Part 28

"Shucks what I'm gonna do", Christine asked herself in the kitchen as Charlie running around the whole house with different kind of toys. She sent Ms. Candy to her home and now felt that awful regret because she can't decide which one to cook first

Jb's coming and Luke too. Jb will eat everything she cooked but will not eat her reason on why Luke is celebrating Thanksgiving with her. In addition, she's concern on what will Luke say on her prepared dinner.

But at least she's happy for Charlie. Luke promised him the other day that he is coming for the celebration and the boy shrieked in excitement.

Everything's ready. Ingredients, cooking utensils, kitchen but not her. She startled when she heard her doorbell. "Oh shucks, Jb's early", she said to herself. Now she's more nervous.

She run to open her door but winced at the shadow on her door.

Oh no. Another problem

"Carl? You're here?", she said when she opened the door, all blood on her head drained

"Surprised! I want to spend Thanksgiving with you!", Carl said. She's surprise that's true

"Ahm, come in", she invited nervously. "Charlie, you're uncle Carl is here", she softly called his son

A shrieked was heard followed by a small footsteps. Charlie run in the hallway with a stretched hands and leaped on Carl.

"I have two big men!", Charlie yelled in excitement as Carl nuzzled him on his hair

"Two big men?", Carl asked and turned to look at Tin

'"Ahm, can you come in the kitchen Carl?", Tin requested as she walked to the kitchen

Carl dropped Charlie and the boy skipped. The big man took a stool on the kitchen island when he followed her. He pulled a phone begun swiping, "So Luke's coming huh, that's why you looked nervous earlier when you saw me", her brother asked still looking at his phone.

Oh shucks he knew!

She walked towards the man and hung her arms on his shoulder. Carl is still taller than her even though the guy sat on the stool. "Carl, can you please give this to me? Or for Charlie?"

Carl looked at his sister with creased forehead, "You want me to leave?"

"No, I want you here! I need a chef", she laughed. "But can you stop the hostility between you two?" Carl shook his head in disapproval. "And you came in just in time, I can't cook right now I'm nervous."

Carl smirked, "Why? You're afraid of Luke's criticizing your food?" Her brother curses a lot, something he picked up with too many training years in kitchens around the world but at least he control himself when he's at her house or their dad's home. She wished her brother won't use any of those if they see each other again

"Well, yes… and J's coming. She hates Luke"

"O, God, your crazy friends", Carl rolled his eyes and stand to get ready with the cooking. "That's why you have a whole lot of ingredients here. I'll bolt after this then. I can't stand Frida's unending debate about Thanksgiving"

"No, Frida's not coming only J. Don't worry she doesn't talk that much", she said shyly, "The problem is, she hates Luke"

"Well, that's understandble", Carl sarcastically said

"Hey, that's unfair, he's Charlie's father", she whined

Carl chuckled as he started peeling things, "Son of tuna, now you're defending the guy"

"Wait, it's Thanksgiving why are you here? How about the restaurant?"

"Susan's covering for me", he said pertaining to his ex girlfriend and business partner, "I'm going to Vienna in a few days. I need some inspiration to create something. So I thought I can spend some time with you and then I'll be going to dad's place tomorrow. He's been sulking for I'm not visiting his house specially this coming Christmas."

"When are you coming back?", she asked her brother.

"I'll be coming back end of January", Carl replied on his always low voice. Her brother will not be in Johnson at Christmas. Shucks, dad will skinned him alive

"I thought you're opening your restaurant at the end of January?", she said

"Yep, I'll be coming back three days before that", Carl explained while starting on her ingredients. "I can't think of anything new to cook."

Charlie came running again with his new toy on hand. The one that Luke provided, "Mommy where Auntie J?"

"She said she'll come, Charlie don't worry", she promised

"And daddy?", her son asked. She side glanced Carl first who shook his head disapproving

"He said he'll come too", she mess with her son's hair, "So go and ready all the toys you want to show them"

Charlie run again crying 'yehey'

It's afternoon but no Luke in sight, no Jb too. She can't text or call Luke for she doesn't want to be sounded needy. Luke promised to Charlie, he should do it, right?

"Where are you Luke", she asked nervously

"Dont tell me you came from your office this holiday?", Christine asked Jb the moment she buzzed in at seven pm

"Of course" Jb sighed, "Yes. Boss wants extra eyes on his drawings"

She frowned, "Girl, you already gave him all your holidays in the past five years. Why do you let him do that?"  Jb's one of the most talented woman she knew in her field that's why Mark always calling Monroe to request for her.

Her heart shaped face saddened and shrugged, "Tin, he is my mentor. He gave me so much opportunity and shared his lifetime of knowledge and experiences. You can't find it anywhere else. Plus I am not that type who go holidaying", Jb added.

"Aunt J! You came! I have a lot of new toys to show you. I have a jeda monster!" Charlie shrieks while descending the stairs and hugging the legs of his biggest playmate

"You mean Jedi master", Jb replied stooping down, her face soften. Then Jb looked at her questionably. Christine's not a fan of that film so buying that toy didn't came in her mind. It was a gift from Luke. Something she's not ready sharing with to her friend.

Christine smiled at her son to hide her blush, "Sweetheart, aunt J just arrived and it almost dinner time". She looked up to her tall friend, "J, you can sleep with us tonight. Its been so long since we talked face to face. I miss your bluntness"

"Wow, that almost sound as compliment coming from you", Jb laughed and she hugged after. The girl is on jeans and batman tshirt. Black tees on Thanksgiving? That's Jb anyways

"Sometimes I really need....." Christine stopped as there's some clattering sounds. Oops did Carl broke something? He's doing things very fast because he wanted to go before any visitors, specially Luke

Jb's asking about the clattering when her brother entered the living room from the kitchen. "So you're dating again?", Jb asked arms crosses

Christine blushed and seems searching for a word. Oh shucks, it can't be! She knew it already! She panicked. But Jb looked at the big guy who just emerged from the kitchen and looked back at her, she swallowed a lump on her throat, "Oh, meet Carl. He's our chef of the day and my brother too!" She laughed

Carl looked at the newly arrived girl, "Ahm, err.... turkey's ready!"