Melody's POV

Thanksgiving Day

At 6 a.m., I climb out of bed and head to my sister's room. Opening the door, I step into the room and shake. "Maggie?"

Maggie looks at me. "What's going on?"

"Do you want to help me with a project for Thanksgiving?"

A smile spreads across Maggie's face. "I would love that. What do you want me to do?"

Placing my finger over my lips, I tell her we must be quiet. "I want you to sneak into Mom's room and cancel her alarm. Then meet me in the kitchen and we will start the turkey."

"Okay," Maggie climbs out of bed wearing boxers and a singlet. "See you soon."

I watch her sneak into Mom's room while she is asleep. Then I walk downstairs and head into the kitchen, where I grab everything I need to make the dressing for the turkey.

Maggie walks into the kitchen, and we start preparing the turkey. She turns the radio on, and a song by No Heart comes on. "This is Jesse's Band."

We both start singing the words to the song.

You say that we shouldn't be together,
But every night you're in my bed,
Making love to me,
Then you tell everyone that you're mine.

Maggie and I stuff the turkey and sprinkle the seasoning on it while we sing and dance to the radio song.

Then we see you with another guy,
Leading him on,
While I'm watching on,
I don't like what you're doing to me.

I have No Heart,
When it comes to your tricks.
I have No Heart,
For the hurt you cause me.

You wish that I could help you out more,
But you don't tell me what I need to do,
To make you happy,
And fix what is broken.

All you do is complain,
While I'm out there doing all the work,
I try to save,
You spend it all and tell me I have No Heart.

I have No Heart,
When it comes to your tricks.
I have No Heart,
For the hurt you cause me.

You should pack your bags,
Get out of my house,
Let me rest in peace,
Cause you're not the right fit.

I look around me,
Seeing couples who are happy,
But we're not,
You drag me down.

I have No Heart,
When it comes to your tricks.
I have No Heart,
For the hurt you cause me.

When the song ends, the turkey is put in the oven, and I set the timer for it. "What do you want for dessert?"

"Can we have tiramisu? Do you have the ingredients for that?"

Walking into the cupboard, I show her that I bought it. "I got it last night as I felt you would like this."

Maggie moves to the kitchen counter and watches me make her favourite dessert. Once I've put it in the fridge, she swipes her fingers through the bowl, licking off the cream.

We haven't had breakfast yet, and she wants to lick the cream.

"What do you want for breakfast?"

"An omelette, please?" Maggie crosses her fingers and begs me to take it for her.

I move to the fridge and pull the items I need for the omelette. Then I move to the cupboard to grab a chopping board, a large bowl, a small bowl, and the frying pan. I put the frying pan on the stove and used canola spray.

I cut the bacon into small pieces in the frying pan and cook it. Then I crack the eggs and put them in a bowl with milk and pepper. Then I cut up some spring onion, tomatoes and spinach. Once cut, I leave them and move to the frying pan, where I check the bacon before putting it in the egg mixture. I add the tomatoes, spinach and spring onions. Then I grab some shredded cheese and pour it over the mixture. I watch it bubble before moving the spatula around the pan and flipping one side of the omelette. I put two slices of bread into the toaster.

"Thanks for making breakfast, sis."

"You're welcome." When the toast pops, I butter it and then put the omelette on top. Then I give it to her. "Enjoy it while I'm still here."

"I will." Maggie laughs. "I can't believe you'll be gone in two days. Christmas isn't going to be the same with you in another country. I know you're doing this for your health, and I support you."

Hugging her, I whisper. "It means a lot to you that you understand."

"I'll be spending time in the studio. Can you believe it?"

A smile spreads across my face. "This is a dream come true for you. Don't forget your boyfriend while you are recording in the studio."

Maggie folds her arms in front of her. "Mom is giving me four hours in the studio, and then she wants me to spend time with my friends during the holidays. She said that it's best for me to keep friendships while I'm working at something that interests me."

"Don't become a Diva, Maggie. You're better than that. I'm sure your friends are going to want to hang out too. They have been there for you while I went through a hard time. Those girls need you, too."

"I won't forget that."

Mom walks into the kitchen and looks between us. "Who turned my alarm off? I was supposed to start on the turkey early."

"I turned it off," Maggie says, while shovelling food into her mouth. "I thought you needed a sleep-in."

