Falling Fast and Breathing Hard

Another milestone is going to happen today as it's Kalea's first Thanksgiving. She may not really be able to eat the way we're going to, but still, it's pretty damn great. Just as I was preparing to put the turkey in the oven, my phone rang.

"Hello?"

It was my mom.

"Hi, honey. Happy Thanksgiving."

"Hey Mom. Happy Thanksgiving. So, where are you right now?"

My mom was coming up from Baltimore to spend Thanksgiving with us. To say I was elated would be an understatement.

"We're about to take off. Listen, I have a surprise for you guys."

"A surprise? On Thanksgiving?"

"Yes, Athena and I hope you're gonna like it, maybe even love it." she said with a laugh.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" I asked, laughing myself.

"I don't know. Listen, I have to go. We have to turn off our phones now."

She sounded a little off; something had to be going on.

"Ok. I love you."

"I love you. See you soon."

"See ya."

Kris offered to pick my mom up at the airport while I manned the kitchen.

-click-

After I hung up and set my phone down, I finished prepping the turkey and had it in there in less than five minutes. Once I washed my hands, I let out a sigh and went directly to Kalea who was sitting in her highchair while her mommy started cooking.

"Grandma is on a plane to come see us. How's that sound?"

She giggled.

"I'm excited too! We haven't seen her in four months!"

I picked her up and tickled her; the laughter continued.

"Good morning ladies." Kris said, kissing my cheek.

He was fresh out of the shower, already ready to pick up my mom.

"Good morning." I said, kissing him.

"Did you get the turkey in?"

Of course, that'd be the first thing he'd ask.

"Just a couple minutes ago, actually."

"Did you hear from your mom?"

That's what I wanted to hear first, but of course with him being a man, thought of food first.

"Yeah. Around ten minutes ago. The plane probably just took off. She uh... said... that she had a surprise for us." I said with a confused look on my face.

He mimicked my face.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. She said she hoped I would like it and of course I said that I would and why wouldn't I. She said she didn't know and then said she had to turn her phone off. Kris, something was off. I don't know what it was, but something was."

"I'm sure everything's fine. She did say it was a surprise after all."

I gave a weak smile and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"Hope you're right."

"I am." he said with a smile.

About an hour later, my mom called saying her plane was going to land in half an hour.

"My mom's plane is do in about half an hour." I said to Kris who was in the kitchen while I took a break from getting everything ready for her arrival.

"Alright. I'm gonna put my shoes on and I'll be out."

"Ok. Be careful."

"Always am. I love you. I love you, too, Kalea." he said, coming over to kiss me and Kalea.

"I love you, too."

And with that, he was out the door and I was left alone wondering what my mom's surprise was. Nearly an hour later, my phone rang. It was Kris.

"Hey. You on your way home?"

"Yeah. We just got in my car actually."

"That's great. I'll see you soon?"

"Yeah. See you soon. I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Bye."

"Bye."

I smiled and hung up the phone, but I became anxious again and I knew it wouldn't go away until my mom got here. I don't know why I was feeling this way. I mean, Kris was sure things were okay. I couldn't have been more impatient for them to get here.

"Daddy's on his way with Grandma!" I said, cheering.

She giggled again.

"I love you. You know that?"

She cooed. I giggled myself and tried to relax with my adorable daughter on my lap. Once I heard Kris turning the doorknob, the anxiety turned way up again. I picked my Kalea up and walked toward the door; he came right through and hugged me while my mom came in from behind him. I smiled even more and hugged her.

"Mom! It's so great to see you! To have you here today."

"I'm glad to be here, sweetie." she said, kissing my cheek.

"Wanna hold-"

I was interrupted.

"Can I hold her?" she nearly squealed.

"Oh my goodness! You've gotten so much cuter and gotten bigger!"

After a short moment, my mom got serious and spoke again.

"I promised you a surprise and I'm gonna show it to you now." she said in a nervous voice.

My heart was racing. Oh God, what in the world is it?

"Keith? You can come in now."

Keith?

"Keith, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Athena and my granddaughter, Kalea. Athena, this is my boyfriend, Keith."

Oh my God. She was right. This was definitely a surprise; perhaps the biggest surprise ever... besides Ronnie, that is.

"Oh Kris." I pulled him close to me and laid my head on his shoulder.

"What is it?" he asked softly.

"This is gonna sound redundant, but I have a really, really bad feeling that he's gonna come here with my mom. I'm usually right about these kind of things."

