Page 85 of Theo of Golden

That evening, at home, Theo granted Mia’s wish. He also wrote a letter to her, stating his apology. He left it with Chef Bouchard the next time he went to the Canto. He never saw Mia again while he was in Golden.

Tony, however, mentioned her often.

CHAPTER 47

“Well, good morning, sir. I had a hunch you’d be here about now.” Asher had guessed he might find Theo at the Chalice. The old man, who had already taken a stroll beside the river, looked up from his newspaper. Asher handed him an envelope. “It’s an invitation, Theo. I could simply ask you, of course, but Brooke likes me to paint these nice one-of-a-kind invitations to make it more special.”

Theo nodded his approval. “I like her style. A keepable invitation. Very nice.”

“So, here, it’s now official. We’d like you to join us for Thanksgiving dinner if you don’t have plans. Simone and Basil and Basil’s girlfriend are going to be there too.”

Asher mentioned that a few others would be at the meal as well: his brother, Pearce; his niece, Minnette; and her husband, Derrick.

“If you can join us, bring an appetite. Brooke makes a big deal over Thanksgiving, and she’ll be hurt if you don’t eat like a glutton.”

In twenty years of living in New York, Theo had become intimately acquainted with the American holiday of Thanksgiving. He often celebrated the occasion with coworkers from his office, sometimes with friends who lived in his neighborhood, and a time or two at local soup kitchens. In other years, he chose to be thankful alone.

Once, shortly after moving to New York, he attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade where, with three and a half million other spectators, he enjoyed a frigid few hours, eyes upward as skyscraping balloons proceeded along the two-mile stretch from Central Park West to 34th Street and 7th Avenue. Such gatherings were not Theo’s cup of tea, but he was in the company of friends and, being the generous soul he was, could not help but be swept up in the joy of the event.

And the presence of so many little ones brought his own dear child to mind.

My Tita would love this, he thought.

Theo had no plans for the fourth Thursday in November, was honored to be on the Glissens’ guest list, and accepted Asher’s invitation on the spot. He was pleased at the prospect of spending the holiday in a home, with friends.

Previously, he had only visited with Asher at the Chalice and the art studio. In his frequent walks through the Boughery, he had been charmed by the exterior of the Glissen residence. He hoped for an opportunity to see it from the inside someday and suspected the interior would be as picturesque as the outside. He wondered what aura, what feel, what ghosts might fill the old rooms.

Now he would know.

By Thanksgiving Day, the foliage of Broadway had fully surrendered to autumn. The ground was awash in the copper tint of oak leaves, the buttery ochres of elm and maple, and the varied reds of sweet gum and dogwood.

At one section of the Promenade, fallen leaves had drifted ankle deep at the curbside, like rust-colored confetti, in a way that children, and Theo, found irresistible. He stepped off the sidewalk and dragged his feet through the gathered softness, as if wading through a stream of slivered almonds. He chuckled at his own playfulness.

Entering the Boughery, he took note of three tall ginkgoes, as bright as Shekinah glory, blazing golden with evening light.

The sun was fast disappearing below the tree line, taking with it the mild temperatures that had accompanied daylight. Theo was wrapped warmly in a coat, hat, scarf, and gloves. He was carrying a bottle of wine that changed hands several times, right to left to right, as he made his way to 228 South Broadway.

CHAPTER 48

On lawns and in windows throughout the Boughery, Christmas lights were already on display, a hint of what was to come in days and weeks ahead. It was a gladdening sight as Theo made the final steps to Glissen House.

Asher was waiting on the porch to welcome everyone. With one exception, the guests all arrived precisely at seven. They exchanged brief greetings and pleasantries outside before being led by Asher through a wreath-laden front door into the warmth of the house.

Basil was dressed in a blazer and corduroy pants for the special occasion. It appeared that a brush or a comb had done battle with his unruly hair and had made moderate progress in bringing order out of chaos. When he introduced his girlfriend, Trina, to Theo, she stepped forward and kissed the old man on the cheek, taking a liberty that seemed instantly to exist between them because of their shared affection for Basil.

Theo grinned broadly, leaned into the kiss, and reciprocated. He held her hands in his own and said, “So, you are Katrina. Like the hurricane?”

Before she could reply, Basil cut in. “Actually, Theo, she’s stronger, tougher, and more dangerous than the hurricane! Don’t make her mad!”

Trina elbowed Basil playfully. She thanked Theo for the portrait and for being so good to her boyfriend. “He has told me all about you.”

She was wearing a green gingham dress, square neck and long sleeves, with a cream-colored shawl to ward off the chill. Her demeanor, despite the stormy name, hinted at shyness. Theo liked her instantly.

Simone, the youngest member of the party that evening, had spent most of the day learning a new piece of music for an upcoming Christmas performance. Not a student or professor had entered the music building all day. The absence of any other activity or sound was unsettling to Simone — things, frankly, were too quiet, even lonely — and he had found it difficult to get much done in the practice studio. The longer the day dragged on, the more he had looked forward to the evening.

He arrived with a cake in hand and, like Basil, was attired in finery: a starched white uncollared shirt, every button buttoned; light gray blazer; dark gray slacks; and black leather shoes. Theo guessed the outfit was from Simone’s “performance wardrobe.”

Gratefulness radiated from the young face. He was pleased to be among friends.