The day felt bright. No. The day was bright. She felt overwhelming joy. Her feelings were out on full display - the positive ones. If only it would stay like that forever.

Ruby, her Dad and her Mom went to church in the morning. The Thanksgiving service felt long and dragged but she smiled. Long services couldn't block the positivity she was feeling. The pastor was preaching on and on about the importance of giving thanks to God for the harvest and all. She had heard the message many times, but there was something that caught her attention. He said "No matter what you go through, just look up and give thanks to God. Even at your worst."

She felt a bit confused. How could someone still thank God even at their worst? She brushed it off. It seemed hard. She turned to look at her parents. Her Dad was nodding his head to what the preacher was saying while her mom looked so engrossed in the sermon.

Ruby could not help but wish that Amara was with them. She hadn't accompanied them because she was not a big fan of going to a church. After the Thanksgiving service, they stopped at her mom's catering service shop to collect a packet of glazed doughnut. The catering service was looked bustling with customers due to the celebration. People where moving in and out with all kinds of food with them. The workers where working extra hard to meet up all the orders.

When they got back home, Amara and Bridget went into the kitchen to cook while Ruby sat in the living room to watch TV with her Dad.

"It's been so long since we did this Ruby darling," her dad said. With a content sigh he placed his hand on the back of the couch.

She nodded. "Yeah. . . I miss those days when we used to watch marathons of Captain America when you had a little time from your job at the law firm."

They both smiled, reminiscing on old memories.

"Ruby! Come and help ya old ladies!" Amara yelled from the kitchen, breaking their ride down memory lane.

"Don't worry, I'll pause it." Her dad assured her as she stood up grudgingly to go to the kitchen.

But as she turned to go, he pressed play.

"Dad," she whined.

"Sorry!" He gave her a playfully wink. She loved her Dad's playful side.

She turned and walked into the kitchen, attacked by an array of delicious aromas.

"Okay. . . I need you to stuff the turkey. Can you do that?" Her mom instructed.

She nodded and headed to start her work. Before she started, she stood for a while, inhaling the various scents in the kitchen. They were gonna have a hell of a feast.

***

Roasted and stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, pumpkin pie, Brussels sprouts, sweet corn. The dining table was laden with all the goodness of food. Her Mom had made a few Nigerian delicacies like the famous Jollof rice, Egusi soup and pounded yam. Ruby's mouth watered as they each gave thanks before finally praying for the food. They all dug in.

Amara and Bridget where chatting. Ruby turned to look at her Dad. He smiled with his teeth.

"You got a little something in your teeth." She pointed out to her Dad.

He grinned. "Thanks kid."

The dinner was over sooner than Ruby wanted it to be. All the food had been devoured. Amara and Ruby cleared the table.

After hushed good nights and a forehead kiss from her dad, Ruby and Amara headed up the stairs. As she got to her bed she sank in, tired from the day's activities. Her stomach felt full. Too full. Like she was carrying a twin pregnancy, only that she was pregnant for food instead. And she was proud of that. Who wouldn't be?

She stared at her ceiling and kept drawing invisible patterns. She wasn't feeling sleepy. After spending a little bit of time trying to sleep, she decided to go downstairs to grab a glass of water.

Her bare feet touched the cold tile, she'd forfeited her flip flops for the coolness of the floor. Her hand traced the railings of the staircase until the end. The kitchen was in view. As she was about to open it, she paused. She heard a sound.

Who could still be awake? she thought.

Moving closer to the source of the sound, her feet led her to her father's study. Quietly, she put her ear to the door in order to hear what the source of the sound was.

". . . I can't do this anymore, Bill." It was her moms voice and she sounded like she'd been crying. That was shocking. Her mom was perfect, she didn't do measly things like cry.

"I told you I was sorry." Her dad said this time, his voice sounding strained.

"Yeah..." Bridget's voice was dry and laced with a hint of sarcasm. "Saying you're sorry won't change anything."

Ruby tried to see inside the study, but the door was firmly closed and she couldn't risk opening it and making them know she'd been eavesdropping.

"But, its not-"

"Shut up!" Her mom sounded like she was in pain, her voice a bit raised. Ruby was surprised, she'd never heard her mom sound like this. She was always so composed.

"Darling I'm sorry..." Her dad kept on pleading.

Their voices faded and she heard her mom's sobbing reduce a little. Her heart was beating so fast, her mind racing with all the possibilities. Sweat ran down her back as she tried to move away without making any sound.

What could all this mean? She thought. Her family was perfect.

Ruby sighed. So much for her day being bright. Slowly, she walked back up the stairs, her need for water had disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. In the morning she'd know what all this was about. She had to sleep it off. Maybe she was hallucinating.

As she made her way up the stairs, lost in thought, she didn't hear the door to the study open. "Ruby? What are you doing awake?"

She froze.

A/N

Hey lovely readers, tell me your thoughts on this chapter.

Mackenzie the 2nd. . . Out. . .