Roni
As it turned out,I went over to Jessa’s place earlier than I’d expected because she called me all in a twitter, asking forhelp.
Since she so rarely asked for help, I took it as a compliment and got my ass overthere.
I wore a soft, hunter-green sweater with a beaded black pattern of leaves on one shoulder and my black leather leggings, and I put soft curls in my hair. I’d given myself smoky eyes with a little sparkle and soft red lips with gloss. Of all types of parties, Iadoredholiday parties. The festive feel. The food. The cozy feeling of being in a warm house withfriends.
And knowing I’d get to enjoy this one with Jude didn’thurt.
I packed a small overnight bag just in case, left my car at home and took a cab. That way, I could drink or stay as late as I wanted and not worry about it. I’d maybe even stay over if that wasbest.
Or stay over at Jude’sagain.
It took a while to get through downtown and over the Lions Gate Bridge; it was snowing out, lightly, and the roads were starting to get bogged down. But I was still the first toarrive.
Brody was in the kitchen, basting the giant ham he was baking with pineapple rings and cloves stuck to it, and the house smelled amazing. I gave him a warm Christmasy hug and a kiss on thecheek.
“Aren’t we in a festive mood,” he commented, and I justgrinned.
Jessa was downstairs in the party room, where one long table had been set up and beautifully decorated with a red-and-green plaid tablecloth and matching place settings. There was a massive Christmas tree in the corner by the big windows and Christmas music was playing, and Jessa was fussing over her seating arrangement, baby Nick strapped to her front in his carrierthing.
I gave them both a kiss and asked where I couldhelp.
“I’m stuck on the social politics,” she said, chewing at her bottom lip. “Like where to seat everyone. I had it worked out, but then with adding your mom in, I had to change some things around… We always split the couples up, to make it more mingly, and do a boy-girl-boy-girl arrangement, if possible. But I can’t seem to make itwork.”
“Whatpolitics?”
“You know, Katie and Elle, Dylan and Amber and Ash…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Brody andSeth…”
“So? Just do the best you can,” I told her, as I glanced at the pretty little place cards she’d made and set out. “We’re all adults here—Oh sweet mother of fuck. For the love of all that’s good and holy on Christmas Eve, donotseat my mom next toZane.”
“Why?” Jessa’s eyes went wide. “You think he’ll berude?”
“Um, no. That’s not what I was thinking.” I plucked the place card withCindywritten on it from the table and handed it to her. “Have you met mymom?”
“I have.” She seemed to be getting the drift, and plucked a few place cards, rearranging things. “Okay. Let’s put your mom next to Jude.” She looked at me. “At least you can pre-warn him, and you can trust him,right?”
“Yeah. He’s beenwarned.”
“Okay. So she’ll go between Jude and Jesse. She already knows my brother decently well, so things will be less…unpredictable.”
“Yeah. Other than that time her swimsuit top ‘accidentally’ popped off in front of him at thatbarbecue.”
“That was, like, twenty million years ago.” She glanced at me and grinned. “Maybe she’smatured?”
“Maybe we should cancel this whole thing and I’ll just gohome.”
“Moving on,” she said sharply. Jessa was really adapting to life as a mommy; already had a little more authority in her voice. It was impressive. “I’m putting Piper between you and Maggie. He knows you both well enough, I’m hoping he’llbehave.”
“What about Katie?” I suggested. Katie was practically Piper’s sister-in-law.
“I have her between Ash and Seth. Oh for Christ’s sake, do I need to move Katie and Zane farther apart…? Because that would put Amber next to Ash, which would be weird, because Dylan’s all the way overthere…”
“Why can’t Katie and Zane beclose?”
“Because he always flirts with her to piss Jesse off, and if my brother’s in a bad mood it’s really gonna ruin myChristmas.”
“Why would he be in a badmood?”
