Happily This Christmas (Happily Inc #6) - Susan Mallery Page 0,29
the car that’s going to be more complicated. You should have told me you only wanted the wheels.”
They climbed the three steps leading to the porch of Garrick’s house. While Hunter sighed heavily, Wynn rang the doorbell.
“You’re not funny,” her son told her.
“Actually, I think I have a great sense of humor.”
Joylyn opened the door. “Hi.” She stepped back to let them in. “My dad just left to get the takeout.”
“Did he say what we’re having?” Hunter asked. “I hope he got a lot. I’m starved.”
Joylyn looked pale and unhappy, Wynn noted. “You’re always starved.” She smiled at Joylyn. “He’s in the middle of a growth spurt. I’m sure you know from having brothers that boys can pretty much eat a grocery store when that happens.”
Joylyn nodded listlessly. “There should be plenty. Dad always buys too much.” She led the way into the living room and flopped down on the sofa. “I’d rather have something from home but of course he doesn’t cook.”
“Do you?” Wynn asked, trying to sound curious rather than judgy.
“Of course I can cook.” Joylyn gave her a superior look. “I’m also pregnant.”
“Oh. I didn’t know you were a high-risk pregnancy.”
“I’m not.” She sat up straighter. “Why would you say that?”
Wynn smiled. “Now I’m confused. You said you couldn’t cook because you were pregnant.”
Hunter glanced between them, but didn’t say anything. He took a seat on the edge of the sofa and watched Wynn, as if trying to figure out what was going on.
“I’m tired a lot,” Joylyn said. “My back hurts. I don’t want to be on my feet.”
“It’s nice to have an option,” Wynn told her. “When I was pregnant with Hunter, I was on my own. It didn’t really matter how I felt, I had to keep working to save as much money as possible.” She smiled at him. “I worked until I went into labor.”
He closed his eyes and groaned. “Mom, please don’t talk about giving birth.”
“I won’t.” She looked at Joylyn. “I’m simply pointing out that a lot of pregnant women don’t get to spend the last couple of months of their pregnancy living off their parents while neither working nor going to school. You’re lucky.”
She kept her tone light, wanting to get the message across without being mean. Joylyn flushed and looked away. Tears filled her eyes.
Wynn braced herself for the explosion, but Joylyn only sniffed and said, “It’s not what you think.”
“I’m sure that’s true. But it would be nice if you helped around the house.”
Joylyn’s expression turned sullen. “I don’t want to be here.”
“You have made that clear, haven’t you?”
Joylyn opened her mouth—no doubt to shriek—but before she could say anything, Garrick walked in the door. He held up two overflowing bags.
“I hope you’re hungry. I got plenty.”
Hunter shot to his feet. “Chinese! My favorite.”
Wynn shook her head. “Everything is your favorite.”
“That’s because I’m easygoing and a happy kid. You should be grateful. What if I were a picky eater?”
“I’d have more leftovers in my refrigerator.”
They walked into the kitchen. Wynn saw the table wasn’t set, so she washed her hands, then started collecting dishes and flatware. Joylyn watched her for a second before joining in. She poured lemonade for herself and Hunter, then got out wineglasses for Wynn and Garrick.
When they were seated at the table, Wynn held out one hand to Hunter, the other to Garrick. Hunter did the same, grabbing Joylyn’s hand. Joylyn hesitated a second before reaching for her dad. Wynn said grace, then looked at the cartons of food.
“A lot of choices,” she said. “Thanks, Garrick.”
“You’re welcome.” He motioned to the star on the side of several of the containers. “The marked ones are low sodium and less spicy.” He glanced at Joylyn. “I got the chow mein the way you like it. Combination meat and extra vegetables.”
She pressed her lips together before murmuring a reluctant, “Thank you.”
Hunter looked pleadingly at his mother. She began opening cartons and handing them to him. “No more than a small serving of everything the first time around,” she reminded him. “Everyone else wants to have some, too.”
He sighed heavily before pulling an egg roll out of a container and setting it on his plate.
Garrick grinned at him. “I remember the feeling of always being empty. I don’t think moms get it.”
“Girls,” Hunter grumbled.
Wynn instinctively glanced at Joylyn, prepared to share the moment. But instead of meeting her gaze, the young woman was staring at her dad with an expression of sadness and longing. As if she remembered