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The kitchen was buzzing with excitement, joy, and a little tension. This was the first time the “whole” family had been together for a holiday since Carson and Charlie’s divorce. It had been a rough road, one filled with many tears, arguments, and weeks of silence between her and Meg, but finally it looked like they were starting to turn a corner.
Or at least that’s what she thought until she heard Meg’s question.
“So when you all come back for Christmas, is there any particular dish you want me to fix?”
“We aren’t going to be here for Christmas,” Greta piped in, popping a cherry into her mouth from the cherries she was picking stems from for Meg’s cherry pie.
“Carson! Again? I thought we had gotten past this. You are going to miss another holiday!”
“Well…” Carson started, before feeling a gentle, but firm hand clasp her arm. She knew what it meant, Greta wanted to handle this one. She really wanted to step in to try to calm the rising tensions. However, she also knew that Greta was stepping in because she was tired of Carson being hurt by Meg’s callousness.
“Yes, we are going to miss Christmas. I have to work and Carson and I have plans.”
“No offense Margaret, but I wasn’t speaking to you, I was speaking to Carson,” Meg said, turning away from Greta to emphasize that she was dismissed and looking at Carson. “You never missed Christmas when you were with Charlie. Now you barely come home.”
“Well, Margaret Ann-Marie, she also didn’t experience many orgasms when she was with Charlie either, but thankfully sometimes things change.”
Carson’s mouth opened mid chew at Greta’s words. The big reveal that both Meg and Greta’s “real names” were Margaret had been a not-so-happy accident that had been revealed by their dad in a conversation a few months ago. When Greta let it slip that she was named after Margaret Mitchell, John shared that he and Mary had named Meg after Margaret Thatcher. It was obvious that John had shared this little piece of trivia with Meg as well.
However, the name drops were the least of Carson’s concerns. Greta’s off-color comment about Charlie, and Meg’s dig at Greta meant that this conversation was about to get much uglier.
“Why don’t we try to calm down some? I am sure…” Carson tried.
“See that is something else we didn’t have to deal with when Carson was married to Charlie. Vulgarity!”
“Aww! Did I hit a little too close to home? Maybe I can give Nolan some pointers on how to get your engine revving,” Greta said with a wink to Meg.
“Greta!” Meg and Carson screamed at the same time. Greta didn’t look a bit apologetic, but she did remain quiet for a few moments, choosing instead to focus on eating another cherry.
“Ugh Carson! Why are you with her?! It’s clear she doesn’t like us, she doesn’t let you come home, and she is…inappropriate!”
Greta put her finger up before Carson could get a word out to let her know that she had this one.
“First of all, she is with me because she loves me. I hope that is not a foreign concept for you. Even stuck up, stick-in-the-muds like you deserve to know what love feels like,” Greta said with a venom that belied the shady statement. “Secondly, the reason Charlie was able to have Carson here for every holiday is because he lives across town. The furthest that breadstick has even gone, outside of an occasional business trip is Boise. We live in New York. It’s kinda far and expensive to get to.”
A thought occurred to Greta before continuing her line of conversation.
“Speaking of which, Meg, when was the last time you visited New York? Carson moved 3 years ago and I don’t recall you coming to see us once? John has been out there. Bev has been out there. Hell, even your beloved Charlie has been to visit us in New York, despite the awkwardness.”
“I am busy. I have a family! Kids! Responsibilities! Something you clearly wouldn’t know anything about.”
Greta was about to lay back into Meg, when the clear familiar voice of an older woman broke through the conversation.
“That is enough!”
Carson, Meg, and Greta all turned to see Bev standing by the kitchen door, looking very upset and ready to kick butt.
Greta and Meg raced to explain their sides.
“But you don’t understand. She…”
“Bev, she was…”
“I said, enough! As Beverly Margaret Sergeant, I am the head Margaret and I will not continue listening to you two argue like two Banshees. Meg, Greta is Carson’s fiancee and the woman she has chosen. You are going to have to get over whatever your problem is with that. We know they started as an affair, but it has been 7 years. Grow up!”
Greta was looking smug at Bev’s statement. She felt the same way. She didn’t think she and Meg would ever be friends, but the level of disrespect thrown her way was uncalled for.
“Oh I wouldn’t smile too hard if I was you Ms. Gill. You are in Meg and Nolan’s home and have insulted their marriage and made very off-color comments loud enough for their children to hear. At least if they can hear over whatever game they are likely playing somewhere.”
Greta blushed at Bev’s statement. She hadn’t even thought about the fact that the kids were in the house. She didn’t think they were being that loud, though if Bev could hear them from next door, who knows who else could hear them.
