At the end of the movie, the cousins chorused, “Again."
“Okay,” I said. Because who wouldn’t want to relive some of that magic?
But all they wanted to do was smack each other (and me) with pillows to reenact the battle with the rats.
I winced and turned off the movie. Clearly, we needed a better way to expend their energy.
Aunt Coral’s sharp voice silenced them all in an instant. “Who wants to make some snow people?”
“Me,” they answered.
She gave a triumphant smile to the other grown-ups, then beckoned them to help get the kids into their coats and mittens. They led them outside, but I snuck to the fridge.
Mom followed me, worrying her hands. “Are you hungry?”
“No, just looking for some decorations. Aha, baby carrots.” I waved the packaging at her. “Now, they’ll have noses. Or the wildlife will have a healthy snack. Either way, it’s a win.”
Mom furrowed her brow and took the package from me. “Is it?”
Was she not able to register any of my success? Even a little one like this?
My phone pinged with a text from Harvey. “Just finished with fam. How’s your celebration going?”
Mom peered over my shoulder and rearranged the fridge contents. “Is that your boyfriend? You should invite him.”
Was Mom body-snatched? “Are you sure?”
“Yes. We have enough food.”
“Okay.” I texted Harvey the invitation.
“Are you sure?” he texted back.
Laughing, I replied, “That’s what I said! I could always meet you afterwards, instead. I can’t promise coming here will be fun, but you will get a hot meal.”
“Send me the address," he texted back.
Stunned, I lowered my phone. “He’s coming.”
Mom’s eyes crinkled at the edges as she pulled out a bunch of grapes. “Good.”
Good?
Okay, what was going on? I was all about Christmas miracles, but this was sus. “Why did you grab the grapes?” I asked.
“Eyes?" She raised a shoulder.
“Oh, nice.” I would’ve gone with raisins, because I was less likely to miss them, but grapes would show up better. We probably had some mushy ones we could sacrifice to our art. “Are you going to make a snowman?”
She weighed the bags in her hand. “I’ve never tried it.”
“We could make one together." A snowball fight had brought me closer to Harvey. What was to say making something in the snow with mom wouldn't help our relationship?
“Okay.” She smiled and strode off to get her coat.
Maybe shewas just being nice. Well, so was I. Stranger things had happened on much less magical days than Christmas.
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