"By all means." Robert moved the two plastic chairs closer to the end of the picnic table where Mary had placed the tray. Other than the picnic table and the two chairs, the deck was empty. "Once again, thank you kindly. This is generous of you."
"I realised you are a distance from civilization out here. It being such a nice fall day, it seemed like a waste not to take a moment and enjoy the ambiance."
Robert nodded smiling. "How true. I have many pleasant memories of the cottage. Not only this cottage, but the cottage my own parents visited every year when I was a youngster." Robert laughed. "It's hard to believe I was once a youngster. That was so long ago."
"You mentioned a little milk. Shall I give you a splash?"
"Sure. I usually say enough to colour it."
Mary handed Robert a cup of tea and a napkin. "And would you care to indulge?" She held out the plate of cookies.
"Ooo, chocolate chip. Now there's something I haven't had in a while." Robert picked up one of the cookies.
"Take two. I have plenty."
"Ah, if I'm going to sin, I might as well go all out." Robert picked up a second cookie but remained standing.
Mary gestured toward a chair. "Please." She picked up her own cup and a cookie then sat down. She got her cup arranged on her knee and bit into her own cookie. "We've been coming up on Thanksgiving for a few years now. The weather is still agreeable even though cooler than summer. There is a certain freshness in the air."
Robert fumbled with a cookie. "You're right. Fall is a nice season."
"We invite our children to come up and we have our big Thanksgiving feast here. A turkey with all the fixings goes well with a rustic setting."