Quinn’s Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving! Come on in. You’re right on time. The
Family’s just sitting down to dinner. I’m sorry Liam’s not here to greet you.
Running late, as usual.
Pull up a chair. Wine? Hot cider? I wish I could offer you
some of this fabulous meal, but that’s more Liam’s forte. I’m afraid my ghostly
abilities are limited to creating blurry orbs that people assume are dust
specks rather than auras caused by me.
Doesn’t that turkey look delicious! Oh, cranberry and apple
relish, mashed potatoes and gravy. Wish I could smell the fresh bread. And I
think there’s an apple pie baking for later.
Liam better hurry or we’ll miss the whole feast. He can take
you right into the room. Being a specter has its limits on me. I’ll have to
stay here on the fringes, though with Liam present the colors will be sharper.
I’ll be able to smell everything and practically taste the golden turkey on my
tongue. Oh, no. Margaret just took the last bite of the sweet potatoes. That’s
my favorite!
Who’s Margaret? Guess I should introduce everyone. This is
Liam’s family, by the way. My folks are all back east buried in ten feet of
snow from the last storm. That’s Liam’s brother-in-law, Andrew, at the head of
the table. Next to him is his wife Sarah, Liam’s oldest sister.
The greedy little girl is their daughter. Oh, she sees us!
Hi, Margaret. She’s the most gifted one in this amazing family. The beautiful
woman at the end of the table is Liam’s twin, Becca. But you probably guessed
that. She has the same black silky hair and incredible blue eyes as Liam…so
lovely. Liam’s parents died in a car accident about five years ago. Maybe
that’s why he’s so reluctant to let me move on. I don’t mind. I’ll stay around
until he can bring himself to let me go.
Well, why we’re waiting, here’s the recipe for the sweet
potatoes. You should give them a try! Very yummy.
Cashew-Peach Sweet Potato Recipe
-taste of home
Ingredients
- 6
medium sweet potatoes
- 1/2
cup packed brown sugar
- 1/3
cup coarsely chopped cashews
- 1/2
teaspoon salt
- 1/4
teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 can (15-1/4
ounces) sliced peaches, drained
- 3
tablespoons butter
Directions
- Place
sweet potatoes in a large saucepan or Dutch oven; cover with water. Bring
to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 30-45 minutes or just until tender.
Drain and cool slightly; peel and cut into cubes.
- In a
small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cashews, salt and ginger. Place half
of the sweet potatoes in an ungreased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish; top with
half of the peaches and brown sugar mixture. Repeat layers; dot with
butter.
- Cover
and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until
bubbly and heated through. Yield: 10 servings.
Oh, there’s Liam now. Hi, darling. What? You want everyone
to sit at the table? Oh, the family can see you now! How wonderful. Don’t be
surprised by their cheerful welcome. Liam’s always popping in with people.
Nothing startles them any more
Well, I think I’ll take a walk while you all eat this
delicious meal. Enjoy yourselves. Thanks for stopping by and have a happy
Thanksgiving!
Trials of a Lonely
Specter
Blurb:
There’s been an accident. Quinn believes he’s dead, though
Liam insists otherwise. But if that is the case, why does Quinn see the two of
them as ghosts? And why does Liam play along? Exposed to mediums and
apparitions, Quinn has to make a decision: either accept his fate or risk
everything to trust Liam one more time.
Excerpt:
Quinn frowned at
the crumbling gate house of the manor, unsure of why Liam had brought him
there. Then again, he shouldn’t be surprised by anything his partner did.
“Let’s go in.”
Quinn hushed the
voice in his head. “I’m thinking.”
He jumped slightly
when Liam materialized at his side. He tried to hold onto his annoyance but
couldn’t stay mad for long when the other grinned in that attractive way. The
man threw an arm across his shoulders, waving a languid hand at the decrepit
building. “Can’t you make up your mind inside? It’s getting dark.”
Quinn glanced
behind them at the lonely driveway. He shivered when he saw the shadows
creeping from under the trees. Shrubs overran the flowerbeds and weeds grew
between the closely fitted flagstones of the walkway. He couldn’t understand
why Liam always had to choose the scariest places to haunt.
“It’ll be darker
inside,” he hinted to the apparition.
“No.”
Liam slid his arm
from his shoulders and sauntered up to the wooden door sagging on its hinges.
He wiggled his fingers and a bluish light filled the house, spilling out from
between the slats of the broken shutters.
“Show-off,” Quinn
muttered as he joined him at the front entrance. The door felt solid under his
hands. He gave it a nudge, testing
its stability.
Watching him, Liam
put his chin on his shoulder. “Give it a shove.”
“Why don’t you?”
He regretted the
words instantly when Liam’s eyes flashed.
“I’m sorry. Don’t
be mad,” he said, but Liam had glanced aside, hiding his expression. Quinn felt
like a brute, knowing his friend’s manifestation had no substance. He took out
his frustration on the door, putting a shoulder to it. He pushed, and stumbled
across the threshold when the ancient latch unexpectedly gave way. Dust filled
the air and he sneezed several times.
Liam swept passed
him, his skin luminescent in the pulsing blue light he’d created. Quinn watched
enviously as he crossed the hallway and glided up the swaying staircase. His
own efforts to get an aura only resulted in dim blobs that people dismissed as
figments of their imagination.
His friend’s
glowing figure disappeared through the door at the top of the landing, and he
hurried after him. His foot caught on a loose board as he entered the room and
his dignity was bruised as he sprawled on his face. Liam’s amused laughter did
nothing to help.
He climbed to his
feet and stalked towards a mirror, the only item of furniture in the room
propped against the wall. He
scowled at the mottled surface. “May I go home now?”
Liam appeared in
the mirror and Quinn stared at the man’s reflection. The same old questions
raced around in his head. They were hard to ask with Liam’s mocking eyes on
him. He swallowed nervously. “Am I a vampire?”
The unique eyes
blinked, and then a grin flashed over the attractive face watching him. “Why do
you ask that?”
Quinn gestured to
the mirror. “I don’t see my reflection next to yours. I never do.”
Liam shrugged
indifferently. “Your point?”
“I…” Quinn bit his
lip, knowing it was now or never. “Were we ever alive?”
“Obviously.”
“Damn it, Liam!
Why don’t I have a reflection?”
“You do. You
choose not to see it. Maybe you don’t believe you’re really dead.”
Dianne Hartsock
