The plan had been to drive down to her parents for Thanksgiving, just like every other year. Gabrielle usually packed herself and the dog into the car the day before and drove when traffic wasn’t as bad. That was her plan this year, despite the pull she felt to spend the weekend with Lucy. The timing just wasn’t right. Lucy wasn’t ready for that kind of closeness yet. Not enough time had passed for her to feel like she could spend the holiday with someone else. Gabrielle gave her space, even though all she wanted to do was wrap Lucy up in her arms.

Gabrielle was packing her suitcase when the phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Hey, it’s me. What are you doing?” Lucy asked.

“Getting ready to head down to my parents. How are you doing?”

“About the same as usual. So, you leaving soon or are you going to be home for a little while longer? I don’t want to keep you if you have to leave right away.”

“You know that talking to you is more important than anything else. Besides, I still have to pack stuff up and get it into the car. I don’t need to leave at any specific time,” Gabrielle said. “You sure you’re ok?”

“You know how I get during the holidays. I’m as ok as I can be. I don’t want you to worry though. Just talking to you helps.”

“I wish there was more I could do, like come spend the weekend with you. You sure you don’t want me to come out there?”

Gabrielle knew it was a long shot but she was hoping Lucy would change her mind. Before Lucy had a chance to answer, there was a knock at Gabrielle’s door.

“Someone’s at the door. Hold on a second while I get rid of them. Probably someone wanting to sell me a bible.”

Gabrielle opened the door and almost dropped the phone. Lucy was standing in front of her. She had spent months thinking, dreaming about spending the holidays with Lucy, chiding herself for having such unrealistic hopes. Yet, there she was. She reached over and set the phone on the kitchen counter, then lunged at Lucy, wrapping both arms around her as tight as she could.

“Happy to see me?” Lucy teased.

“I’ve never been happier to see anyone than I am right now,” Gabrielle cried.

“I guess it’s good that I got here when I did. I was afraid I’d miss you then have to track you down and ruin the surprise. So, we need to finish getting you packed and get on the road.”

Gabrielle pulled back just enough to look at Lucy. She reached one hand up to touch her cheek and suddenly everything started to dissolve.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The alarm clock jolted Gabrielle out of the dream. She rolled over in the bed. No Lucy. There wasn’t going to be a Lucy. Not this year, at least. Some day, she told herself, Lucy would be there. When it was time. When it was right for both of them. When that year arrived, they would both be truly thankful that they had found each other.