Dream Keeper (Dream Team 4)

Pepper looked to Cisco.

“I’d like you to join us, but we don’t have an extra stool. Maybe we can—”

“I told Mr. Cisco to bring one,” Juno chirped and looked up at Cisco. “Did you bring a stool?”

He nodded.

Auggie bit back a bark of laughter.

“Can he bring it in?” Juno asked her mom. “I’ll get his plate and rearrange the table so he fits and stuff.”

“How about we all take care of that before this food gets cold,” Pepper suggested.

The smile Juno aimed at her mom brightened the room and it didn’t dim when she swung it to Cisco.

Then she raced to the island.

“I’ll just go to the car,” Cisco muttered.

Auggie watched him turn and then he moved into Pepper.

“Baby—”

“I am thankful for you and I am blessed with this home and this food and my daughter and that’s all for right now, okay?”

He fought a smile and nodded.

“Okay,” she stated firmly then began to help Juno.

Auggie walked to the front door, thinking Juno and Cisco couldn’t have timed this better.

He got there and opened it to see Cisco carrying a stool up the front steps.

When the man came abreast of him, he said under his breath, “Juno and I have decided your knowledge of this situation is best left unsaid.”

“I won’t be keeping anything from Pepper.”

They locked gazes and Cisco replied, “Your call.”

It was, so Auggie didn’t confirm.

They were broken up by Juno shouting, “C’mon, you guys! The faster we eat, the faster we get to the pecan pie.”

“Says the girl who’s already had one turkey dinner today,” Pepper’s disembodied voice came from somewhere in the kitchen they couldn’t see.

Cisco walked in.

Auggie closed and locked the door and followed him.

When they made it to the kitchen, they saw Cisco and Juno would be crunched together at a narrow end that had space under it for their legs and Auggie and Pepper were down the long side.

Aug suspected Cisco wouldn’t have a problem with this.

Cisco put his stool where it was supposed to be, and Pepper approached them.

“Hands, now, because we can’t all hold hands at the table,” she ordered, taking Auggie’s hand, and reaching out for Cisco’s. “We’ll sit down after we share what we’re thankful for.”

Cisco hesitated, looking at Pepper, then Auggie, before he took Pepper’s hand.

Without hesitation, Juno latched on to Aug then Cisco.

Pepper looked at her daughter.

Aug caught Cisco’s eyes and thought that, when it was his turn, Cisco didn’t have to say a word.

Clear as day, this guy was happy to be here. It was definitely about Juno. It might be that he didn’t have anyone else.

But he appreciated where he was standing right then, and he didn’t hide it.

“Today is the most beautiful day of the year because its sole purpose is to remind us to be grateful,” Pepper began. “To be grateful for the bounty of the earth and to be grateful for the loved ones we share our lives with. But I will say right now I’m especially grateful to have the best daughter in the world, even when she’s being sassy and yes, even when she’s been sneaky. She’s the light of my life and always will be.”

Pepper squeezed his hand and he looked at her.

“And I’m grateful…” a meaningful pause, “…however it came about that you’re here with me and Juno, Augustus. Because you’re amazing and you make me happy.”

“You make me happy too, Auggie,” Juno chimed in.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” he muttered to Juno.

“And I’m always,” Pepper continued, and Aug turned again to her to see she was gazing at Cisco, “grateful for new friends.”

Auggie grinned.

Cisco nodded to Pepper.

“I’m thankful for Momma, always and forever,” Juno declared. “And I’m thankful for Auggie because he’s sweet and makes Momma happy and me too. And I’m thankful for Mr. Cisco because he’s a good listener and he brought the right stool that fits at our island.”

Pepper let out a small laugh and Juno squeezed Aug’s hand.

“Your turn, Auggie,” she prompted.

He nodded to her.

“I’m thankful for two beautiful girls who taught me what real family is,” he said, and heard a different sound coming from Pepper. He looked right at Cisco. “And I’m thankful for the reminder that you should always stay open, because you never know when friendships will form, and with who, and you don’t want to miss them when that happens.”

Cisco stared at him a long beat before he dipped his chin.

“You now, Mr. Cisco,” Juno urged.

Cisco cleared his throat. “I’m thankful to be with good people during a holiday.” He looked to Pepper. “And I’m thankful for kind hearts that have the extraordinary capacity for forgiveness.”

That was when Pepper and Cisco stared at each other.

Then Auggie noticed she shook Cisco’s hand and was holding it tight.

“Can we eat now?” Juno piped.

“Absolutely, Dollface,” Pepper said.

They broke hands and turned toward the island.