"I won't let him hurt you if it's the last thing I do." he said, kissing the top of my head.

I sighed a small sigh of relief and stood up with Kris.

"I'm going to fix myself up. I'll be alright. Just go and wait for my mom."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Go please."

He did and I fixed myself in a matter of ten minutes, coming back to find Kris sitting on the couch in the living room.

"How much longer?"

I checked my phone.

"20 minutes."

He held me in his arms until I heard a knock on my door.

"Come with me." I said, grabbing his hand as I got up off the couch.

I answered the door with a smile.

"Hi, Mom!"

We hugged.

"Hi, honey. I missed you!"

"I missed you, too."

I could sense someone else's presence as we separated. It was the most evil person that I had ever met. I took a big gulp and let them in the house, all the while holding Kris' hand as tight as humanly possible. I could feel Ronnie's glare without even looking at him.

"Anyways, Mom, Ronnie, this is Kris Letang, my boyfriend."

He shook both of their hands but maintained a stern look on his face when he shook his hand. He didn't want to shake his hand but knew he had to.

"Nice to meet you." my mom said with a smile.

He smiled back.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Allender."

I gulped.

"Athena? Are you okay?" my mom asked.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired is all."

I looked over at Kris, who then came over the few steps away he was and squeezed my shoulder.

"It's so nice to meet you." I said, shaking his hand.

"It's so nice to meet you too. Your mom has told me so many things about you."

"All good I hope." I said, mustering a smile.

"Definitely all good."

"That's a relief."

"Keith, this is Athena's fiance, Kris."

"Nice to meet you." he said, shaking his hand.

"Nice to meet you too, Sir."

This time, everyone's genuine. I couldn't be happier about that.

"May I hold her?"

She was so content in my mom's arms; I don't know how's she gonna be in a stranger's arms. He actually wants to and he's so sweet. I couldn't even imagine if Ronnie was out of prison and I had her. There's no way he'd want to. No way. I looked over to my mom who nodded and handed her over to him.

"Of course." I said after a moment.

After being fussy for a second, she was all smiles as she was in his arms. This was definitely a good sign. I looked over at Kris who smiled and kissed me.

"I love you." I said.

"I love you, too."

Kris wrapped an arm around me while I laid my head on his shoulder. Just a few minutes later, I could tell she wanted her daddy and I took her out of his arms and put Kalea into his.

"So, did you guys have a nice flight?"

"It was perfect. I slept the entire way." my mom said.

Keith stepped beside her and kissed her cheek causing her to blush. They're so cute.

"And drooled on my shoulder too."

"Shut up."

She pushed him and laughed. He laughed too.

"You two are adorable." I said, laughing.

I was genuinely happy. You could tell that the both of them really cared for one another. In a way, they kinda remind me of my mom and dad when he was alive. I smiled at the thought.

"So, Athena, the turkey smells wonderful." my mom said.

"I'm cooking it just the way you've done my entire life."

"Well, I can't wait to taste it then."

I laughed as did my mom.

"Should be only about five hours till we eat."

"Yay!"

I swear my mom is just a little kid like me.

"What do you guys wanna do till then?" I asked.

"Isn't there a game on?" Kris asked.

"There is! In about an hour." Keith answered.

"Athena? Do you care?"

"Uh... no. Of course not. It's Thanksgiving."

"Are you-?"

"Kris. Seriously. You and Keith can go watch football today."

Now, Kris was acting like a little kid. I loved it.

"Thank you." he said, kissing my cheek.

"They are such dorks." I said to my mom.

"Hey!" they said simultaneously as my mom and I laughed.

"You know it's true." I said, looking up at him with a knowing look.

He nodded.

"Yeah. You're right."

"So, can we talk a bit before the game starts and the men are distracted?" my mom asked.

"Of course. There's a lot to talk about it." I said, nodding.

Kris and I sat down together with Kalea on his lap, while my mom sat together with Keith.

I wonder what Keith's history is. Is it good? Is it full of drama?

"Athena, I'm sure there are things you wanna know about Keith."

You bet there are.

"Of course. What am I allowed to ask him? What are my limits?"

My mom looked over at him and whispered in his ear. When he nodded, she looked over and smiled.

"There are none."

I looked up at my better half with a nervous look. He seemed to know what I wanted to ask him.

"It's okay." he whispered as he squeezed my hand this time.

