edge, taking in the wreckage. She’s usually gaga for that puppy, so her outrage is extra hilarious.
“See,” I gloat. “Cruella.”
“He ate my masterpiece!”
Sprinkles cowers, tucking tail and slinking away to hide behind the couch.
“Maybe it was Lucifer,” Prissy argues. “You ever think of that?”
“Oh, yeah. The baby climbed up on the table and gobbled up every house but yours.”
Prissy shrugs. “I’m just sayin’, if you didn’t see it happen, you can’t go accusin’.”
“Well,” Daddy announces, through a roar of laughter, “guess my girl Prissy wins by default.”
“Only because her house is so creepy, not even the dog would touch it.”
Oh, what would we do without our Kate?
“Go on and get yourself ready for the day,” Mimi orders. There’s no question where I get my habit of early rising from. The two of us are already working on our second cups of coffee before the sun’s come up.
“For what?” I glance down at the candy cane striped pajamas she gifted me last night, smoothing a hand over my chest. “It’s Christmas. We never wear real clothes on Christmas.”
“Occasionally you gotta adapt with the times, son.” Pop comes strolling out of the guest room, looking sharp as a tack with his hair gelled to one side and a fresh thermal. The smell of Old Spice is so thick I can practically see it floating around him like a cloud.
My eyes volley between my two parental figures. I feel the divot forming between my brows. They’ve always been sticklers for routine and heavy on tradition. “What’re you guys up to?”
“You belong with your girls, Wyatt.” My grandmother reaches across the table to pat the top of my hand. “You’re not being apart from ’em, today of all days. Certainly not on our account.”
“It’s a nice gesture.” I give her fingers a little squeeze to show I appreciate it. “But I’m not leaving you two alone on Christmas.”
Her head jolts back, appalled by the suggestion. “Well, of course you’re not. I didn’t say we were just gonna hand you over like we’re some pair of worn-out shoes you’ve gone and tossed in the trash .”
Damn, but my grandmother can be some kinda drama queen when she wants to be.
“Marie typed me a note on my phone this mornin’ to see if we wanted to swing by. Said that girlfriend of yours was moping around the house like someone gone and died while waiting for Prissy to wake up.”
“You learned how to text?”
She huffs. “Well, no. I had to call her so we could talk. You know my eyes ain’t as good as they used to be. Anyway, she’s invited the three of us over for breakfast and to watch that sweet child open her gifts.”
“I’ll be ready in ten.” I hop up out of my seat and head for the sink to rinse the rest of my coffee down the drain. After putting my mug into the dishwasher, I return to the table and plant a kiss on my Mimi’s round cheek. “Told you you’d love ’em,” I say before starting in the direction of my room.
“Jury’s still out on the older one,” she hollers back at me.
“Hey, Mimi?” I return to the kitchen and peer my head inside. “You do realize they’re a packaged deal?”
“Yeah, yeah,” she answers with a backhanded wave.
“Wyatt?” Whitney’s sleepy eyes expand as her lips curl into the sweetest of smiles. “What’re you…?”
“Surprise!” Marie peeks her head over her daughter’s shoulder. “I was gonna stick this big bow on top his head and give him to ya for Christmas, but you got to the door before me.”
Sure, enough the woman’s standing there with about a foot-wide red velvet bow clutched to her chest.
“Merry Christmas, beautiful,” I say drinking her in from head to foot. The woman is a vision, even with ratty hair and not an ounce of makeup—especially for those reasons. Just the sight of her gets my heart beating faster and makes my throat thicken. It has me dreaming of a day in the future when we make this thing between us official and I’m able to wake up next to this hot mess every morning.
“Well, it’s definitely merry now!” She tightens the sash on her robe when she sees my grandparents standing behind me then throws herself into my arms. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
I bury my face in her hair, breathing in her sweet scent. I’d give just about anything to be alone with her right now. It’d be too simple to pull that belt