They entered Mrs. Gingery's house without knocking. Holly, Cadence, and a distinguished man with salt-and-pepper hair were adjusting chairs around the dining table, which they had moved closer to the bay window. "Just in time," Holly said to the brothers. "I need you to bring the kitchen table in here."

"Why?" Prett asked. "You make too much food?"

"Celia called; they're coming here after all." Prett growled, but Holly gave a cheerful smile. "It'll be fine. It'll be great. Everyone will be happy—oh, you made the pies! I'll take them to the kitchen." She took Jane's pie and hurried off, Danny and Val following.

The older gentleman made his way around the table. "How are you, Prett?" he asked in a thundering voice.

"Fine, sir."

"And your brothers?"

"Doing well, sir."

"And you must be Jane?" He held out his hand.

"Yes, sir," she replied.

"George Gingery. Glad you could join us." He took Prett's pie, giving him a stern look. "We can all be civil."

"Yes, sir."

Once George left, Prett turned to Cadence. "Did you know this when you texted?"

"Sorry," she said, not at all looking like she was. "I didn't think you'd come if you knew."

"Got that right." Then he sighed. "No, I wouldn't have left you to fend for yourself." Prett removed his coat, and Jane did the same.

"There's something more." Cadence followed them to the coat rack.

"Worse than this?"

"I think Holly's about to hit the wall. She stayed up all night baking. She even made pies because she didn't think Vel would have time. And then her mom gets here and takes over the kitchen..." She glanced towards the dining room and lowered her voice. "And she told her folks Lee couldn't come. She didn't say anything about leaving him. So it probably won't stick this time, either. Even though...it's real bad this time, Prett." Cadence's piercing eyes held his, and he gave a nod.

The brothers set up the extra table and chairs while Jane helped Cadence pull plates and silverware from the sideboard. Their task completed, Danny and Val disappeared, but Prett stuck around to distribute the place settings. Holly bounced from one end of the tables to the other, making sure everything lined up. 

"I could find a ruler for you," Prett offered, watching Holly adjust yet another plate. She shot him a wary glance, but he didn't notice, for his attention had turned to the foyer. "And the invasion begins," he said as two identical sandy-haired boys burst inside.

"Holly! Holly!" they shouted. They threw their arms around her waist, almost knocking her over. Holly laughed, dropping to her knees to hug them back. "Now let me look at you. I think you grew five inches since this summer!"

"No," said one boy, "Blair spiked our hair." He touched the bristled strands. "And I have a new tyrannosaurus rex!"

"Mine's a velociraptor!" The second boy shoved it in Holly's face. "Raawrr."

They demanded to eat, and as Holly tried to placate them, a slender woman with bleach-blonde hair, artificial eyebrows, and a thin aristocratic nose entered the dining room. "I hope you don't mind us barging in. No one was at the door."

The woman gave a pointed glance at Cadence, who murmured, "I'm not a butler."

"We aren't so formal around here, Celia," Holly said. "You know that. Oh! You didn't have to bring anything. Is that pie?"

"Sugar-free vegan pumpkin. It has a gluten-free crust."

"Delish," Cadence muttered.

"Great! I'll put it with the others," Holly said. A sullen Blair joined the group, followed by her father.

Jane took an involuntary step back. Gavin Turney from the café? How did I not make that connection? So he's who sent Blair to spy. To avoid him, Jane followed Holly and the twins to the kitchen.

Dona the cat lady stood at the island, fussing over rolls piled in two baskets while an older version of Holly carved a turkey. 

"We have another pie, Mom," Holly said, placing it next to a dozen others. "Celia brought it." Holly grabbed two decorated cookies, placed her finger to her lips and beckoned the boys to follow her to the basement stairs.

"How thoughtful," Holly's mom said, still focused on the turkey. "I'm sure it isn't as fattening as yours, or as booze-infused as Vel's."

Cadence said quietly to Jane, "Those booze-infused pies are what's going to get me through today." But to Holly's mom, she asked, "Do you need any help?"

"Yes. Come stir the gravy. As soon as it's done and I get this platter filled, we can eat." She looked up from her task. "Is the table ready, Holly—oh, hello! You must be Jane."

