Eleanor''s work at Kingston had been going exceptionally well. The team from the Military Medical University was impressive-sharp, efficient, and highly professional. Their test subjects had responded steadily, and the medication''s effects were measured with precision she rarely saw elsewhere.


    In the blink of an eye, five days had passed. Thanksgiving was almost here, and the festive air around the hospital seemed to thicken by the hour. That afternoon, Leah stopped by Eleanor''s office and handed her a box of pastries from the hospital''s kitchen. “Eleanor, looks like you''ll be spending Thanksgiving here at the hospital this year. Sorry for the trouble."


    Eleanor justughed it off, her smile easy and bright. "No trouble at all. It''s part of the job."


    As Eleanor worked on her reportter that evening, her phone chimed with a new message. She nced at the screen-it was from Xavier.


    "I made a reservation for Thanksgiving dinner. Want to join me? The kids can keep each otherpany."


    Eleanor paused, touched by his thoughtfulness. She typed back, "Thank you, Xavier, that''s really kind. But I''m actually on assignment in Kingston right now. Evelyn''s over at Goodwin Manor."


    "You''re in Kingston? When did that happen?" Xavier''s surprise came through clearly, even over text.


    "I''ve been here nearly a week," Eleanor replied.


    "Work transfer? I thought you were still in town! Well, in that case, let''s wait until you''re back."


    "Yeah, it''s a work assignment."


    "Oh, and by the way, my mom mentioned she had Hazel drop off some treats and soup for you the other day. Hope that didn''t catch you off guard!" Xavier added, as if he''d only just found out himself.


    Eleanor smiled to herself, replying tactfully, "Please thank your mother for me. I really appreciate her thoughtfulness, but I wouldn''t want to trouble her again."


    She hoped the message was clear-she''d rather not impose on the Vaughn family.


    Xavier, ever perceptive, picked up on her meaning right away. "Understood. I''ll let her know. Take care of yourself while you''re away, and happy Thanksgiving."


    "Happy Thanksgiving to you, too," Eleanor wrote back, then added, "I should get back to work now!"


    "Sure! I''ll let you go," Xavier replied, and didn''t message again.


    The next morning, the city hade alive. Everywhere you looked, homes were alight with the spirit of family and togetherness,ughter and anticipation drifting through the chilly air.


    Eleanor spent the day moving from bed to bed with her team, checking in on each patient, asking about their reactions to the new meds. The hours flew by, and before she knew it, it was nearly five-thirty in the afternoon when Director Goodwin stopped by.


    "Eleanor, it''s Thanksgiving. Go home and get some rest. I''ll cover the night shift— call me if anythinges up."


    "I actually don''t have any ns. Maybe you should go home to your family, Director Goodwin. I can stay-" Eleanor offered, genuine.


    Director Goodwin''s expression softened. For a moment, she seemed tempted, but then she shook her head with a gentle smile. "It''s fine. Go on, take the evening off."


    Eleanor returned to her office, finished up thest set of data, and finally headed back toward her room at the guesthouse. As she stepped into the hallway, a child''s voice suddenly called out.


    "Mommy!"


    Eleanor froze. That voice-could it be Evelyn?


    She spun around, searching, and her heart skipped a beat. There, racing across the courtyard from the basketball court, was Evelyn-her daughter, cheeks pink from the cold, grinning ear to ear.


    "Mommy!" Evelyn threw herself into her arms, herughter as bright as sunshine.


    Eleanor dropped to her knees and hugged her tightly, overwhelmed. "What are you doing here?" she asked, still in disbelief. Then she sawn walking over from behind Evelyn, hands in the pockets of his dark gray coat, watching them with a quiet smile.


    "Dad told me not to say anything," Evelyn confessed, cocking her head. “He wanted to surprise you. Are you surprised, Mommy?"


    Eleanor nodded, tears stinging her eyes. "Very surprised," she said, hugging her daughter again.


    "I made a dinner reservation downtown,"n said as he caught up to them, his voice calm and even.


    Eleanor squeezed Evelyn''s hand and turned ton. "You go ahead. I''ll stay with Evelyn."


    Evelyn looked up in confusion. "Aren''t we having dinner together, Mommy?"


    Eleanor tried to smile, brushing a strand of hair from her daughter''s forehead. "How about I take you into the city for some fun, sweetheart?"


    "But... but I want both Mommy and Daddy with me." Evelyn''s big eyes shone with hope, her voice small but insistent.


    Eleanor met her daughter''s gaze-saw the disappointment already clouding her face. On a day like this, when every family wasing together, how could she deny her? Her heart ached at the thought.


    "Alright," she relented softly. "Let''s all have dinner together."


    Evelyn bounced on her toes, beaming. "Yay! We can spend Thanksgiving as a family!"


    In the warm, softly lit private room, Evelyn nestled between her parents, her face aglow with happiness. Eleanor kept her attention on her daughter, pointedly ignoring the man across the table.


    After dinner, she nned to find a quiet moment to slip away with Evelyn, maybe take the morning off tomorrow to spend more time with her.


    She''d just finished helping Evelyn peel some shrimp when she stood up. "I''m going to wash my hands, sweetheart," she said, and headed toward the restroom.