Wickeds, tell us about the people who are gathered around your sleuth’s Thanksgiving table. What are some of the conversational topics of the day?
Sherry: Sarah will be at someone else’s table since she isn’t a very good cook. She’s had several invitations including from Stella and Seth, but she goes to the DiNapoli’s house with their large extended family. It allows Sarah to sit, back, relax, and let the conversation flow over and around her. Sarah is hoping no one brings up murder.
Edith/Maddie: Robbie’s going to Abe’s parents house, along with Aunt Adele and her boyfriend, Samuel. If they talk about the political candidates, Abe’s Uncle Bruce [author note: where’d he come from? I wonder if he’s going to show up in a future Country Store mystery…], who has different views than the rest of them, could get ornery. Instead they’ll stick to movies, books, and what they’re grateful for.
Jessie: Since my Beryl and Edwina books are set in England, Thanksgiving is not a holiday. Beryl, my American character, will be a little sad about the idea that she won’t be celebrating. Her dear friend Edwina will know this about her and will invite round a few friends like solicitor Charles and jobbing gardener Simpkins to join them for a meal featuring her take on roast turkey and a variety of pies. Beryl will be tickled pink.
Barb: Jessie, that is lovely. Julia Snowden’s aunt and uncle, her father’s sister and brother-in-law, hosted a big Thanksgiving feast at their house for decades. But since Julia’s father died, they haven’t held it. Part of it is the normal evolution of families. The aunts and uncles all have daughters- and sons-in-law and grandchildren now so the group has gotten too big. But part of it is because in the first few years after Jack Snowden’s death they all felt such an enormous hole when they were together. So Julia will be with her immediate family, and her boyfriend Chris.
Julie: Because Lilly has the largest dining room, she’ll host. She will, however, do very little of the cooking save her family cranberry sauce recipe and her mother’s apple pie. Delia will, of course, be there. Warwick and Tamara will be there, along with all the children and grandchildren. Ernie will be there, along with any of his employees who don’t have a place to go. Roddy will probably be there, since his daughter is spending the holiday with her in-laws. He’s hoping they’ll spend Christmas together. For several days before, the entire Garden Squad will be coordinating who’s cooking what, and making sure to invite anyone who needs a good meal and even better company. Depending on how many people come, it may be a buffet. Lilly’s brought up the old card tables from the basement. She hopes they have to use them.
Readers: Who will be at your Thanksgiving celebration?