Bryson decided to stay silent and not encourage his wife in her silliness. It was probably for the best anyway.
“What kind of tacos are we having?” Alyssa asked.
“Beef. We have had mutton tacos, and pigeon tacos, but mostly we like the beef tacos.” Heather shrugged. “You make do with what you have.”
“Which kind of beef? Steak or ground?” Alyssa hadn’t had a taco in a good long while. She wasn’t sure how she’d existed without them.
“Steak tonight,” Holli said. “We have ground a lot too, but the steak is better. Cook does such a good job on them!”
“Oh, think of a potato with steak taco meat on it.” Alyssa sighed. “I’m making myself hungry.”
Holli shrugged. “We’ll do that later in the week.” She looked at Kendrick. “Do you have food in your home so Alyssa can cook?”
He shrugged. “I’ve always eaten with family.”
“We’ll stock you up before you go home tonight,” Holli said. “We have a great deal more food than we need for the winter.”
Kendrick smiled. “I would like that. Then my wife could cook for me.”
Heather nodded. “She’s the best cook of the three of us. I’ve adapted to cooking for us, but I think Alyssa will be cooking amazing meals in no time.”
“I do believe my wife can do anything. And she’s not always sitting with her face in her phone smashing sweets.”
Beth looked at her grandson. “It’s calledCandy Crush. And it’s an amazing game.”
He shook his head. “Only a grandmother would say such a thing.”
When it was time for supper, Bryson was sent for Gavin, and Kendrick was sent for Derek. They all gathered around the table and Gavin prayed over the meal, thanking God for the beautiful women he’d sent back in time to complete his family and for the ability to make tacos.
Beth smiled as she patted Gavin’s arm. “You said that well, dear.”
“I’ve been married to you for a very long time.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, and Alyssa loved the way they were with each other. It made her feel like this was a family where love continued forever.
The conversation was lively as they ate their supper, corn tortillas, refried beans, and steak, with a tiny bit of cheese. “Why no more cheese than this?” Alyssa asked.
“You have no idea what it takes to make cheese in this time period,” Beth said, shaking her head. “We’re low on it right now because everyone is involved in the harvest and drying the foods we’ll need for winter. We’ll have more again soon. All our favorites include cheese as well. We’re a cheese-eating family. We try not to complain when we get low on it. So much work goes into it that we’re just happy to have it for the time we do.”
“Oh, I’m sorry for breaking a McClain family rule. I didn’t know.”
“It’s not breaking a rule unless you know about the rule in advance,” Kendrick said. “Right, Grandmother?”
Beth nodded. “I suppose. We won’t put her in the dungeon this time.”
At the look on Alyssa’s face, Heather said, “Don’t worry. Beth is just trying to scare you. We don’t have a dungeon.”
Holli put her hand over her heart and said, “Oh, good. I was so worried for a minute there.”
Bryson shook his head at Holli. “Grandmother is teasing, as usual.”
Holli sighed. “Beth don’t scare me like that! I’m pregnant. It can’t be good for the baby!”
“Remind me to heal you before we leave tonight,” Gavin said. “I don’t want you losing more nutrients in the morning.”
“Thank you,” Holli said. “It’s great having a healer who is as invested in my pregnancy as I am.”
“You are one of the two most important people to the future of Clan McClain. Of course, we’re all invested in your future, lass.”
“I’m starting to think my name is turning from Alyssa into Lass,” Alyssa said. “Never have I had so many people call me something other than my name.”