He was so reassuring as he always is and it's one of my favorite things about him; I love it and I'll never take that trait for granted.

"Well, um... in that case, did you have a family before you met my mom?"

Talk about a bold question.

I didn't know if I had ever been so bold in my entire life.

He took a breath before he answered.

"I did... I do. I have a daughter about a couple years older than you, but I did lose my wife four years ago to breast cancer." he said in a calm voice.

The man was really broken; I was so taken aback. This guy can't possibly be a bad guy; I mean, he lost his wife to cancer, leaving their daughter without her mother as my mom lost my dad to cancer, leaving me without a father.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm sorry to bring that back on such a wonderful holiday."

"It's okay. It was bound to come out one way or another."

"That's a relief." I said, sighing.

"Anyway, your mom told me about losing your father. He sounded like a great man."

My heart stopped. Ronnie never said a single thing about my father, nothing nice, nothing bad; it was like my father never existed, which might've been worst of all.

"Yeah. I couldn't have asked for a better father. He was amazing."

A smile came to my face and it felt like I was glowing.

"You know, my stepfather never said a single thing about him. It was like he never existed. Thank you for acknowledging my father like that. It means a lot." I said, tearing up.

He immediately came over and hugged me. I saw my mom tear up herself, but I had no idea what Kris was doing right now.

"He couldn't have been more than an idiot."

"I approve of him. I definitely approve." I said, laughing.

Then, laughter filled the room.

"Well, that makes me happy. Very, very happy." my mom said, smiling.

I looked to Kris who was smiling and leaning in to kiss me.

"Are you happy?" I said knowingly.

Then, he kissed me.

"Yes."

After about ten minutes of conversation, I went into the kitchen to check on the turkey; my mom proceeded to follow me.

"So, you like him?" my mom whispered.

"Of course I do. I just said that." I said, laughing.

She hugged me.

"I know, but... I'm weird. You know that."

"Yeah. I do."

"It's such a relief! I was so scared you wouldn't like him."

"I have to admit that I was a bit nervous about after I hung up. Kris reassured me about it though, but still... the nervousness didn't go away. I should've had more confidence that you found a great guy."

"It's okay. I guess we're both at fault."

She hugged me and she hugged me very tightly.

"Well, I have no worries about Kris not liking him."

We looked over to see our men deep in conversation; the laughter that followed made it even better.

"Neither do I." she said with a smile.

Once I actually checked on the turkey, I walked into the living room and sat next to Kris once again.

"Hi." he said, kissing my cheek.

"Hi."

"How's the turkey? It smells delicious."

"It's getting there."

"That's good."

"I like to think so." I said with a smirk.

"Shut up." he said, pushing me and laughing.

Once dinnertime came around, I couldn't have been hungrier and been more happy to have my mom and Keith here. I felt a bit eager though as my mom cooked Thanksgiving dinner for her family for nineteen years, but now I'm the one who has made this enormous meal for my own family.

"Look good?" I asked everybody.

"Looks amazing." my mom replied.

"I agree. It does look amazing." Keith said.

"Kris?"

I looked to the man who was locating the carving tool for the turkey.

"Like your mom and Keith said, amazing. It looked the same last year but tasted even more so."

I smiled and kissed his cheek when he was back in the kitchen.

"You're too sweet."

"Like the sweet potatoes?"

Everyone laughed.

"Yes. Like the sweet potatoes, which I can't wait to dig into."

"Neither can I. Did you make them the same way I do?"

"Of course. I made everything the way you always have."

She cheered. I smiled and we sat down to say grace and what we were thankful for before we ate. There was never a Thanksgiving that we didn't say either one.

"I'd like to say grace and for each of us to say what we're thankful for. Is everyone okay with that?" I said, looking around the table.

I got nods from everyone.

"I'd like to thank God for this wonderful meal he has given us. I'm thankful for having the family and friends I have along with the new man in my mother's life. I'm thankful for everyone's good health and all the great things life has given me. I couldn't be happier."

Then, my mom went.

"I'm thankful for my beautiful daughter and the man who loves and cares for her more than anything in his life, along with my beautiful granddaughter. I never thought I'd be so blessed to have the people I have in my life and to have a man who I couldn't have even imagined of meeting."

She smiled at him and he smiled back before he went.

"I'm thankful everything life has given me including the people I've met today. I'm thankful for meeting the most amazing woman in the world who accepts my flaws. I still in disbelief for how much my life has picked up again since the death of my wife, but I am so thankful for that."

