“Kevin,” Amy started, “don’t—”
“For a quick trip,” Harrison interjected. He shifted his gaze to Amy. “Can you be ready in, like, thirty?”
Thirty? She thought it might be better if they walked out the door this instant and never looked back. “Fifteen. Duchess, come!”
“I’m confused,” her mother said. “Ready for what?”
“For a quick trip,” Amy said, repeating Harrison, and left them, darting to her room.
She found one of the bags she’d brought and threw it open. She began tossing in clothes and toiletries without thought. She couldn’t say what she’d grabbed, other than she had enough. Next, she picked up Duchess’s bed and favorite toy. WherewasDuchess?
She was still stuffing things into her bag when Harrison appeared at her door. “What do you need?”
Amy shoved Duchess’s bed and food at him. “We’ll take my minivan. It’s bigger. I have to grab my art. And food for Duchess. What about food for us?”
“Already taken care of. I’ll put this in your car and come help you.”
He went out with the dog’s things, and Amy raced down the hall to the living room, through the kitchen, where she was met with a barrage of questions and wide-eyed looks.
“No time!” she cried, and just as quickly ran out the mudroom door as if a wildfire was spreading down the hill toward them.
She grabbed everything she would need. Harrison came for the easel, and together, they took her things and loaded them in the minivan.
“Ready?” Harrison asked.
“Ready. I just need to get Duchess.”
She went back to the house. Duchess had already sensed an impending departure and was frantically sniffing around the front door, whimpering, thinking she’d been left behind. Amy scooped her up and carried her like a shield as she went to face the interlopers.
They’d gathered in the living room, save June, who, just as Amy entered, heard the oven bell ding and hurried back to the kitchen to take the cookies out. “Is no one going to film this?” June shouted at the rest of them.
“We’ll reenact it,” Amy’s mother called back, then turned her attention to her daughter. “Amy? What on earth?”
“Harrison and I are taking a break,” Amy said.
“A break from what?” her mother asked.
“You guys.”
Her mother blinked. “Why?” she cried, and then everyone was talking at once.
“Let her talk, let her talk!” her father bellowed.
Everyone quieted. “Because,” Amy said, with a calmness she didn’t know she could reach without the aid of a pill, “we both came here to do something and we’ve been hijacked. So we’re getting off the crazy train.”
“I think I’m offended,” said Melissa.
“Oh, Amy, please don’t say that,” her mother pleaded. “We haven’t caused you any harm. We’re family!”
“Yes. But you’re making videos while I am trying to finish my painting and Harrison is trying to make some decisions. We both feel it’s gotten a little crowded and a little crazy here,” Amy said, gesturing to their elf costumes.
“You don’t have to judge us.” Melissa sniffed.
“Don’t go, honey,” her father said. “Kevin and I are leaving soon. That should help.”
“Before dinner?” Kevin asked.
It didn’t help. “Dad, stay for dinner. We’ve made up our mind. We’ll be in touch.”
