“Yes. Or hot chocolate. Mom always keeps a stash hidden in the top cabinet.”
“Even better.”
Kate grabbed her hand and dragged her along like they were little girls playing during recess. “I’ll warn you now, we’ll have to make enough for everyone. If I know my brother, he’ll come in as soon as we finish stirring in the milk.”
“Do you have the marshmallows for him?”
“Of course.” Kate stopped inside the door. “Well, I say that—but I don’t know. Momshouldhave them.”
“He’s so odd. If anything has a hint of marshmallow in it, he won’t eat it, yet he won’t drink hot chocolate without them.”
“No one ever claimed my brother is normal.” At the cabinets, Kate stood on her tiptoes and pulled down a can of hot chocolate mix and a bag of marshmallows. “Score.”
Maria walked into the kitchen. “What are you girls up to?”
“Making hot chocolate. Want some?” Kate set the ingredients on the counter.
“I’m still full from breakfast.”
“There’s always room for this,” Janie said, holding up the can.
“Maybe a small cup.” Maria darted a glance out the window toward the shed. “If you don’t mind, make some for the boys. You know Evan has a sixth sense about these things.”
Kate chuckled. “We’d already planned on it.”
Sure enough, as Janie stirred the sixth cup of hot chocolate, the men returned to the kitchen.
Evan grabbed a cup and turned to Luke. “Didn’t I tell you they’d have some ready?”
Smiling, Luke grabbed the cup Kate handed him. “Yes, you did.”
Once everyone had a cup, they all moved to the living room. Evan’s dad plugged in the tree lights and switched on the radio. A classic version of “Jingle Bells” played, adding a pep to the air.
Unsure if the family had favorite seats, she hung back until everyone else sat down. Her only choices were to crowd Luke and Kate on the sofa or sit by Evan on the loveseat.
Evan patted the empty cushion and grinned. “I don’t bite.”
“Yes, he does.” Kate held out an arm. “I have the scar to prove it.”
“I was four.” Evan rolled his eyes and heaved an exasperated sigh. “Sisters. And don’t let her convince you she’s innocent. I have my own scars from her.”
“You probably deserved it.” She winked as she plopped down beside him.
Kate’s smug expression covered her entire face. “I like her. Can we keep her around?”
“And have you two gang up on me? I don’t think so.”
Janie crossed her hands over her heart. “I’m so hurt.”
Evan leaned over. He had a charming smile, but his eyes said more than she could read. “You can stick around for as long as you want.”
Chapter Eight
A knock sounded on Evan’s bedroom door. He lazily drifted into consciousness and glanced at the ancient alarm clock. Why was he being summoned before six in the morning?
He wiggled out from under the decade old blue comforter and pulled on a shirt. Padded to the door as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.
Janie’s hand froze in the air, about to knock again when he opened the door. A smile stretched as wide as her lips allowed. “Merry Christmas.”
