon me. The business world does that to people." And then her father smiled. "I would much rather have been Tiny Tim. We'll let the boys have their joyous New Year. I could use a good dose of laughter in my life. So you ready for tomorrow?"
"Yes, Dad…I brought warm clothes," Nora said.
It had been twenty years since their first Thanksgiving tradition was started, thanks to her mother. It was something her father would never forget, and he had perpetuated it in her name. So on each and every Thanksgiving they dressed in plain warm clothes and drove down to the mission named after her mother. The Edith Barker Rescue Mission. She would be happy they had used her maiden name to feed and shelter the destitute year round. Only it was much worse in the winter months.
For a man such as Robert Elkins to move himself to serve a Thanksgiving meal to those unfortunate souls was one of the things Nora admired about her father. He did it for a memory and he did it because he had never felt the bite of poverty in his own life. But even as his money joined with other civic leaders to provide all this, it was his will power that kept it alive, and it humbled him.
They had never been a very religious family, but her father believed in the human spirit and the good works a man must do in life. Nora was never more proud of him than when he stood behind the serving counter and handed out food while speaking kind words to those in need. It belied the image he often held as that financial Scrooge, she knew better.
* * * * *
Dr. Thorne was a humble man every day of his life, but now he sat amidst the boys of his school and acted like one of them. He loved to hear their jokes and stories, their energy kept him young. And he knew the other members of the faculty were sitting there amused at his antics. He had always wanted to be a circus clown, his constant dream as a young child, much younger than these boys.
He could do tricks with his hands, make coins disappear and reappear, it was an unseemly delight for a strict family of Friends, but these boys were not of that persuasion. They thrilled at his little moments of fun. He felt all the boarders were special, and the stern countenance of a headmaster didn't suit him when he was at play with the children. Steve slipped out of the room and ran up three flights to his dorm where he sat his chair in front of the window and waited.
The soft knock on the door startled him and he turned to see Tom standing there.
"Waiting for Red I imagine?" Tom asked.
"Yes, he's due any minute." Steve stood up as Tom approached, tense…wondering.
"Look, I'm sure you have feelings for him…I don't think that's a bad thing. You're both bright young men, otherwise you wouldn't be here."
Tom put his hand on Steve's head and tilted it back until their eyes met. The boy was adorable, a moppet as they used to call them when he was younger. But a mature young man as well, he had needs and so did Red.
"Just remember, Steve. Be safe and you'll never be sorry, okay?"
"I…I don't know what to say."
"I know you, or at least boys like you, I was one of them. I had to try everything, if you know what I mean?"
Steve began to blush and Tom smiled. "Yes, I guess you do by now. This isn't a lecture about the birds and the bees, you're past that stage. I can't tell you what you should or shouldn't do, I can just tell you to be safe. Some things shouldn't happen when you're still too young. But if you're faced with the choice of should I or shouldn't I…just remember it only happens once and then there's the rest of your life."
"I…I think I love him," Steve said, his voice just above a whisper.
Tom smiled. "And that's the best feeling in the whole world, isn't it?" And Steve nodded.
"Then if he loves you he won't ever want to hurt you, and that's a good thing. You don't have to hurt yourself to prove your love…he'll see it in your eyes. Stay safe, no regrets."
Steve threw his arms around Tom's neck and squeezed. He heard the boy sigh. "You're just so great, Tom…you're the best guy I know," Steve said.
Tom hugged back. "Thank you, Steve."
They heard the door open at the end of the hall and they both let go, only a few seconds later Red was standing at the door.
"Hey, Tom…you ready Steve?"
"Yeah I'm ready," Steve said, looking up at Tom with a smile. "See ya on Sunday, we'll be havin a safe weekend, don't worry."
"Bye guys…drive safe," Tom said, and they were off, running down the hall and slamming through the hallway door.
Tom stood and looked around the room at the trappings of a freshman. Lord, he remembered those days and was glad when they were over. He hoped Steve would listen to him and play it smart, it would be so much easier than damage control.
