Stumbling Into the Holidays (Stumbling Through Life #3) - Molly O'Hare Page 0,12

faces.

Oh God, she lived in a circus.

Even though her heart still raced at a dangerous level, somehow, Holly relaxed seeing Ben wasn’t in immediate danger. Maybe it was because Helen was still fast asleep in her arms. Who knew?

There was only one thing Holly knew for certain. She was getting her ass out of there and by the time she got back, there should not be a hole in the ceiling.

How was this her life?

“I promise, you’ll never know what happened.” Ben winked.

Holly eyed him one more time before a smirk appeared on her face. “Make sure of it, Grace.” With that, she walked out of the front door.

Chapter Five

“See, good as new.” Henry puffed his chest the best he could as he stared at the ceiling where the hole once was.

“You didn’t do anything,” John grumbled, frowning at Holly’s dad like he had two heads.

“What do you mean I didn’t do anything? I made sure you numb-nuts didn’t screw it up,” Henry squared off with John.

Ben rolled his eyes as he rubbed his side. It was pretty sore. After all he did fall through a ceiling and patched it back up.

“And we finished putting up all the decorations. Well, most of them,” Jimmy announced with a smile. “Mom’s gonna be so happy. She’s been kinda cranky.”

“That’s my Pumpkin,” Henry answered. “She goes a little overboard at times. Last week when you all came over, she was going ten million miles an hour. I still don’t know how she ended up on her butt in the middle of the kitchen.”

Ben and Jimmy both spoke at the same time, “She tripped.”

“Figured as much.” Henry laughed as he sent them his lopsided grin. “Like I said, she’s a little crazy at times.”

Ben smiled at his father-in-law, a man he now considered like his own father. “At times? How about all the time. And right now, even though she’s got a screw loose. We still love her.”

“True.”

Henry cautiously sat on the couch as Waffles took a running leap to sit with him. Poor guy didn’t make it, though. Instead, he hit his chest and fell back onto the floor. Just as Waffles was about to sulk away, Jimmy ran over to him.

“Here ya go.” Jimmy picked Waffles up putting him on the couch. Instantly, Waffles eagerly cuddled up to Henry asking for belly rubs, plopping onto his back with his tongue hanging out of the left side of his mouth.

Figures.

“I ain’t got any food, Waffles. You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

At that, Waffles huffed before he jumped off the couch giving Henry an evil glare as he trudged away toward the kitchen. “That dog’s a piece of work.”

“That’s the nicest he’s been all day.” Ben laughed at the side-eye Waffles was now giving Henry. “Thanks for helping, Dad.”

“Anytime, son. It was good to get out of the house. It’s lonely there sometimes.” Henry shuffled in his seat as a puppy dog expression appeared on his face before looking at Jimmy. “All by my lonesome.”

Ben knew what was coming next. He’d been around his father-in-law enough times to know exactly what he was hinting at.

“Lonely? You shouldn’t be lonely, Grandpa. Maybe I can have a sleepover? We haven’t had one of those in a really long time. It could be so much fun and then you wouldn’t be so lonely.” Jimmy looked at Ben. “Can I, Dad?”

“You come over here all the time, Henry. Not to mention, you talk to Holly or me every day.” Ben sent Henry a look, which Henry promptly ignored. Henry then clapped his hands together in excitement eyeing Jimmy. “Why who would’ve thought of such a wonderful idea?”

“Me!” Jimmy jumped up and down.

“You are so smart. I think you take after me.”

“Kid, you just got played,” John remarked, rolling his eyes at Jimmy. “I thought I taught you better than that?”

Henry stared John down. “Not as played as you’ll be when you find out you have to stop and buy us pizza on the way home.”

John’s face brightened at the words. “Joke’s on you. I was planning on getting second dinner tonight when I dropped you off anyway.”

“Yay, second dinner!” Jimmy bounced on his toes in excitement.

Oh God, Holly was going to kill him. “Just don’t tell your mother.”

“Speaking of Pumpkin. When is she coming home? I wanna see my little Peanut.” Henry glanced at his watch. “It’s not right for a grandpa to come all the way over here not to see his little grandbaby.” Henry narrowed his