"So, Thanksgiving is next week." Sam's large brown eyes were flickering colors from the light of the television in his darkened bedroom.

We had taken to spending most weekends at his place since I had roommates. It was serious enough that I had a toothbrush and space in his closet. We were as significant as you could get by the measuring stick of two people in their early twenties.

"Mmhmm, it sure is," I absently spoke as I ran my hand through his hair. It was so soft that I made a mental note to check his conditioner. I loved running my hands through it; he always seemed to look better the more disheveled his hair was.

"So, I thought you might want to come to my parents' place." He usually had cheeky confidence, but it would fade, and his eyes would grow wide when he spoke about something important.

"Your parents?" We hadn't done the meet the parents thing yet.

"Yeah, I mean, I know you'll want to go to your parents too, but I thought we could try to do both. My parents usually eat later in the day because my mom doesn't like to get up early." His smile, which was usually akin to the Cheshire Cat's grin, sloped to one side.

"My parents always do 12:30 pm," I absently spoke.

"So, would you want to spend the day together? One day of copious amounts of eating served with a side of the awkward family meet and greets?"

I couldn't say no; his smile was too alluring. "Yeah, let's do it," I agreed.

"Yeah?" His smile shifted back to his centered, full-sized grin. "Okay, meet the parents," his lips met mine in a warm tumble of lips.

Sam didn't have to travel the week of Thanksgiving, and I only had Tuesday classes. We spent most of the week in domestic bliss. Sam learned the depth of my deep-rooted inability to cook, and I learned never to let Sam do laundry. The silver lining, my favorite white sweater, was just as cute in a soft shade of pink.

"I have good news," Sam began as he came in from a run.

"I like good news," I popped up from the couch, forsaking my book to kiss him on the cheek. I fought the urge to fully crash into him, given the sweat covering him even in the cool temperatures of November.

"We're on wine and rolls duty for Thanksgiving. No cooking for these two wacky kids." He sunk his face into my neck with a fake snap of his teeth.

"Excellent. We have no tasks for my family. My mom doesn't let any details out of her clutches." I gave him a playful shove away. "You need to shower."

"Join me?" He raised a tempting eyebrow before being answered by my phone chime. He didn't press; he just lifted his hands in defeat as he backed out of the living room towards the shower.

"Hello." I didn't bother looking at the caller id.

"Hello, Lily." It was the warm, friendly voice of Mary.

"Mary? Hi, hello. Is everything okayay?" My mind whirled in a mix of surprise, confusion, and concern.

She let out her mischievous laugh. "I knew you'd start there. Yes, of course. Everything is fine. Happy Thanksgiving."

"Oh," I let out an immediate sigh of relief. "Happy Thanksgiving! How are you?" I settled onto the couch and picked up my book to set it properly on the coffee table.

"I'm great. Already started cooking for the holiday. As I made my shortbread cookies, I thought of you and thought I'd call to wish you well. I hope you don't mind. We've not been good at staying in touch." Her words ended with an expert level of gentle scolding; only a mother can master.

"No, not at all; it's wonderful to hear from you. I miss those cookies." I sighed and swallowed the drool in my mouth at the memory of Mary's shortbread. "What's new?"

"Oh, nothing. Betty, from my book club, had a hip replaced, so she stayed with me for most of the fall since I had a first-floor bedroom for her. It was nice to have someone to rattle around this place with."

"Oh dear, well, I'm sorry to hear about Betty's hip, but I'm glad you had company."

"Oh, and Anthony and Clara are having another, due in February. That'll be their third, so I've been knitting a blanket." Another grandchild for Mary made her words come flooded with enthusiasm.

"Oh well, that's exciting."

"Now that you've listened to me prattle about all my old lady things, tell me about you. How is your final year going?"

"Well, I've worked on my resume and cover letter. I plan to apply to places at the turn of the year." My mind flipped through the companies I had targeted.

"And how's your family?" She prodded.

Our conversation was like one of those cartoon bombs with a mile-long wick. We were getting closer and closer to the explosion with every passing word.

"They're good. My mom's in full Thanksgiving prep panic mode." I let out a laugh at how different my mom was from Mary. Talking to Mary was like talking to a dear friend; she didn't feel like a mother at all. She felt like one of the girls.

"And any other developments?" I could hear the teasing inflections in her words.

"I think I could ask you the same thing," I teased back.

"Oh, you hush. I'm not on the market. I have my hands full with all my boys and Tim." She added Tim with a cheeky inflection. He was one of her boys; he didn't need to be tacked on just because he wasn't her son.

"Well, there is someone. His name is Sam." I suddenly felt shy and was acutely aware that Mary was Billy's mother.

"Oh, Sam, such a wonderful name. I met a Sam when I was in school. He played baseball, and boy could fill out the uniform."

"Mary!" I teased.

"I always loved a man in uniform." Her voice was wistful. "Now, tell me more about this Sam."

