Hi! Please take a moment to vote on this chapter! Also, don't hesitate to comment. I love responding to peoples questions or comments! I read every comment!

Sorry for the late update. I've been super busy these past few days & haven't been able to write xoxo.

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Chapter Eleven: "Daddy should be here soon."

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THANKSGIVING EVE

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We had decided to host Thanksgiving at Garrett and I's apartment since he wasn't able to leave because of football. That damn coach never gave them a break. I could tell my baby was exhausted, I felt terrible.

They had been practicing twice a day for the past few days because they were getting ready for the upcoming bowls. They had defeated a team on Saturday so they had the next day off.

I don't think Garrett got out of bed the whole day. He was too exhausted to move. From six AM workouts to after class practices.

I think I would have collapsed by now, but he has such a passion for this sport, he would do anything for it.

Since today was Thanksgiving, Matt, Savannah, and my father, and his girlfriend would be attending. I was so nervous. I had briefly met my father's girlfriend at Christmas last year, it was awkward.

It was also a very weird time because Garrett and I were separated so I was keeping my distance from everyone. I basically kept the bedroom door locked.

I don't think I even came out of the bedroom for dinner, I had it brought to me. I should have just gone back to London, I was just so homesick. I'm sure staying in bed didn't help at all.

The doorbell rang and took me out of my thoughts. I was nervous, I wonder who was here first, Matt or my father?

I slid my heels on and jogged to the door to open it. Garrett met me half way to welcome our guests.

I swing the door open and a breath of relief comes over me. It was my twin and my best friend.

I smiled and brought them both in for a hug, "Oh-em-gee! Hey guys! I missed Y'all so much!"

Sometimes the southern just comes out of me.

"Jessie! I missed you!" Matt yells and pulls me in for another hug.

He eventually releases me and Savannah pulls me in for a hug, "Hi bestie! I missed you bunches!"

"It's been too long!" I say as we release. I run my hands over the wrinkles in my black dress.

We all head into the kitchen to catch up. "How long are you guys staying?" I ask, picking up one of the snack trays I had made earlier.

They both looked at each other then back at me, "Today, tomorrow, and possibly Friday for Black Friday. If we can get a cheap flight Friday then we will probably leave then. If not then we will probably stay a few days longer." Savannah responds.

I nod excitedly, "Are Y'all staying here or at a hotel?"

Matt responds this time, "Probably a hotel. I don't want to intrude on whatever Y'all do after hours." Garrett laughs and fists bumps, my brother.

I roll my eyes, "Whatever, your loss. Daddy should be here soon."

Garrett raises his eyebrows, "Huh? Baby, I'm already here?"

I let out a giggle and hit his chest, "Babe!"

"Gross." Savannah and Matt mutter, disgusted.

"I'm gonna go use the restroom and freshen up," Sav says and leaves the room. Leaving just Garrett, Matt, and I alone.

"Brother, when are you going to propose?" I ask.

He runs a hand through his hair, "I don't know! I already have the ring and everything, but like there are so many weddings going on already and she doesn't want to marry so young for some reason. I was thinking of doing it New Years and then getting married the next year."

Garrett groans beside me, "Bestie, please hurry up. You're the only non-engaged couple in our friend group." I cringed at him saying 'bestie'.

Matt let out a chuckle, "Bestie, I want to marry her but she said she didn't want to yet. It hurt my heart."

"I bet it did," We heard the door to the bathroom shut and a pair of heels clicking on the hardwood floors, "So, what do you want to do tonight?" I ask trying to change the subject.

"Tonight? Hm, I was thinking of dinner and a movie?" Savannah responds walking into Matt's arms and resting her head on his chest.

Aw, my heart!

"Sure! Wait, my dad, what are we gonna do with him?" I ask completely forgetting that my father was coming today.

Matt taps his chin, "Valerie has never been to New York, he will probably take her to sightsee."

"Perfect, I'm sure they will be fine together until tomorrow. Want to order in dinner and a movie?"

They all nod and we start to argue over what food and movie to choose.

Around thirty minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I forced a smile on my face and opened the door, "Daddy!" I squealed letting the fake smile turn into a real one.

He grabbed me and pulled me into a long hug. I missed his warm hugs. "I've missed you, princess." He mutters in my ear.

"I've missed you too!" I pull back and smile at my father's girlfriend, "Hi, Valerie, it's nice to see you."

She grins and pulls me into a small hug, kissing my cheek, "Always a pleasure. You are even prettier than the last time I saw you!"

"Thank you!" I liked her, it was just so weird seeing my father with another woman besides my mom.

I lead them into the kitchen where everyone was chowing down on some deviled eggs. I cleared my throat and they all looked up and said their hello's to them.

I saw Valerie's eyes flicker up and down to my hand where my engagement ring laid, "Oh my goodness, I haven't seen it in person, let me see that gorgeous rock!"

I laughed and lifted my hand to show her Garrett's mother's beautiful ring. It was really beautiful I almost didn't want to trade it in for a wedding ring.

Valerie was two years younger than my father, 62. So it wasn't like she was a gold digger or anything. My father and her met at a hotel convention since she owned quite a few of condominiums as well. It was as if it was a match made in Heaven.

I ship them.

She didn't have kids since she has been married to her job for the past thirty years. She eventually started to look for a special someone and my father happened to be there.