They were not well met for what their hormones might push them to do. His only hope was that Steve had a good head on his shoulders, and from what he had seen, Red would do anything the boy asked of him.
Red was almost down the driveway when he laughed. "Did you see the weather report for this weekend?"
"Nope, but it feels like snow," Steve replied.
"Oh yeah, a broad band of artic air is crossing the Great Lakes as we speak, we may get dumped on just like last year. Might even get us snowed in…Now that would be fun."
"Yeah, and maybe I wouldn't be able to get back to school for days and days."
"My thoughts exactly, I think its great having you around," Red said.
"Yeah…me too," Steve said.
Red's little Honda took them across town and over past the strip mall where the high school loomed off to the right.
"Glad you don't go there," Steve said.
"God yes, that's dork heaven…they almost put a kid in jail for vandalism last week. He was carving the word faggot on the men's room door. Imagine me having to deal with that crap."
"I really meant if you went there I never would have met you," Steve said.
Red smiled. "Aw, that's sweet…we really got something going on, don't we?"
"You asking if I love you?" Steve said.
Red didn't answer for a moment, and then he nodded. "Yeah, Steve…what do you feel about us?"
Steve smiled. "Not exactly a romantic setting…but Red…I think I love you."
* * * * *
"It's going to snow like crazy at home. Did you catch that weather report?" Neil asked, his face pressed against Jesse's neck.
"You worried about driving back?" Jesse asked.
"Naw, the Jeep can handle it if they clear the roads," Neil said, and then he laughed.
"Thorne will have all the boarders out with shovels, lucky you."
Jesse smiled. "Yeah, lucky me…but not because of that." He rolled over and placed a hand on Neil's cheek. "Because of you."
Neil smiled. "I think your aunt and uncle like me, they want to meet Mom."
Jesse nodded…his face aglow with the love they had just shared. "I think they see us as a couple. Wow…that sounds so nice."
"Hmm, it sure does," Neil said, returning the caresses to Jesse's face. "How did you get to be so beautiful?"
"Stop, I'm not all that. Now you, there's something special," Jesse said.
Neil laughed. "No, we're something special…I'm nothing without us."
"So do we play tourist tomorrow or Saturday?" Jesse asked.
"Tomorrow sounds better, rest up Saturday," Neil suggested.
"Yeah, the drive back might not be as much fun. If we get snow here then we can help Uncle George shovel it off before we go." Jesse tried a smile but yawned instead.
"Okay, let's snuggle down and sleep," Neil said.
Jesse gave him one last kiss and then rolled over, feeling Neil spoon closer until they were in full contact. This has been the best Thanksgiving ever, Jesse thought…but now he couldn't wait to see what Christmas held for them.
Neil had talked to his mother just a few hours ago, the one sided conversation had been a little confusing to Jesse, but Neil brightened up at one point and stared at him, nodding and saying, "I'll ask…that's a wonderful idea."
"Ask what?" Jesse wanted to know.
"Let's go talk to your aunt and uncle…they have to decide," Neil said.
George and Diana looked up as the boys came back in the parlor.
"Is everything going well with your mother" Diana asked.
"She's fine, my grandfather is too," Neil said. "They just got back from the mission. It's what they…what we do on Thanksgiving, a family tradition."
"Mission?" Jesse asked, and Neil explained the founding of the Edith Barker Mission.
George nodded when he was done. "Sounds like your family has made some good choices. That's very charitable."
"I go with them when I'm there, it's pretty depressing, but those poor people need someone to do something for them."
"Ask what…did you forget?" Jesse insisted.
"Oh…my mother would like to invite Jesse to New Year with us in Lansing after he spends Christmas here with you. She'd pay for the plane ticket to get him there, and then fly back with us to Boston," Neil said.
Diana looked at her husband and he smiled. "I don't suppose it would be fair to keep Jesse all to ourselves for two weeks…sure, it's fine with us," George said.
"Thank you, I really would miss him…and I think my grandfather would like to meet him," Neil said.
"I didn't think he knew…" Jesse said.
Neil laughed. "He does now, Mom told him everything. I wonder how he took it."