"Well, he works in IT and has been such a help navigating the whole career search thing. He just went through it, so he's been letting me use his resume and some of his cover letters as samples. He even talked to his company's recruiter and got me some sample questions."

"Well, he sounds wonderful." I could feel the warmth of Mary's smile through the phone.

"We're doing the meet the parents thing at Thanksgiving," I tentatively added.

"Oh, well, this must be serious." If the mention of my seriousness with Sam caused any negative feelings, she certainly hid them well.

"So ..." I wanted to ask. It was burning in my brain, stealing all other thoughts.

"Billy's good. He's been traveling a lot this fall, but plans to take some time off around the holidays like he usually does. And he's planning another album this winter with Tim."

"No," I couldn't help but giggle at the gossipy tone Mary was using.

"Two peas, those two; it was only a matter of time." Mary's words were distant, as though her mind had already drifted to another topic. "Tim and Tess moved in together over fall as well. She's such a sweet girl, very good for Tim; she calms him a bit."

"I miss Tim," I sighed.

"He sends his love and did mention that he had a phone number that receives calls that hadn't changed in years."

"As do I," I added.

"Well, if you were interested, you'd need to make the first call. And I know no one would be upset if you were to reach out to him." The words 'no one' hit with a bit more gravity than the others.

"How is he?" I couldn't stop myself. "Is he happy?"

"He is." Mary's voice filled with her low tone of sincerity. "He struggled a bit at first, but he understands better now. He's started to see someone." She added in an airy tone at the end.

"Ella?" I don't know why it fell out so quickly, but it did.

"No, a sweet young girl from Memphis, Sarah. She seems good for him. Doesn't quite keep him on his toes like..." her words dropped out before she added, "but that's probably a good thing."

"Yeah, it probably is."

"Well, I don't want to keep you. But I wanted to say Happy Holidays, and I wouldn't be upset if I heard from you a bit more often."

I let out a laugh; her motherly side was coming through. "Yes, ma'am," I said in my best Billy impression.

I still had the warm glow of Mary's presence surrounding me when Sam settled next to me from his shower. His hair had a few errant droplets peppering his sweatshirt.

"Hey," I melted into his side as his arm snaked around me.

"Hey," his voice was calling me to lift my face to his for a kiss, which I happily obliged.

"So, I have to tell you something." I needed to tell him about Mary. I didn't want to feel like I was hiding it from him. Everyone had a past that slipped into their future, and my past had a Mary and a Tim pulling themselves back to me, possibly even a Billy.

"I also have something to tell you, but you go first." His smile was soothing, like a warm blanket.

"So, that was Mary," I began. "And Mary is my ex's mother. She's amazing, and I'd like to stay in touch with her. But if it makes you feel uncomfortable, I completely understand."

"Well, I also have a confession." There was a sheepish look on his face. "I may have overheard your conversation. It's a small place, and there was no other noise, so it just kinda fell in my ears."

I let out a laugh. "I'm kinda okay with that." I shrugged. "I have nothing to hide there since I just told you about it."

"Yeah, and I heard about this guy, Sam I think it was." There was a tease in his tone that tickled his eyes. "He sounds like a real keeper."

I giggled as a warm blush filled my face. "So, you're okay if I stay in touch with Mary and maybe Tim?" I added with a cock of my head.

"Who's Tim, the ex?" There was a bit more edge to his voice.

"No, Tim is my ex's best friend, but I spent a lot of time with him and his girlfriend, Tess. I miss them. I might like to give them a call. Mary said they moved in together," I absently added.

Sam shifted and let his gaze bore into my eyes. "Lil, you can stay in touch with whomever you want. I trust you. The fact that you'd think you need to ask me makes me know I don't have to worry."

"You don't, I promise."

"You promise?" There was a jest in his voice as he leaned into me further. "Let's talk about other promises."

I let out a giggle, knowing what he had caught.

"I remember someone saying they would stop leaving their wet towel on the bed, and yet, when I went into the bedroom just moments ago..." His words trailed off, but his lips continued to graze down my neck.

"Oh, I meant to tell you about that. While I was studying, I think a robber broke in," I began.

"A robber, you say?" He didn't pull his lips from my neck; instead, he continued his trajectory down to my collarbone. "What did this robber steal?"

"Well, he clearly took a shower, so water. And framed me for the towel incident."

"That maniacal thief. We should call the police." Sam's hands were at my waist, pulling me further into him.

"Or we could let this one slide and hope he doesn't return."

"Mmhmm, we could do that." He tugged at my shirt.

"But to be safe, we should probably check the bedroom to make sure he isn't still lurking anywhere," I suggested.

Sam finally lifted his face from my collarbone. "That sounds like the right thing to do." In a swift motion, he slung me over his shoulder. "Now," he continued, "there's a damp spot on the bed from his dastardly towel deeds; we should probably start with a full inspection there in case he left any other damp towels or loose socks strewn around."

The next thing I knew, I was dropping to the bed. "That seems like the prudent thing to do," I agreed.

Sam let out a laugh. "And I always believe in doing what's prudent."