Page 53 of Wilde Flame

Gatlin laughed. “Until Dad breaks out the games.”

I grinned. “Let’s hope they’re a rowdy bunch!”

“Caden, if you eat one more brownie, you’re not going to be able to eat dinner.”

I popped the last of the brownie into my mouth as my mother rolled her eyes.

“Mom, you yourself call them oh-my-God brownies. They’re that addictive.”

She smiled. “I know, but I’d like to keep some for Christmas Day. We’re having guests.”

“I heard,” Emeline said, as she walked up with plates and silverware. “Lilibeth and her parents are coming over. I’m excited!”

I took the plates from my sister and headed to the dining room, but not before saying, “That was nice of you to invite them.”

My mother followed Emeline and me into the dining room. “It’s their first Christmas in town, and I really want them to feel welcome and relaxed. Especially poor Lilibeth. She must be stressed, since finding out she has to look for a new place to live.”

I was putting a plate down on the table and stopped midway. “Why?”

Mom sighed. “Larry White, who owns that little place she rents? The heater went out a few weeks back, and he had to replace it. Then the refrigerator died, and he had to buy a new one. Then there’s an ongoing problem with the garage door, and there’ve been some other issues. I guess he told Lilibeth it’s becoming too much, and he’s going to have to sell.”

“Did he offer to sell it to her?” I asked.

Emeline answered. “He did, but she can’t afford it right now with the store and all.”

“Is the store profitable?” I asked, as I set the last plate down.

“It is, yes,” Emeline replied. “But I think Lilibeth is trying to save up for something bigger. Her place is so small.”

I nodded and glanced at my mother. “What else can I do?”

“If you don’t mind getting the stuff out of the pantry for the hot chocolate bar. We’re having friends over this evening, as well, for some games.”

Emeline and I both froze and said at the same time, “Games?”

“I thought Gatlin was kidding,” Emeline stated.

Our mother grinned. “Yep! Now that we no longer have to worry about setting things up for the kids tomorrow since we pushed the date out a few days, we can do all the fun things on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! I’m so excited.”

We watched her walk to the kitchen.

“Did she really just say we’re playing games tonight?” I whispered.

Emeline let out a low groan. “I’d better go warn Levi.”

“Better tell Ensley and Gatlin, as well. It’s not too late for them to fake being sick.”

“What?” Emeline said with a laugh. “That’s terrible, Caden Wilde.”

I snarled my lip. “Please, like it didn’t cross your mind.”

Screwing up her face in the most adorable way, she giggled. “It did!”

Dinner was a roast with potatoes, carrots, and green beans that our grandmother, Nellie, prepared. Uncle Mike and Uncle David were there as well as their wives. Unfortunately, our Uncle Jason, an NFL coach, was on the road because his team was playing on Christmas Day, but that’s not unusual with his career.

Rhett, Emeline’s son by marriage, ran through the house with his two close friends, Katie and Jimmy Mills. They’d lost both of their parents in an accident and were currently being fostered by my sister and Levi.

“Those kids sure do get along,” I said to Levi before I took a drink of my beer.