"I'm thankful for all that life has given me. I'm thankful that I met someone as beautiful, caring and perfect as Athena because I thought I never would. Never thought I would meet someone that would accept my flaws as much as she does and love me more than anything in the world... almost anything.

He smiled at me for a moment and I smiled back.

"I'm thankful for the beautiful, adorable and unexpected daughter that we've been blessed with.

He looked over to Kalea who smiled and giggled at him in her highchair.

"I'm thankful for meeting people I never thought I'd meet in the past nineteen months. I'm thankful that we're all here today about to share a delicious meal together."

I got a little teary and just had to kiss him.

"Everyone ready to eat?" I asked.

"Yes and oui." I heard simultaneously.

Once food was served, I turned to Kris.

"I love you." I whispered.

"I love you, too." he said, taking my head in his hands.

I was in heaven the second I stuck a piece of turkey in my mouth.

"I cook a mean turkey. Don't I? Better than last year?"

"Are you gonna yell at me if I say yes?"

"Of course not."

"You sure? This isn't a test?"

"Kristopher..."

"Then, yes. It is better."

Everyone at the table laughed. I kissed his cheek before going back to my food which caused him to blush. After our delicious meal, I walked into the kitchen to get the pumpkin pie and cool whip. Kris apparently followed me as I felt his arms wrap around me while I was grabbing silverware.

"Hey." I said, taking hold of his hands.

"Hey. Pie smells delicious."

I make homemade pumpkin pies with no help from canned pumpkin, just like my mom.

"Thank you."

"I love that you make a lot things from scratch."

"You do?"

"I do."

I just wanted to stay like this in his arms, but I knew we couldn't till we went to bed.

"You know what else smells good?" he asked.

"What?"

"You."

"You seriously gotta stop. I don't think I can handle it."

He laughed and kissed the top of my head.

"I don't think I can."

I laughed also.

"Anyway, Mr. Sweet Talker. You wanna help me carry everything?"

"Of course."

"Good 'cause I was gonna make you do it anyway."

More laughter came out of the most amazing man alive.

"Everyone ready for some pie? It's made from scratch."

My mom's mouth dropped. Well, I got a clear answer there.

"Yes, Mom. I made it the same way as you always have."

Then, a huge grin appeared on her face which caused everyone to laugh. Once she took a bite, she was clearly in heaven.

"Delicious?"

"Delicious? More like amazing!"

"I'm glad to hear that. Thanks Mom."

"Don't mention it, honey. I love your cooking."

I really loved hearing that.

"I really love it, Athena. It may be the best pumpkin pie I've ever had." Keith said.

"You're just saying that to impress me."

"It's true."

"Well, you know what I think. I did have your pumpkin pie last year." Kris said with his mouth full.

I certainly did.

"So, what did you say, Kris?" my mom asked.

"It was perfect. That it was the best pie... not just pumpkin pie I've ever eaten."

I smiled to myself.

Fuck. Could I love him more?

"You've got a good man, there, Athena. Don't let him go." my mom's better half said.

"I have no plans to." I said, squeezing his hand.

After a moment, I spoke again.

"And Mom? Don't let him go."

"Just like you, I have no plans to."

Like mother, like daughter.

Come eleven o'clock, my parents were in a guest room, Kalea was in her crib, while Kris and I were lying in bed together.

"I'm exhausted. Today was a long day." I said, letting out a huge sigh.

"It was the perfect day."

"It was. Wasn't it? I think the last time I saw my mom this happy was when Kalea was born."

"I liked Keith the moment I met him."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I could tell he was a good guy when I met him. Even if you didn't tell me about Ronnie, I would've known he was a horrible person."

"That's good to know." I said, snuggling up to him.

He wrapped an arm around me and kissed the top of my head.

"I loved that he acknowledged my father. That may have been my favorite thing that he said all day. I know it may not seem like a lot, but it was huge."

"It was a lot. I saw your face when he said that. It was amazing. It was beautiful. I love seeing that look on your face. One of pure exultation."

I blushed and moved up to kiss him.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Thank you for the perfect Thanksgiving."

"No. Thank you."

I really couldn't have asked for a better holiday or better day, for that matter. I hate that it had to end, but I knew there would be days like this in the future.

Notes

Chapter title courtesy of Raise Me Up by Josh Groban.