Chapter 41 A Deep-Fried Pirate Thanksgiving

It was Thanksgiving Day, and the usually tranquil Oak Haven town green was filled with the laughter and chatter of families gathered to celebrate the holiday. The aromas of hot apple cider and spiced pumpkin lattes mingled in the crisp autumn air. Long tables had been set up around the perimeter of the green, all draped in warm, autumnal colors. Pumpkins of various sizes and shapes adorned the tables, their carved faces grinning mischievously at passersby. Enchanted cornucopias overflowed with an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and magical treats, their contents spilling onto the tables in a display of the very particular bounty of Oak Haven.

Townspeople were gathered around the town gazebo, which was decorated with streamers, balloons shaped like pilgrim hats, and an enormous banner: OAK HAVEN TURKEY TROT. Polly and Violet stood on the steps, surrounded by a sea of eager kids. Each child clutched a piece of paper featuring a hand-drawn turkey.

"All right, everyone!" Polly called out, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "It's time for the Turkey Trot! Let's see those beautiful turkeys come to life!" Polly smiled at Violet, who—for today at least—had decided to participate rather than glower. Mother and daughter held hands, closed their eyes, and cast an enchantment over the sea of eager young faces. The hand-drawn turkeys sprang to life, leaping from the pages into the world. Their paper feathers rustled as they darted and wove, while their little creators chased them around the green.

Scarlett and Nate stood off to the side, watching the festivities with big dumb grins on their faces. Thanksgiving represented everything they loved about Oak Haven, where traditions were honored, where magic and wonder were celebrated, and where the bonds of family and friendship were strong.

Scarlett rested her head on Nate's shoulder. "I can't believe it's my first Thanksgiving home in ten years."

" Eleven ," he corrected.

"Right, eleven. I forgot to count my Bird Year."

"Gotta count your Bird Year." Nate chuckled. "Anyway, you'll make up for lost time today, that's for sure."

"Yeah, what is it, four Thanksgivings? Dinner at the inn first, then at your parents', then another dinner at your grandparents'—why those two can't be combined, I'll never understand."

"Aw, it's a Williams family tradition at this point. My dad is insisting on deep-frying the turkey this year, but my grandparents say that's a sin against poultry. My great-grandparents sided with my dad, and they all ended up arguing, and voila: two separate dinners. Be glad it's only two this year—for a while, they were all battling over mashed potato recipes, and we had to do three ."

"Good grief." Scarlett laughed. "Remind me to never challenge pirates about their food preferences. Anyway, after all that's done? Then we're expected at the inaugural Thanksgiving feast at Zahir and Dayo's pub."

Nate grinned. "You know that any meal at Double, Double Boil and Trouble is going to be incredible."

"Zahir's skill is not in question. But that's way too many Thanksgivings! How are we ever going to eat four Thanksgiving dinners?"

"I guess we'll just have to pace ourselves. Skip the rolls, probably." Nate kissed Scarlett on the head. "But there's nowhere else I'd rather be than right here with you."

"Unfortunately . . ." she glanced at her watch "...we actually have to get back. It's time for your class, holiday or not."

As they made their way back to the inn, the aroma of roasting turkeys and freshly baked pies wafted from every window, mingling with the laughter and chatter of families and friends reuniting for the holiday. Enchanted decorations adorned the storefronts, with animated cornucopias spilling their bounty and tiny, glowing pumpkins floating in the air.

They ambled up the walkway to the Stargazer, the inviting glow of the inn's windows beckoning them inside. As they approached the front door, an elderly couple exited the inn. The elders paused to greet this vision of their younger selves. "Happy Thanksgiving," said the old man.

"What a lovely young couple you are!" exclaimed his wife. "When are you two getting married?"

"Oh, you know . . . I'm holding out for a destination wedding," Scarlett said, smiling. "But he has to pass his exams first."

"Isn't that charming," the woman said. "And what are you studying, young man? Are you in medical school or such like?"

"Trivia school," Nate said. "Packing in as much useless information as I can."

The old man's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "I have no idea what that means, young man, but I'm sure you'll make it work."

"Are you enjoying the Stargazer?" Scarlett asked.

"Oh, absolutely," the old lady enthused. "We just happened upon your inn by chance, and we've been so delighted with everything. In fact, we were just saying—as soon as we get home, the first thing we're doing is calling all our friends to tell them about Oak Haven."

Scarlett and Nate exchanged glances. "Not much chance of that," Scarlett said kindly. "But Happy Thanksgiving to you both!"

***

At the Stargazer, Nate headed off to the dining room for his class while Scarlett joined Delilah at the front desk. "All right, little sister," Delilah began, her tone a mix of gratitude and stern instruction, "I'm trusting you to keep this place running smoothly while I'm gone. Don't screw it up."

"Your unyielding support never ceases to amaze," Scarlett replied.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Del grabbed her by the elbow and dragged her behind the desk. "C'mere, did I show you the reservation book?"

"Only a hundred times!"

"Well, I have a system, Scar! I don't want to get home and find out you messed up my system."

Just then, Luna breezed up to the front desk, her travel bag slung over her shoulder. "Ready to hit the road, Delilah? The world awaits!"

