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I shrug. “I have to agree with Brady on this one. Would you even know where you are if everything wasn’t purple?”
He seems to accept that he’s lost this argument and picks up the TV remote. A smile teases his lips. “Let’s watch this movie.”
“Yeah,” Brady says. He points to Owen. “It’s late, and we don’t want the old man to fall asleep before the end.”
Owen puts his arms around Brady’s neck and pulls Brady’s head into his shoulder. Brady is a few inches taller and is forced to lean down at an odd angle.
“Let’s see who falls asleep first,” Owen says.
Then they say together, “Mom.”
“Hey!” Marianne says. “I’ll stay awake. It’s not even nine o’clock.”
They snicker before plopping on the end of the bed. The camaraderie between the Clarks opens up the yearning inmy soul for family. This kind of family, not the workaholics down in the office below.
Brain, I’m serious. One more thought like this and I’m making you go to bed immediately.
Family is family, and I’m about to be officially engaged to Spencer. No use thinking about what-might-have-been.
“What’s in the bag?” Brady asks.
I don’t realize he’s talking to me until all three of them wait for my answer. I forgot I was carrying it. “Oh. I’m knitting hot pads that I’ll felt and sell in my online shop.”
Brady’s stare is blank. “Okay. Why?”
“Ignore him. Tell me about your store.” Marianne pats my arm and leans closer. “I’m a quilter, and I’ve thought about selling things online, but it feels overwhelming.”
I tell her a little about the platform while Owen cues up the movie. Unfortunately, he sits on the bed with Brady. I hope I hide my disappointment.
If I thought they were a fun bunch before, they get even more wild once the movie starts. Maybe it’s caused by the Sees chocolate box being passed around, but the two brothers are hyper.
They try to out-sing each other, but neither of them are in the correct key and they don’t care. I’m laughing too hard to do much singing myself. During Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim’s duet, they each take a part. When they’re not trying to out yell each other, they aren’t terrible, but it would help if they started on the right pitch.
Owen points to his mom. “Let it be noted that she is asleep, just as we predicted.”
Marianne is slumped against the couch arm, her head at an uncomfortable angle that will definitely leave a crick.Owen brings a pillow that he places under her neck. My heart melts at his thoughtfulness.
“She lasted longer than I expected,” Owen says.
“Should we wake her up so she can go to her own bed?” I ask.
“No. She’ll wake up during the credits and swear she never fell asleep.”
“She was just resting her eyes,” Brady explains.
Forty minutes later, when the credits roll, their predictions are once again correct.
“I was awake the whole time,” Marianne insists as she stretches her arms above her head. “My eyes were a little tired. I need to put some eyedrops in. That’s all.”
I can’t stop laughing as they tease each other. It’s hard for me to leave because I want to bask in the family togetherness for hours longer, but I should get to bed. As I stand, I realize I didn’t open my knitting bag. It’s been years since I’ve been so engrossed in the company I’m with that I haven’t worked on a knitting project while watching a movie.
Owen follows me into the hallway. “Let me walk you home.”
I stifle my laugh so I don’t wake anyone. “It’s ten steps away,” I whisper.
He shrugs. “You never know what might happen. It’s dangerous out there.”
We walk the ten steps, then stop in front of my door. I fixate on his chest. It’s such a nice chest, especially in this snug t-shirt and not the loose button-up from earlier today. It’s also better than looking into his cocoa-colored eyes.
