And you say all kinds of crazy things

 "Well, when I was growing up, we never had a Thanksgiving like this," Trish started in on a story at the end of the late dinner that didn't quite get made until late, due to everyone getting there late.

"Aw, Ma." Tristan shook his head, no as if he knew this story. But Carmen smiled back and clasped her hand over her foster mother's hand.

"Let her tell it."

"Usually, we ate right at noon. My grandmother would be out scalding a wild turkey and picking feathers at three in the morning. But that tough bird got in the oven early. We had dressing, never stuffing. God knows, how we didn't get sick with so many trying to get it just right." 

"Oh, Ma."  Tristan rolled his eyes and sipped on his generic brand of Dr. Pepper while his dad winked a smile and drank his third cup of hot coffee.

"Look, we had to help cut venison as soon we cleared the table. Thanksgiving meant deer hunting for those relatives that came out to the country," Trish pressed her lips tight. "I hated Thanksgiving. It's just a family gathering of hunters. And I always had to help skin  the deer, too." She was straight-lipped, but Carmen knew how sad her mother was as she talked about the past. 

"I didn't have the best cousins either." She looked straight at Tristan as if he should know. He sighed and gave Olivia a quick smile, who was giving them all a dead stare, as if no way she wanted to be a part of this family.

That was when she told him how a twelve-year-old pulled a switchblade on her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

"Ma, you just had a crazy family, and you got away. You've got Dad, and you've got us. So-" Tristan quickly said before she could say anymore. She went back to her Merlot, and the men cleared the table, and Tristan cut the pumpkin pie into even triangles. 

All was quiet until the Black Friday stories began over coffee.