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“Yeah, Mom, why don’t you go put your feet up and have a rest. Noel and I got this.”
Victoria’s gaze cut to the couch hesitatingly. “But the yams. I need to finish them.”
Merry picked up the cutting board and baking pan like she was brandishing weapons. “I’ve got the yams, and then it’s just putting everything we’ve prepped in the oven at appropriate intervals and mashing the potatoes.”
“And feeding your other daughter’s side dish to the dogs,” Noel joked.
Victoria wagged her finger at Noel. “Don’t you dare. I’m going to be right over there, so no funny business.”
“No promises, Mom.” Merry stole a marshmallow from the bag with a smirk.
The front door burst open and Jace ran right for Victoria. “Happy Thanksgiving!”
She caught him in her arms, picking him up off the floor. “Happy Thanksgiving to you! Don’t you look handsome.”
Jace made a face. “I’m choking to death with this thing.” He pulled at the top of his shirt and the tie came off with a snap. “Oops.”
“Here, give it to me.” Her mom clipped it back into place. “Now, go get the chess set while these two do all the work.”
“Hey! I don’t get a hello?” Merry called.
He stopped running toward the closet and cocked his head to the side. “I just saw you this morning.”
Merry’s face flushed, feeling Noel and her mother’s eyes on her. “Fine, I didn’t want your stinky hug anyway.”
He laughed, danced his way over, and wrapped his arms around her neck tight.
“Thank you.” He pulled back and she held out a handful of marshmallows. “When you act sweet, you get treats.”
Jace popped the whole mass in his mouth and smiled, his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.
“Ugh, go get the chess set. Gross.” He took off for the hallway, chortling. Merry caught Noel’s smirk and scowled. “What?”
“Nothing,” Noel said, coming over to sit next to her. “Last I heard, you’d forgiven Clark for walking out of the bar, but I didn’t know we’d moved on to brown chicken brown cow.”
“Will you stop? My mother is listening to every word.”
“I’m not listening to you. I’m going to play chess.”
“See?” Merry kicked Noel’s foot with hers, fighting back a grin. “I didn’t stay the night. I got up and made cinnamon rolls with them this morning.”
“Ah. So, none of the other.”
Merry ducked her head, slicing through an orange tuber with a smirk.
“I see that smile!” Noel hissed.
“All right, stop. We can talk about this later, when tiny ears and moms aren’t in the next room.”
“Fine.”
“Where’s Daisy?” Jace asked.
“In the laundry room with Butch,” Victoria said. “Miss Daisy stole the first batch of rolls this morning when no one was looking, so she cannot be trusted around food.”
“Can we let her out later?” Jace asked, his tone laced with hope.
“Once all the food is put away, absolutely.”
