I never thought my first Thanksgiving as a married lady would become a family tale. Little did I realize that a perfectly roasted turkey, our adorable dog Bella, and my husband’s frantic choice would make a story we’d be chuckling about for ages to come.
Love has an odd way of catching you off guard.
Eight months into my marriage with Mark, I was getting ready for our first Thanksgiving as a couple, and everything had to be just right.
We had known each other for two years before we got married, and I was sure he was the most amazing man I could have ever wished to marry.
Our story wasn’t your usual love tale. We met through mutual friends at a summer cookout where Mark’s genuine character caught my eye right away.
I remember thinking he stood out from the other guys I’d been with. More honest and more down-to-earth.
We dated for one and half years before he popped the question during a weekend trip to the mountains, giving me an old sapphire ring that belonged to his grandma.
Now we were settling into our new home. This Thanksgiving wasn’t just going to be about celebrating; it was also our housewarming party too!
So I wanted everything to be totally perfect!
“What do you think of the centerpiece?” I asked Mark one night while arranging fresh autumn leaves and hand-carved pumpkins on our dining table.
“Looks great hon,” he grinned. “You’ve got real skill at this.”
Mark was super supportive! He helped me with every single detail even days before dinner time!
He dusted those hard-to-reach spots in our home & gave ideas about seating arrangements & menu planning!
He even chopped veggies for side dishes too!And oh boy ,the guest list? It was huge !
Both families were tight-knit ,and everyone couldn’t wait for this big gathering . We invited my parents ,Mark’s parents ,our siblings ,cousins,and some close friends .
I felt so thrilled thinking how full of love & laughter the house would be .
I’d bought this new burgundy sweater dress that made me feel both classy & comfy .
I spent hours planning my makeup & hair style wanting it all to look easy yet stylish.
On Thanksgiving morning,I felt super nervous but excited too.Mark helped in kitchen tasting sauces adjusting spices keeping me calm.
Meanwhile,Bella watched us from her favorite spot wagging her tail sensing something special in air.
“Everything will go smoothly,” Mark said kissing forehead “You can do this.”
And i believed him.How could anything go wrong on such an awesome day?
Little did i know,the universe had different plans!
Soon family members started arriving making home warm with chatter!
My mother-in-law Linda arrived early.Our relationship is normal.We have small disagreements but respect each other genuinely!
Linda is strict but knows how not cross line between being helpful or overbearing!
“The food smells wonderful!” she said entering kitchen.“Can’t wait to try it all!”
Bella, our golden retriever, was by the kitchen counter, her nose twitching and tail wagging. She had this strange knack for being right where the action was, always hoping for a leftover piece of food.
“Bella, move back,” I said softly as I nudged her away. “Mark, you need to hurry back soon okay? Everything’s getting cold and you know I don’t like reheating food. It ruins the flavor.”
“I know, babe. I’ll be back in a sec,” he replied with a nod as he grabbed his keys and left.
I glanced at the clock. It was already 4:30 p.m., and our guests were starting to get impatient. I walked into the living room to check on everyone.
Ten minutes went by then twenty.
The chatter in the living room began to fade away, replaced by stomachs rumbling. I tried to stay calm but found myself glancing at the clock every couple of minutes.
“I’ll be right back,” I said as I excused myself towards the kitchen.
My heart raced as I picked up my phone from the counter and texted Mark.
Where are you? Everyone’s getting hungry.
I attempted calling him but it went straight to voicemail.
Anxiety started creeping in. Everyone was waiting for dinner while here I stood with a turkey that was about to go cold!
“Everything alright sweetie?” Linda called from the living room.
“Just great!” I shouted back trying hard not to sound nervous. “Mark’s just grabbing something quick.”
An additional fifteen minutes dragged on painfully slow!
I can’t let this turkey sit here any longer, I thought.
That’s when i picked up that turkey and carried it over to dining table hoping Mark would show up soon! A collective “Wow” came from guests just as i placed it down.
“My goodness look at that turkey!” my aunt exclaimed.
“Stacey you’ve really outdone yourself,” my uncle added.
Just when i was about ready to carve it up, Mark burst through door looking frazzled & stressed out! His hair looked messy & he seemed out of breath.
Before i could ask what happened or where he’d been he did something shocking!
With everyone watching closely Mark grabbed that perfectly roasted turkey with his bare hands then ran straight into kitchen throwing entire thing into trash can!
“MARK! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” i yelled completely shocked! “HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?”
The room fell silent; everyone stared wide-eyed at us.
“Whoa Mark!” Jake tried breaking tension “Wasn’t good enough? Did ya find tracker inside?”
“Maybe it wasn’t cooked right,” Aunt Martha whispered quietly.
My competitive sister-in-law Rachel couldn’t help herself.
“This is why men shouldn’t help in kitchens,” she muttered “They’re awful at it.”
That’s when Bella suddenly appeared again looking suspiciously happy licking her lips.
Cousin Jenny known for being family detective noticed something odd too; eyes darting between dog floor & Marks guilty face.< br />
“Wait a minute,” she said “Look at Bella.”
She crouched down near Bella who wagged tail way too excitedly.
“There are drips on floor,” she pointed toward counter
“So what? She’s just dog,” Rachel rolled eyes “Doesn’t mean she licked turkey.”
Then Jenny’s gaze landed squarely on Marks clothes…
“What’s that on your shirt, Mark?” she asked, pointing at the light stain of gravy near his collar.
“Uh, I… Bella… I mean, I…” he stuttered, looking away from me.
“Mark,” I said with my arms crossed. “You need to explain. Now.”
The room was quiet as everyone waited. Even Bella seemed curious for an answer.
feeling the pressure of twenty pairs of eyes on him, Mark spoke up.
“I forgot my wallet when I went out earlier,” he started softly. “When I got back home to grab it, I saw Bella… licking the turkey.”
A shocked gasp filled the room.
“At first, I thought cleaning it would work,” he went on as his face turned bright red. “I tried rinsing it in the sink but then it started falling apart. So yeah…I panicked.”
“You what?” I exclaimed. “You rinsed it in the sink? Are you serious Mark?”
“I-I didn’t know what else to do,” he replied nervously.
“So you thought tossing the whole turkey in the trash was a good idea?” Jenny asked while trying not to laugh.
The room fell silent for a moment before laughter erupted unexpectedly; starting with a small chuckle from my uncle and spreading quickly like fire.
Soon enough everyone was laughing at Mark.
“Bella’s Turkey Takeover,” Jenny shouted and just like that a new family story began.
I glanced at Mark then at Bella and back at our laughing family; this wasn’t exactly how I’d planned Thanksgiving but somehow it felt perfect in its own messy way.
We served ham after Mark threw our main dish away thankfully I’d made one just in case.
