AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good thing I’ll have you to warm me up when I get back.” He ducked out the door, slamming it as she shouted, “I’m not a space heater!”
Merry got up from the couch, listening to his Jeep rumble and the crunch of tires on gravel. She went to the bathroom, removing the pins and rubber bands from her hair and finishing her nightly routine.
She’d reached the top step when the door opened and Clark came back in, dancing from foot to foot. “Fucking cold!”
Merry watched him from the loft with a smirk. “Don’t think you’re coming to bed and putting cold hands all over me.”
Clark opened the fridge and pulled out the pie. “What if I bring dessert?”
She pursed her lips, pretending to consider. “You may join me on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t forget the whipped cream.”
Chapter 24
Merry
Merry put the giant pot of potatoes on the stove and turned on the burner, wiping the back of her hand over her forehead. Her mother was on the other side of the table slicing the yams, slapping Holly’s hands when she went for another round of mini marshmallows.
“Why didn’t you eat before you came to help?” their mother grumbled.
“I did eat, but there’s always room for marshmallows.”
Another sharp smack. “Stay out of them or I won’t have enough for the yams. Make yourself useful and check to see if the rolls are rising.”
Holly rolled her eyes. “I know what that means. You’re telling me I’m in the way without telling me I’m in the way.”
“You are in the way,” Noel teased, sipping a glass of wine.
“I don’t see you helping out!”
“I brought the green bean casserole per the boss’s” —she tipped her glass toward Victoria—“specification and I brought the rolls. What did you bring?”
“I brought roasted Brussels sprouts and wine.”
“One of those was helpful.” Noel snickered.
“I’m sure your dish will be wonderful, baby,” Victoria said.
Merry winked at Noel as she poured herself a glass of wine. “Mom, don’t lie, it will only encourage her.”
“You know what? I’m tapping out. I’m going to see what the boys are up to.” Holly slammed out the front door.
“The boys are freezing their asses off trying to fry a turkey in the snow.” Noel raised her glass. “Here is hoping no one gets burned and needs to go to the ER.”
Victoria’s gaze widened. “They won’t, will they?”
“It’s their first time frying a turkey, so I wouldn’t be surprised. I told Nick to treat it like a spectator sport.”
Her mom got up from the table and opened the front door, hollering, “Hey! Do not hurt yourself. You get me?”
Merry heard her dad grumble something along the lines of “Woman, we got this.” And she shut the door in a huff.
“I swear, why he didn’t just want to cook the turkey in the oven is beyond me. Merry, check the ham. I hope it’s big enough to feed everyone if the turkey doesn’t turn out.”
Noel poured another glass of wine and handed it to Victoria. “You need this. It’s just Thanksgiving. We eat, we laugh, we say what we’re grateful for, and then it’s over.”
