Anthony had taken a break. His children were away with his parents back home and he was extremely grateful that his mom and dad had been willing to take them in for a while. Frankly, they got on his nerves and he felt like they were ruining his life. But he wasn’t going to say that to the kids and make them feel some type of way, he didn’t want to make them feel bad, he just wanted to be rid of them for a while. While he still had a week or two before the kids came back, he decided it was time to see Tatum. It had been a hot minute and he’d tried to text her on and off to keep in touch, but seeing her hadn’t been his top priority until now. Now, though? Now he was ready to see her and keep her with him for a couple of days, or as long as she’d let him. He pulled up to their arranged meeting place, some restaurant he’d been to a million times, and went inside, making sure to inform the hostess that his guest would be arriving soon before being led to a booth near the back where it was quiet, waiting for Tatum to arrive.

Anthony had just finished preparing and adding the final touches to his Thanksgiving dinner. The girls hadn’t helped much, instead opting to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He’d invited Tatum, though he wasn’t sure she’d actually show up - did she have other plans? Would she avoid him just to spite him? He didn’t know. He just wished she’d come. As he started putting things on the dining room table, spreading out each dish down the long stretch of table, he heard the doorbell ring. Amelie had gotten up to get it, but he pushed her aside to run to the door, apron still hanging from his neck and tied around his waist. “Hey!” He grinned as he opened the door. “I was hoping you’d show up.”