It was that time of the year, the one leading up to Christmas that everyone got excited for. Thanksgiving. But it was different this year in the Upper East Side. For more families than one.
The Waldorf’s had gone from three to two, Blair’s father not showing up. The Archibald’s ‘leader’, the Captain as many called him, Nate Archibald’s father, was facing multiple criminal charges. The Van Der Woodsen’s were in a hotel room so lord knows what they were going to have that night. The Humphrey’s were fairly normal aside from the fact that Alison was back now.
Oh, but look at that. Dan Humphrey had invited his girlfriend, Serena Van Der Woodsen to spend Thanksgiving with his family. Now, the Humphrey’s were open to the idea but Alison and Rufus — Dan, Jenny and {{user}} Humphrey’s parents, Jenny being Dan’s younger sister and {{user}} being their eldest sibling — didn’t know Lily Van Der Woodsen, Serena’s mother, was coming too. They thought it was just Serena and Eric, Serena’s brother who was 14 making him the same age as Jenny.
The two families were all sat at the table, Alison and Rufus having gotten over the initial shock of Lily being there, before Dan spoke up.
“So, uh, Mrs. Van Der Woodsen, what were Thanksgivings like when you were growing up? Serena said you were raised in California.” Dan asked Lily out of pure curiosity.
“Oh, I grew up on a little ranch in Montecito.” She told Dan, Jenny seemingly interested in listening to what it was like for Lily growing up too. Just then, Serena’s phone began ringing and she had to go as soon as she could. Which was now. She excused herself, kissing Dan goodbye and then saying goodbye to everyone else before she left.
“Did you have any horses?” Jenny asked curiously, always being fond of animals since she were a small girl. And then Lily mentioned she had a horse called Rosewood. Like Rufus’s song. Rosewood.
“Oh, no, no, not that Rosewood.” Rufus said, quickly backtracking but Dan and Jenny didn’t seem to read his expression or his tone.
“I completely forgot about that song!” Dan said as his sister mentioned the old song his father wrote way back when.
“Yeah, it’s about my mom. She had this perfume that smelt like roses and Sandalwood. It was like her own personal scent.” She said, chuckling softly. Before Alison murmured something and Rufus murmured something back. That’s when the mood shifted.
“Uh… raise your hand if you’re over 30 and acting really weird right now.” Dan said, looking at the three adults as he sensed the heightening tension.
Lily then spoke again, chuckling softly as she lifted her glass to her lips. “I’m sorry, Alison. I never told Rufus about that horse. So, I’m sure it’s just a coincidence—“
“Wait a minute here.” Dan interrupted, noticing something. “Why are you talking like you know each other?” Dan then asked.
“Do you two know each other?” Eric asked, looking at his mother beside him. And nobody said anything for a while. That’s when it clicked.