Stumbling Into the Holidays (Stumbling Through Life #3) - Molly O'Hare Page 0,11

one who tried to burn down the house this morning.”

Holly’s jaw dropped as her eyes narrowed on her husband. “I hope the size I ordered is too small.”

Ben cocked his head to the side as he stared at her. “What?”

“Mom, Dad,” John sarcastically remarked, interrupting them. “This is all fun and games, but is someone gonna feed us?” He pointed at Jimmy. “He’s a growing boy and needs all the food he can get.”

Jimmy darted his head to John. “You just ate.”

“Okay, fine. I’m a growing boy.” He patted his stomach again.

Holly threw her hands in the air as she jumped to her feet. “You know what? Everything is fine. It’s fine. It’s all fine.” Holly did her best to avoid the land mines on the floor as she walked to the nursery leaving the mess behind her. When she opened the door, she saw a still sleeping Helen in her crib with Ripley standing guard ready to do whatever she needed to in order to protect the baby.

Go figure. That kid would sleep through an earthquake.

“At least you aren’t a pain in my ass.” Gently Holly woke Peanut after grabbing the baby bag and made her way back into the living room.

Ben stood by the fireplace still brushing the insulation off himself as John continued to laugh his ass off. How in the hell had her day ended up here? She would have looked to the ceiling to curse the Universe but then that would involve her seeing the hole again.

Instead, Holly scanned the room and as she did, she once again saw Waffles chewing on the plush Santa doll.

Wait a second… This time she got a better look at her dog.

Holy shit, Waffles had the Santa hat on! Holly’s eyes widened. “Is he wearing the hat I got him? Who got him to agree to that?”

“I did,” Jimmy answered with a toothy grin on his face. “He asked me to put it on him.”

Holly’s eyes narrowed at the dog. “He asked you?”

Then to no one’s surprise, Waffles sent Holly the biggest side-eye that she’d ever seen.

“Yeah, he asked me to.”

Holly’s eyes narrowed further on her dog as she recalled the pain in the ass he was last year as she tried to put that same hat on him. “And he just let you do it? There were no arguments?”

“None. He wanted it. See, look how cute he is. I’m gonna go through the box again and find Ripley’s so they can match.”

“You do that,” she answered, not taking her eyes off of her betraying dog. “You are going on Santa’s naughty list.”

“No, you’re not!” Jimmy hollered. “Don’t listen to her, Waffles. You’re on the good list.”

A deep growl escaped Holly as her jerk of a dog turned his nose up at her.

That’s it.

A person can only take so much in one day.

“You know what, I’m going to Emma’s.” Holly hiked the baby bag higher on her shoulder making sure to keep Helen securely in her arms. “And when I get back this better be fixed.” She pointed at John. “You go get my dad so he can supervise.”

“Me?” John cocked his brow at her. “What the hell? I didn’t fall through the ceiling. Don’t spit fire at me.”

Holly gave him a look that dared him to cross her. “Do it.”

John folded his arms over his chest. “Only if you tell Emma I said hi.”

“I’ll tell her you tried to kill my husband by pushing him through the ceiling.”

“That works.” John shrugged as he winked at her.

That only served to annoy Holly more. “Go get my dad and have all this cleaned up by the time I get home.”

“What is it with all you Richman’s being so demanding? I don’t know why I stick around.”

“You love us,” Jimmy chimed in. “Stop complaining and let’s go get Grandpa!”

As Holly took another calming breath, Ben walked over to her before kissing her on the head and then doing the same to Peanut. “As you wish.”

“Don’t you go throwing my favorite movie quotes at me.” Holly’s left eye twitched.

Ben smirked once more as he kissed the top of her head one more time. “Love you, Grace. Don’t worry, we’ll have this all cleaned up and back to normal in no time.”

“Back to normal?” she scoffed. “There is no such thing as normal in this house.”

Holly did another once-over of Ben who seemed completely fine. So fine in fact, that Jimmy, John, and Ben all sported the same stupid happy expression on their