"Does your grandfather have an issue with gay people?" George asked.
"No…not that I've ever seen." Neil said. "He's cool."
The boys awoke to frigid temperatures and the smell of snow in the air. Yes, if they were going to see historic Philadelphia it had better start this morning. By later tonight it might start snowing.
Always helpful, Diana had a map which she had marked up with places to see, and more importantly, places to park. Living on the outskirts of a famous city, friends often came to visit and she had decided this was the best way for them to see everything without the hassle.
The downtown area was a little warmer as Neil parked the car two blocks from the visitor's center. All the historic places were within easy walking distance.
"I plan to get a lot of brochures, stuff to take back and show the guys at school," Neil said.
"Good idea, Mr. Jenson might let us do a presentation in history class," Jesse said, and then he laughed. "Is that a kiss ass move or what?"
"No not at all, it's information, all well and good. Hey, there's the Quaker Meeting house, Thorne mentioned that. Jeez, all these buildings look so old."
"Duh…historic, remember?" Jesse said.
"Don't duh me, it's just an observation," Neil laughed. "Where's the Liberty Bell?"
"Come on, Duh…I'll show you."
The bell wasn't as big as Neil thought it would be, but then Jesse explained it wasn't the real deal either, that was kept hidden away. Independence Hall was impressive, and they stood behind the ropes and looked at the room in which the country was born.
"Wow, so this is where it all happened?" Neil said.
"Yes, it must have been terrifying to stand up to England like they did, and what they accomplished here was only the first step. This room was filled with some pretty brave men."
And then Jesse smiled. "I wonder if any of them was gay?"
"Lord, I doubt it," Neil said. He looked through the tall windows and saw the snow coming down. "Oh, maybe we ought to get out of here, it looks pretty heavy already."
The large white flakes were just beginning to stick as they got back to the Jeep.
"I'm sorry we can't stay longer, they really have a lot of interesting little places we could see all over the downtown area," Jesse said.
"I'm sure, but I bet most of that is online too. I got to see what I wanted," Neil replied.
"Next time we do it in spring or summer, it's really pretty then. We'll ask Uncle George to take us around. He knows everything so much better than I do."
Neil leaned over and gave Jesse a quick kiss. "But I bet he doesn't kiss as well as you do."
Jesse laughed. "I sure hope not."
The drive back wasn't bad but the weatherman on the radio said they were in for a whole lot more snow. George had gone to work before they left but he was back later that afternoon, even the courts had closed early.
"So judges get snow days too?" Neil asked.
George laughed. "Yes, but unlike students that only means our work piles up. The need of our citizens never ends."
"I don't know if you boys are going to get out of here tomorrow," Diana said.
"If it gets really bad we'll just have to call the school and tell them we won't even try," Jesse said.
"I bet it's even worse up there," Neil said. "And I know how to find out, can we call Pat?"
"Oh, good thinking, let's do that," Jesse said. He looked over at his aunt. "I'm sorry, but it's long distance."
"That's fine, dear…anything to keep you safe," Diana replied.
Jesse led the way up to his bedroom so Neil could get the number out of his wallet. He dialed the number and let it ring three times.
"Hello?" Pat said.
"Pat…its Neil…how's the weather up there?"
"Neil…you still down in Philly?"
"Yes I am, we are, and it's snowing like hell."
"Oh, you might want to reconsider traveling, we have almost twelve inches and it's still coming down," Pat said. "No high winds, but they say we'll have three feet out of this before it's done. I'd stay right there for a few days, they've already closed the schools here for Monday."
"You okay?" Neil asked.
"Oh yeah, I have my trusty bed warmer right here beside me, you know he's happy."
"Thanks, Pat…guess we'll stay right here. Our best to you and Mike, love you guys."
"We love you guys, too, Neil…enjoy the extra holiday and call us when you get home."
"Will do, Pat…Bye."
"Bye, bye." And they hung up.
"Three feet expected…we aren't going anywhere, sweetie," Neil said.
Jesse smiled. "Yeah, isn't that a shame."