Thanksgiving was one of the American things that Aziza had never quite got, but here she was at an American Thanksgiving Dinner at an alternate dimension, with a man as her date. Mrs. Nolan had not planned a dinner, because of her child's condition, but after Nora's healing she had hastily thrown one together to show her gratitude to the Kind Lady. And Tom hadn't had anything planned either given his social isolation from the curse.
So here they were, and it was nice. Nora was clearly going to need therapy, but she was managing OK, and Mrs. Nolan was relieved enough that her child was human again that she wasn't disturbed that she had a daughter rather than a son. And being a woman with a man had its pleasures, even out of bed.
But it couldn't go on much longer. Soon Aziza would either have to break off the relationship or tell Tom who her dead girlfriend really was. She couldn't imagine him taking "My girlfriend, with whom I was deeply in love, was the same person who cursed you, all your friends, your community, and the planet" well.
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"Seriously" said Julia Aldridge to her granddaughter Dani "This is the best pork I've ever had. What's your secret?"
"Freyja's blessings!" laughed Dani "But I'll email you the recipe."
In the meantime Lili and Tiffany were comparing notes on their pregnancies. "What are you going to name her?" Lili asked. "Dani wants Idun, after the goddess, but Dani's not the one carrying her around for nine months. Maybe Zoe?"
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"Mom! Savannah's here! Is it OK if she comes in?"
I can't believe this crap, Lydia thought, years we don't see her and she suddenly pops in with no warning. On the other hand, if I tell her to get lost the kids won't like it because they want to see her, and I guess I can trust her not to pull anything outrageous. "OK, let her in!"
"Oh, that's so nice that she's here to see the kids" said Hermione placidly. Lydia rolled her eyes. She basically loved Hermione because she was the anti-Savannah, but sometimes that wasn't ideal either. Hermione's determination to see the best in everything, everyone, and every situation could be as frustrating as Savannah's cynicism.
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Robbie was tempted to go to Teresa's family's Thanksgiving, but she had told the kids she was coming to Elizabeth's and there was no question of breaking her commitment. She told Teresa she might try to sneak out early after the meal and come over to Teresa's. Frankly, it was really hard to deal with Elizabeth for any length of time these days, and Robbie found Maria and Elizabeth and Maria's relationship just bizarre. Harmless, and the kids seemed to like Maria, but going from Robbie herself to a nice, dowdy pious woman like Maria made Robbie think maybe the great change had changed Elizabeth more than anyone.