"Yeah. Hi."

"I'm Lindy. We're glad you can join us."

"Sidona!" Mrs. Gingery snapped, walking into the kitchen from the family room. "Stop fingering the bread!" She flipped a tea towel over the rolls. "Keep them covered so they don't dry out!"

"Oh, okay," Dona said, removing the cloth.

"Sidona!"

"Miss Dona." Jane took the old woman's hand. "Tell me about your cats. How many do you have?"

"Too many to count," grumbled Mrs. Gingery.

Jane smiled at her. "Happy Birthday, Mrs. Gingery. And Merry Christmas."

Mrs. Gingery perked up. "Oh, thank you! Today is merry, and happy. Sometimes we get too like Martha, fretting about the food instead of listening to the message Jesus has for us. I am just as guilty as anyone."

Who's Martha? Did I miss a name?

Dona also appeared confused. "You don't look like a Gingery."

"She's Jane Elizabeth," Mrs. Gingery said. "Prettamin brought her home."

"Jane Elizabeth?"

"I'm the stray he rescued," Jane said.

Dona smiled. "The pink girl."

Jane laughed. "Yes, the pink girl."

Dona patted her hand. "Now you're green and black. That's much better. Pink is not your best color."

"I know. I–"

"Grandmother!" Celia entered the kitchen accompanied by Prett. "So this is where you've been hiding." She put her arm around Dona, giving her a hug while pulling her away from Jane. "Happy Birthday, Grammy," Celia added to Mrs. Gingery. "And how are you, Lindy? Enjoying retirement?"

"Once the holidays are over, we certainly plan–"

"Grandmother," Celia admonished to Dona, "why are you wearing this old dress? Where's the one I got for your birthday?"

"I like this one."

Celia continued her criticism of Dona's appearance, and Jane stepped away from the counter, feeling out of place. Cadence beckoned her to the cooktop. "You stir this while I get the gravy boat." She gave a quick smile as she handed Jane the spoon.

"Prett, you carry this to the table." Lindy handed him the platter of turkey. "Celia, you take those rolls, and—where'd Holly run off to—we'll get the rest carried out in a jiffy."

"I thought we weren't eating till one," Prett said. "It's barely past eleven."

"Holly started everything early, so we're way ahead of schedule."

Minutes later, Jane hovered in the background as the family gathered in the dining room. Gavin settled Mrs. Gingery at the head of the table before claiming the seat at the far end. I don't want to sit close to him. I want to sit next to Danny. Or across from him. Or next to Cadence. She's interesting. 

"Jane Elizabeth," Mrs. Gingery said. "Come sit here." She patted the chair to her right.

"No, Grammy," Celia objected, "I'm already sitting there."

"Nonsense. You're still standing."

"Only because I can't get Grandmother to sit." Celia held the chair out for Dona, who cooed over the pretty china, the food, and the smoothness of the tablecloth, but ignored the proffered chair.

"She'll sit when she gets hungry." Mrs. Gingery motioned again for Jane to take the chair.

"But I should sit next to Grandmother, in case–in case she needs help eating."

"There's an empty chair on her other side."

"But what if you need help?"

"I'm not so feeble I can't still lift a fork to my mouth!"

Celia pressed her lips, then seemed to contemplate the chair on Mrs. Gingery's other side. But Cadence casually pulled that one out for herself. With a scowl, Celia flounced around Dona and sat. Embarrassed at the kerfuffle, Jane took the chair Celia had abandoned. Across the table, Cadence gave her a triumphant smile. 

I'm not sure that makes me feel better.

Holly and the twins had their own seating dilemma. Each demanded to sit beside her, so Lindy relocated across the table, allowing Holly to sit between the boys. Danny then mocked the entire proceedings by insisting the chair Lindy tried to take was his, that Prett should sit beside him instead of Val, and that he wouldn't sit until everyone else had. The twins guffawed until Celia snapped at them to hush up or forfeit dessert.

Mrs. Gingery leaned towards Jane. "I want to get to know you, Jane Elizabeth." She tapped her right lobe. "This is my good ear."

