“Are you all right, honey?” Gracie asked, coming around the large island. “Do you have to…” She didn’t finish but lifted her brows.
“He’s potty trained, for heaven’s sake,” Red said. “He’s just excited.”
“About what?”
“These reservations,” Red told her. “Right, Benny-bean?”
Benny just nodded, no doubt because he knew—they both knew—exactly where those two reservations had come from.Hashtag Ho Ho Ho.
“I’m excited, too, Benny!” Cindy exclaimed. “I mean, I know it’s just two, but I don’t know. I feel…optimistic.”
As they all chattered about it, Benny leaned closer. “Come on, Grandpa. Let’s sneak out and do one more. We gotta strike while we’re trending.”
“We’re what?”
“I mean, not really trending,” Benny continued in a whisper. “But I have an idea for the sleigh again. You can talk and I’ll edit it all together in CapCut.”
Red rubbed his temple. “Cap-what?”
“Please, while my mom is busy.”
Red nodded and stood, taking his plate to the sink. “Benny and I are going to make sure all the lights are working on the sleigh,” he said. “Since it seems to be doin’ its job.”
They stepped into the chilly night, the snow falling gently over the trees like powdered sugar on cupcakes. The sleigh sat under a canvas tarp, but Benny pulled it off, then did something on Red’s phone and suddenly the fairy lights glowed on the rails.
How did he…
Benny snagged the Santa hat from the back and flipped it to Red. “Wardrobe, please.”
Muttering under his breath, Red tugged it over his bald head.
“You ready?” Benny asked.
“Born ready.”
“Okay, this one’s calledGrumpy Santa Won’t Come Inside.You just sit in the sleigh and grumble about not coming in until there’s peace on Earth.”
Red blinked. “That’s kind of political.”
“It’s festive,” Benny corrected.
Before Red could respond, the side door creaked open and Jack stepped out, pulling on his coat.
“Evening,” Jack said, approaching cautiously. “Since I’m so involved in the sleigh, I thought I’d join you two.”
Red looked at Benny, who shrugged and nodded.
“Only if you can keep a secret,” Red said. “Benny’s breakin’ house rules for the good of mankind.”
“And for a puppy that Aunt Cindy promised to get me!”
Jack frowned, coming closer. “Come again?”
“TikTok,” Benny said, scrambling down from the sleigh and holding out his phone. “Do you know what that is, Uncle Jack?”
He chuckled. “Yes. I’m old, not dead.”
“’Cause Grandpa didn’t.”