"Maggie, the turkey won't be done in time." Mom crosses her arms. "We're not going to have a Thanksgiving Dinner." Mom keeps muttering.

"Mom," she looks at me as I reach out for her. "Don't be mad at Maggie. She did as I told her." Then I move her to the oven. "We're making dinner tonight so you can relax."

Mom throws her arms around us. "Thank you so much. This is the best Thanksgiving ever. Having my kids make dinner instead of me." Tears begin to fall. "I miss your father. This was his favourite holiday, and I went all out for it."

"We know," Maggie says. She wraps her arms around Mom. "Why don't Melody and you go and see Dad? I will stay home and look after dinner."

Looking at my sister, I say. "Are you sure you don't want to come?"

"Mom and I see him every couple of months. The two of you should go together. When was the last time that you saw Dad, Melody?"

"It's been a while," I admit. "I've been too busy." I make breakfast for Mom and me.

***

Before leaving home, Mom cut some flowers from the garden and arranged them so they looked like they were from the florist. She looked over at me. "These are the flowers your father planted when we first moved into that house. He knew they were my favourite, and before he passed, he told me that those flowers should be brought to him when I visited, which is what I do all the time."

"It's nice that Maggie and you see him as often as you can. She will get busy once college comes around, and she won't be able to see him much. Do you think he's mad at me for not coming often?"

Mom places her arm on mine. "Your dad will be proud of you, Melody. He doesn't want you to give up your life to see him constantly. Never feel guilty for moving on."

As we get the tombstone, I see a picture of my father. I touch it and whisper. "I miss you, Dad. And I love you."

Mom puts the flowers in the vase she placed at the site when we buried Dad. There are some fresh flowers in front of the tombstone. She picks one up and finds a note inside it. Pulling it out, she looks at it. "Damn it. Why won't they leave him alone?"

"Who?" I take the card from Mom and read it.

Dearest Jared,
                      I was sorry to hear about your passing. I know you won't get this, but your family will. I've kept a secret for twenty-three years. I had a son, and he's yours.

Love

Mandy and Jay

Also, it's time for the girls to meet their brother and let him be part of their lives.

I don't believe this.

Mom is standing next to the grave, and her face is downcast. A tear falls down her face. "How could he do that to me?"

Tearing the card, I throw it on the ground and pull my Mom into my arms. "I don't believe that it's true. This woman is desperate to destroy our family, and we won't let her get away with it. Also, under no circumstances are Maggie and I going to look for that family. If he's my brother, I don't want to know him. He will never be a brother."

"What are we going to tell Maggie?"

"Maggie deserves us to tell her the truth. She might be hurt by it."

A woman steps out from behind a tree with her son, who looks similar to me, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Mom gasps as her eyes land on him. "You're Jay?"

"Yes," Jay moves towards Mom. "You're why my Mom never got to be with the man she loved."

Mom crosses her arms and looks this guy in the eye before telling him the truth. "Your mom used her body to seduce a married man. He didn't love her. He would have walked away from our daughters and me if he did. He loved us. That's why he stayed."

The truth hurts, buddy.

Jay's eyes narrow at her. "He would have left you if your daughter hadn't got into the accident that day."

Turning to Mom, I ask. "What accident?"

The woman moves over to her son and threads her arms through his. She smirks. "You got hit by a car. It was supposed to kill you, but you survived the accident, and Jared decided that staying with his family was what he needed."

"You're fucking, crazy." I take a step toward. "Now, that you've seen us you can fuck off. Don't come anywhere near us. Or I will have my security get rid of you."

"Who the hell are you?" She crosses her arms, trying not to be afraid.

"Someone you don't want to mess with." I whistle to the guards, and they move out of the shadows towards me. "Get rid of these people. We don't want them anywhere near the Strykers."

"Yes, madam." Adam steps forward and grabs their arms. "Sorry, we didn't interfere any earlier. We didn't know they were there."

"It's okay, Adam. This is a public place, so having people walk up to you is part of being out in public." I turn towards them. "Never make contact with my sister. If you do, I will bring hell down on you."

Before they are escorted away, Mom looks at the guy and says, "You look like Jared." She shakes her head and then says, "If you think you're entitled to anything from him, you'll be wrong about that."

Grabbing Mom's hand, I say. "Let's get out of here. I have things that I want to do before we finish dinner."