“The raccoon?” I tease.
She glares at me. “That’s Junior Jr. She couldn’t ruin anything. She’s pregnant. My dad is worried she might give birth, but she refuses to let the vet near her. She hisses at anyone who isn’t my father.”
I turn back to the window, where Beckett is kneeling now, and yeah, he’s definitely having a conversation with the raccoon. “I alwaysenvisioned your life as a Norman Rockwell painting, picture-perfect family and all. But your dad is weird.”
She hums, surveying him. “The weirdest.”
“Don’t touch my candy!” one of the boys shouts. The outburst is followed by the sound of a sharp smack.
Shoulders slumping, Addie sighs. “Boys.”
“He did it first.” Declan jabs a finger at Beckett.
“Did not,” the other little boy whines.
“Declan took Beck’s candy and stuck it in his nose. Then Beck hit him,” Avery says without looking up from her project.
My heart melts at the sight of her. She’s totally focused on her house, yet she still knows what’s going on around her. Such a little woman.
“And Grandpa Beckett isn’t weird. He just takes care of everyone he loves.” She finally looks up and pins Addie with a look fit for a parent scolding a child.
Addie opens her mouth to respond, but snaps it shut again. She does this a few more times before a look of contrition washes over her and she nods. “You’re right, Ave. You are always right.”
Damn. It takes effort not to break into laughter.
“I am,” the little girl says. “Now could you talk to my dad about signing me up for hockey? He says I have to wait another year.”
“Hockey’s for boys,” Beckett grumbles.
Declan snaps up straight. “Baseball’s better.”
“Baseball’s the worst.” Beckett picks up his piping bag of frosting and squirts it at Declan.
“Mom,” Declan yells.
“Oh my god,” Addie groans, face lifted to the ceiling.
“I now understand why you invited me over,” I say with a giggle. “Why don’t we separate them?”
She shrugs. “And do what? Winnie is taking a shower, and she said if she doesn’t have ten minutes to herself, she’ll have a meltdown. And there were tears, Sav, actual tears forming in her eyes. Winnie doesn’t cry. And I can’t handle crying, period.”
A snort finally escapes me, but I rein in control of myself again and just nod. Maybe I should dread the idea of having to entertain a trio offighting four-year-olds, but honestly, I’m too happy for that kind of negativity. Addie called me over early because she needed me. That alone makes the invite she extended feel a lot less like the pity kind. So I do what I do best. I come up with a game for the boys while leaving Addie and Avery to finish the gingerbread houses.
The party is in full swing a few hours later, but I have yet to spot Camden. I still can’t believe we’re spending Christmas together. I’ve got quite the surprise planned for him later. If I don’t fall asleep after helping the Donovans set up after the kids are in bed, that is.
Not knowing what to do with myself while I wait for Camden to arrive, I pick up two empty appetizer plates and take them to the kitchen.
“What are you doing?”
I peer over my shoulder, finding Winnie following behind me, plastic stemware in her hands.
“Same as you,” I say, lifting the plates a little.
“You’re our guest. You should be out there enjoying yourself. Especially after you saved the day with the twins earlier. Thank you.”
Warm affection surges through me. “They’re sweet. They’ve just got a lot of energy. Figured a game of freeze tag outside would get some of the zoomies out.”
Winnie drops the plastic stemware in the recycling bin and takes the plates from me. “A lot of energy is putting it mildly.”
