Christine set her phone on the counter, clicking through the remainder of her messages before turning to Jerry.

“We’re having a masquerade Thanksgiving at Jennifer’s. We’ll all come wearing masks that allow us to eat without removing them. You need to buy me a twenty-pound turkey, ‘cause I’m cooking.”

“What!” Jerry blurted. “That sister of yours. Can’t even cook. And does she still live on the other side of the world?”

“Hoboken,” Christine replied. “That’s in New Jersey. You take the George Washington Bridge…”

Jerry stomped out of the kitchen, shaking his head. “I know how to get to New Jersey.”

Something about the woman at the far end of the table unsettled Jerry. The lady wore a light blue mask decorated with multi-colored dolphins. The mask complimented the color of her eyes.

Jerry surveyed the guests directly across from him. He recognized April, Jennifer’s best friend, behind her bright red, polka-dotted mask, and Doug, her husband, wearing a red and green Christmas mask, complete with Santa on his sleigh.

Jennifer rose, drawing the attention of her twelve guests. “Okay, everyone, I want to make sure we’ve all washed our hands a full twenty seconds before we eat.” She pointed to a large blue bottle of hand sanitizer placed near Jerry. “You can freshen up here if you’d like.”

Jerry picked up the bottle of sanitizer, and made as if to squeeze it over the turkey. “Is this your dressing, Jen?”

Christine grabbed the bottle from Jerry. “Sorry, Sis. Jerry’s having a bad day.”

Jennifer stood and moved along the table, ensuring her parents and the other guests had what they needed. She walked behind Christine, and then Jerry. “Isn’t that just like your last beau, Chrissy, acting like a child. Honestly, where do you find these guys, the bottom of the Hudson?”

Jerry stiffened, planting his hands on the table. He glanced down the table at the woman in the blue mask. Was she smiling?

Jennifer patted him on the shoulder. “Settle down, Jerry. Just kidding. Besides, I have a Christmas gift for you.”

Jerry stared straight ahead. “You do?” Before he could say more, Jennifer returned to her seat. She picked up a fork and began pulling slices of white meat from the turkey Christine had cooked, placing them on a platter, and handing the platter to April.

“Alright, everyone, dig in,” she said. Then she leaned forward, staring down the table at the woman in the blue-eyed mask. “Especially you, Abby. I’m going to fatten you up one way or another.”

Jerry turned and stared at the woman. Abby? Abigail? No, can’t be. He reached his hand across the table, swiping a piping hot turkey leg from the platter. Jennifer leaned in, lightly smacking his hand.

“Manners, manners, son. Just ask me to pass and I will.”

Jerry glanced again at the unknown table guest, mulling over his long-ago relationship with a girl named Abigail. Fresh out of school they had been, and headed for marriage. What had stopped them? Jerry couldn’t remember. It was twenty years ago. Perhaps he didn’t wish to remember how he’d let his slender, tow-headed sweetheart slip away.

Christine nudged Jerry as he finished his second piece of pumpkin pie. “Jennifer wants you back in the kitchen.” Christine pressed on, “Hurry, she says she got something for you.”

Jerry rose, walking around the table, noticing an empty chair where the blue-eyed woman had been sitting. He pushed open the swinging doors and entered the kitchen.

“Abigail?” Jerry caught his breath. There stood his long-forgotten love, still lovely and slender as in the days of their youth. Her blue eyes misted.

“Jerry?”

He stepped toward her, she, reaching out her hands. He clasped them.

“Well,” Jennifer said, “looks like three’s a crowd.” She pressed through the swinging doors and out, just in time to see Christine wandering around the dining room.

“Where’s Jerry?” Christine asked.

“Where he belongs,” Jennifer smiled, “out of your life.”

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