Sounds cliche.

After we all caught up, her and my father went out into town to check it out as the rest of us ordered Chinese and rented 'Grease', it was Savannah's pick.

I didn't mind, I absolutely loved that movie.

We spent the rest of the night catching up and I realized, Gosh I missed my best friend.

Ellie and Charlie were great friends, but Savannah would always be my number one.

I should introduce them.

Maybe Friday?

I'll sleep on it.

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Thanksgiving Day

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This morning had been the most hectic day I've had in a while. It was currently seven o'clock in the morning and we were currently standing on the sidewalk watching the Thanksgiving Parade.

I was currently in jeans with a pair of high knee black boots. I had a White top paired with a brown leather jacket. It was finally getting cold down here in the city. I was dreading winter, I loved the suns beaming rays.

I also loved snow so I guess I'll just suck it up.

"Holy shit it's cold! How much longer do we have to stand out here?" Savannah whines beside me.

I laugh burrowing myself further into Garrett's warm body, "Maybe just another hour or so, then we can go stuff our faces with unlimited amounts of food."

She nods and goes to hug Matt to try to get warm. Wuss.

Around an hour and a half, we all get back to the apartment where my father and Valerie have basically finished cooking everything.

"I can't believe Y'all didn't go! It was super cool!" I exclaim, popping a celery stick in my mouth.

My father chuckles, "Honey, you forget you live in Manhattan; we watched it through the window."

Savannah gasps, "Are you serious? Why didn't I think of that!"

We all laugh and finish getting everything ready for the dinner. Or should I say, linner?

I lay the plates and decorations across the dining room table. Dang, my house looked so festive, I loved it.

Valerie comes into the room where all of us are standing around talking, "Are you guys ready to eat?"

Garrett shoves by all of us, running into the room where all of the food was stored, "I'm starving!"

I rolled my eyes at my fiance and followed him. We all sat around the table and the boys were fighting who would say the blessing.

Garrett won because he complained Matt got to do it last year.

Garrett looked at me and smiled before ordering us to bow our heads, "Dear Lord, Our Father in Heaven, we give thanks for the pleasure of gathering together for this occasion. We give thanks for this food prepared by loving hands. We give thanks for life, the freedom to enjoy it all and all other blessings. As we partake of this food, we pray for health and strength to carry on and try to live as You would have us. This we ask in the name of Christ, our Heavenly Father. Amen."

We all say 'Amen" in response and immediately grab the spoons and forks to devour our faces with this delicious food.

We make small talk for a few minutes before my father taps a fork on his glass of wine to gather our attention, "How about we all go around the table and name something we are thankful for?" We all nod in agreement, "Okay, I'll go first. I am thankful for my beautiful children, lord knows what my life would have been like without my kids. I love both of you dearly."

He smiles at Valerie letting her know it was her turn, "I am thankful to have such a lovely man in my life who helped me through a difficult patch in my life. We were both able to help each other during such rough times. Thank you." She leans over and gives my dad a kiss on the cheek. He looks down at her and smiles. I saw the love between the two as they stared into their eyes.

She was so good for my dad.

It was now Matt's turn, "Uh, I am thankful for such a great family and a beautiful girlfriend. Also, my future brother Garrett because he has been such a great person to me and has helped me through so much shit. I love you, and everyone else here." Garrett grins and gives a handshake to my brother since they were on opposite sides of the table.

Savannah clears her throat, "I am thankful for my best friends and my boyfriend. Matt has helped me through so much stuff this year and I probably would have fallen apart without him. When my mother passed, he made it his life mission to make sure I healed 100 percent and I wouldn't have been able to recover from my loss without him."

I smiled, who knew my twin brother was such a romantic?

It was finally my turn, "I am thankful for so many people but one person in particular. Today I am thankful for my amazing fiance. Garrett has fixed my broken self so many times. He is always there for me and can always put a smile on my face. When I am having a shitty day I just turn and look at him and things get better. I am not even meaning to sound so cliche," I let out a small chuckle, "I love you so much and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

He kisses my forehead in response before taking a breath for his turn, "I'm so thankful for everyone here but I am most thankful for Mr. Walker. I want to thank you for bringing the two most important people in my life to me. Without them, I would still be in a bad place with bad people. Your children basically saved my life. I never thank you enough for bringing this beautiful girl to the world."

I think my heart just exploded.

My dad smiles, "Son, I have told you numerous times to call me by my name, Robert."

Garrett shakes his head with a smile on his face, "Well, thank you again, Robert."

The rest of dinner goes by with a blur, soon enough it was just Garrett and me because the other had headed to their hotel down the street.

"You know, that was really sweet what you said at dinner," I said, pulling my blouse over my head to change out of it.

Garrett smiled and walked towards me, "I meant every word of it too. I am so fucking thankful for you, Jessica." He kisses my nose.

"I love you so much," I turn to look at my body in the mirror, "Shit, I need to go on a run, I have a food baby." I had gained at least ten pounds from all of the food I had eaten for dinner.

Garrett comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me from behind and whispers in my ear, "I know a few other ways you can burn some of those calories."

I cheeks burn red as I turn around in his grip and kiss him as hard as I could.

And this would be a Thanksgiving I would never forget.

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I will be going on vacation from Friday to next Thursday! So I will try to at least get two more chapters uploaded before I leave! Xoxo!