Bev was like a second mom to Meg and Carson, and now Greta. She had watched out for the girls after their mom left and knew all of the Anderson family secrets. She was the first to realize that Carson was likely having an affair and was one of the first people Carson talked to about her feelings. She knew how sensitive Carson could be. She knew how annoying Meg could be. And after knowing her for 7 years, she knew how defensive Greta could be, especially when it came to Carson.
“Now, you two need to act like adults so that we can get through this holiday with some semblance of peace.”
Greta and Meg looked at each other with shameful looks on their faces.
“Sorry” they both said in low voices.
“Good. I would make you do better, but I am hungry and I can see we still have too many items that need to be cooked to waste any more time. What do you need Meg?”
“Greta is taking care of the cherries, though she is doing more eating than separating, but I’ll let it go. Carson has cut up all of the vegetables. The turkey is cooking. The main thing I need is to finish the green-bean casserole and bake the pies. Can you put the ingredients into the dish for the casserole? The oven is already set when you finish.
“Meg, breathe. I got the casserole.”
Meg took a deep breath, nodded her head and continued prepping her dough for the pies.
The kitchen returned to a cautious peace with Bev’s presence, which allowed Carson to finally exhale a sigh of relief. She knew this ceasefire was temporary, but she was thankful for the reprieve.
*
After everything was ready and on the table, everyone sat at the table, ready to dive in. Meg’s children, Nolan Jr. and Abigail, were antsy as they sat in their seats. They were old enough to know that family tradition dictated that they were all going to state what they were thankful for before eating. That didn’t mean they had to like it.
“I believe this year, we have a lot to be thankful for. This is the first time in a long time that our whole family is here and I for one am extremely grateful for that. It is Anderson family tradition for each member to state what they are thankful for before we dive into the lovely meal before us. Would anyone like to start us off?”
Greta decided to volunteer.
“I am thankful for my darling Carson. She has shown me that love is possible and something I deserve. She has made me feel like the most precious person on the planet and I hope to give her a fraction of the love she shows me everyday.”
Greta’s eyes misted over as she finished speaking. She had to take a breath, when she saw similar misting in Carson’s eyes, before she could continue.
“I am also thankful to Meg for allowing us all to meet in her home and hosting this holiday. I am not sure I always show appreciation for her, but she has welcomed me…as much as she can, and I do thank you for that.”
Meg looked suspicious and surprised by the statement. She expected more shots to follow, but was pleased when there weren’t any.
She and Greta had had a rough introduction and relationship from the moment Carson and Charlie divorced. Meg liked Charlie. He was normal, had grown up with them and made a good living. Did Carson ever have a burning passion for him? No, but some marriages were like that. It didn’t mean you had affairs or got divorced. You worked on it. Well, she had anyway. Nolan was a good husband and father. They didn’t sneak to hotels in big cities or swing from chandeliers, but they had a good life, didn’t they?
While everyone else was giving their thanks, she finally had time to really think about why she had issues with Carson being with Greta. She didn’t think she was homophobic. She had a gay hairdresser and had attended Martha and Sandy’s wedding last month.
She knew Greta’s willingness to challenge her got on her nerves, but she also had to admit to a quiet respect for the redhead. Very few people stood up to her outside of Bev and John occasionally. Even Nolan saved his challenges for really important arguments. The fact that Greta was willing to do so, especially on behalf of Carson, was something that she begrudgingly had to admit was nice to see. Charlie had never stood up to her, even when she would insult Carson for the fun of it.
Maybe Bev had a point about her needing to grow up about Carson and Greta’s relationship, maybe about other things too.
Meg blinked as she realized everyone at the table was looking at her.
“Oh, I’m sorry. It must be my turn. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for Bev who helped this family get through some of its hardest moments, and who reminds us to be the highest versions of ourselves. I am thankful for Dad and the fact that his health is much better.”
Meg’s eyes misted remembering how scared she was just a few years ago that her Dad might not make it.
“I am thankful for Nolan. You are an awesome husband and father. I am so glad to be walking through life with you. I am grateful for my two beautiful children who make parenthood a joy,” her children looked up at her for a brief moment before going back to bouncing in their seats. “I am thankful for my sister Carson and her being home. I really miss you and sometimes I have a horrible way of saying that. I am glad we get this time to spend together.”
She took a deep breath, causing John to mistakenly believe that she was done. He started to reach for the fork and knife to carve the turkey, when Meg spoke again.
“Lastly, I am thankful for Greta. Thank you for loving my sister. I know I have given you a hard time. Those are my issues that I need to work through. But you stand up for her. You take care of her. And you keep a smile on her face. For that, I am grateful.”
Greta gave Meg a knowing look of appreciation and mouthed “thank you” to her.
“Alright! I’m done. Let’s eat!”
Everyone screamed excitedly as John resumed his carving duties and dishes began to get passed around so that everyone could fill their plates.
There was no way to know how long this gentle peace between the Margarets would last, but for today, they had an understanding and Carson for one was finally happy to be among them all.