"Actually, I haven't packed yet."

"Delilah!" Luna shook her head. "How can you not have packed?! We're leaving right after dinner, remember?"

"Well, there's a lot to think about! I have a lot of responsibilities, you know. I can't just throw two pairs of knickers in a bag and vanish like you do."

Scarlett felt a sudden lump in her throat, the reality of her sister's departure hitting her. "You'll write, won't you? Keep us updated on all your wild escapades?"

Delilah laughed, a rare but genuine sound. "Wild escapades? Who do you think I am, you ?"

Luna grinned, winking at Scarlett. "Oh, I have a feeling Delilah's got a few surprises up her sleeve."

"Hang on, though . . ." Scarlett fidgeted with a pen, trying to find the right words. "Delilah, I . . . I just wanted to say—"

She held up a hand, cutting her off. "Don't get all sentimental on me now."

"I know, I know. But still, I need you to know how much I appreciate everything you've done. For me, for our family . . . just . . . taking care of everything. Staying here with Mama when Luna and I weren't around. I just want to repay you for all that."

Delilah shrugged. "You can repay me by making sure the Stargazer is still standing when I get home."

"Yeah, I think I can manage that much."

Luna wagged a finger at her sister. "No s'mores in the bedrooms."

"Oh my God," Scarlett groaned. " Six! Years! Old! "

Mama Melrose breezed past them at the desk. "Scarlett, join me in the office please."

Scarlett's heart skipped a beat. What'd I do now?! Her sisters laughed and made oooohh, uh-oh . . . faces. She sighed and followed her mother, bracing herself for a lecture.

Instead, Mama gestured to a large basket on her desk full of gift-wrapped boxes. "It's high time you got all this junk out of the office."

Confused, Scarlett peered into the basket. "What junk is this?"

"Well, not junk, exactly. A decade's worth of your birthday presents." Mama's voice softened ever so slightly. "I never forgot your birthday, Scarlett. I always held on to hope that you'd come back to us. So every year, I'd get a little something, and put it away for your return."

Tears welled in Scarlett's eyes as she hugged her mother. Mama, ever the stoic, patted her back and cleared her throat. "Yes, yes, that'll do. There are Christmas presents, too, but you can wait till next month for those. But do get these out of my way."

Scarlett carried the basket out to the lobby, her heart full. Impulsively, she ripped open one of the gifts, finding a chef's jacket with "Stargazer Inn" embroidered on the cuffs and "Melrose, Sous Chef" over the breast pocket. As she pulled it on, she thought, I gotta show Zahir.

In the kitchen, Zahir was a human tornado, putting the finishing touches on the inn's Thanksgiving dinner while simultaneously beginning the prep for tonight's festivities at his and Dayo's place. But despite the frenzy, he looked happier than Scarlett had ever seen him.

"You better earn that jacket," he said before she could get a word in. "Take these appetizers out to the scholars in the dining room."

Scarlett entered the dining room where Conrad, the town selectman, was leading a trivia workshop.

It had been the ever-practical Delilah who'd realized that the witches should be using Maximillian's trivia idea for their own ends. If the Forgetting Spell could truly be mastered through trivia exercises, Oak Haven could keep its anonymity without forcing the non-witches to remain eternally trapped in town. And so, the trivia workshops began. Nate and his father Twelve, Sam Chatterjee and his son-in-law Raj, and a handful of other Oak Haven men spent several hours a week engrossed in a lively exchange of pointless minutiae, their laughter filling the room.

"All right, gentlemen!" Conrad called out. "Time for a speed round. Let's hear those unique collective nouns. We'll go alphabetically, one at a time, starting with Twelve."

"Aardvarks, armory of!" shouted Twelve.

"Bats, flutter of!" offered Nate.

"Cobras, quiver of!" Sam added.

And on it went. Once the group had achieved "zebras, dazzle of," Conrad moved on to randomized questions. The men eagerly shouted out their answers.

"Who wrote an entry on ‘conjuring' for the Encyclopaedia Britannica ?"

"Harry Houdini!" called a gentleman in the back.

"What is the longest bridge in the United States?"

"Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in New Orleans!" another voice rang out.

"And in the world?"

Raj was on it. "China's Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge."

"When was the margarita invented?" Conrad asked, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Nate's hand shot up. "Trick question! The recipe was first published in 1937 by the United Kingdom Bartenders' Guild, but it was called the Picador at the time, not the margarita."

Scarlett grinned. That's my man.

As the lessons continued, Scarlett's mind wandered to the future that lay ahead. With Nate in memory training, the possibility of travel and adventure beyond Oak Haven's borders was tantalizingly close. For now, they had their happy responsibilities—Scarlett running the inn and Nate his hardware store. But the world was full of endless possibilities.

Scarlett looked around the room, taking in the faces of her loved ones, the warmth of their laughter, and the magic that filled every corner of her hometown. She knew that no matter where life took her, Oak Haven would always be home. And with Nate by her side, anything seemed possible. The future stretched out before them, a blank page waiting to be written with love and far too many Thanksgivings.