"Velentinny!" Dona exclaimed, for they were the last standing. "Do they let you grow your hair so long? Won't you be in trouble?"

Danny grinned and shook his head. "He was supposed to cut it as my birthday present," Mrs. Gingery said. "But I see he forgot. If my arthritis wasn't acting up, I'd take the scissors to him myself. I'll have Cadence do it instead." Cadence scowled and Danny's eyes widened in panic. "Now sit down, Sidona!"

"Oh," Dona said. "Here's a good chair. I'll just sit down." Once she had, Danny also sat, and Mrs. Gingery asked "Reverend George" to say the blessing.

Dona leaned closer to Jane. "It's time to eat," she said in a loud whisper before George's deep booming voice commanded her full attention. When he'd finished the prayer, she turned again to Jane, whispering, "He has a voice like God. I've always found it a little frightening." Jane suppressed a smile.

Jane took a dab of every dish passed. I've been rationing food for weeks and now for the second day in a row I'm offered more than I can eat. They're so nice to invite me. The only thing better would be home with Mom and Dad. But don't think about that. "This all looks delicious," she said.

"Yes, Holly," Lindy said. "You really outdid yourself."

"You should thank Cadence. She planned everything and had things well under way." Holly added in a lower, almost apologetic tone, "I sort of took over."

Cadence's face softened. "You thought of making cookies."

"Along with a few pies," Prett added.

Holly giggled. "I went a little overboard there."

"I'm not complaining," Prett said. "I saw a banana cream with my name on it."

"Dad shouldn't be the only one to get his favorite."

"It's easy to make Prett's favorite," Gavin said. "Just add vodka."

"Neh, that'd be Vel," Prett replied in his hillbilly accent. "And he's partial to ammy-retto, not vodka." Danny signed a comment, and Prett added, "And beer."

Dona whispered to Jane, "Poor Velentinny. He doesn't talk ever since he got hit on the head."

George said to Prett, "Mom tells me you distributed a record number of gifts last night despite the weather."

"Yes, sir."

"And Jane," George added, "I thank you for braving the snow to help out."

Jane gulped her mouthful of mashed potatoes. "It was fun." She turned to Mrs. Gingery. "Learning about outrageous generosity and the joy it brings."

Gavin snorted. "It's easy to be joyous giving away other people's money."

Prett twitched his head. "More joyous than stealin' other people's money. Pass the gravy, Vel."

"Well, I appreciate your willingness to not only continue the tradition, but expand on it," George said. "Dad would be so happy. I know Mom is."

Mrs. Gingery said to Jane, "I hope Prettamin didn't wear you out last night."

"No, but I had to push the truck out of a snowdrift. Twice." Why did I say that? Retract! Retract! But before she could, a barking-like sound down the table made her turn. Prett's lips curled upwards, his shoulders twitching with each yelp. Is he choking? Or...laughing? The rest of the group also stared at him. Holly's mouth was agape, a forkful of turkey suspended in front it.

Prett quit his convulsive chortles and shrugged at the family's startled expressions. "She's stronger than she looks."

Mrs. Gingery harrumphed, "Well, I wouldn't know about that." She addressed Jane. "But you have spark. Just what Prettamin needs."

Wait, what? Does she think there's some sort of romantic involvement here? "Oh, I'm just—"

"Did he give you your Christmas presents?"

"Wha—oh...the suitcases?"

"Eh? Well, yes. I thought you might need a gift certificate, but Prettamin insisted on those old things instead. He said you were carrying your clothes in plastic bags. Lands! We couldn't have that!"

"Oh." So it was his idea. She glanced down the table at him. Even if he didn't steal them. "Thank you," she said to Mrs. Gingery. "It's a generous gift."

"Nonsense." She gave Jane a dismissing wave. "You're doing me a favor by taking my clutter. What use do I have for suitcases? The only traveling I'm doing next is home to Jesus. I can't pack my soul, now can I? Besides, they're rather ugly. So...brown." Mrs. Gingery resumed eating, and Jane turned her attention to the other conversation in progress.

"It's a money pit," Gavin said. "You'll never turn a profit."

"Maybe not," Lindy answered. "But it'll give us something to do for the rest of our lives. And if nothing else, a place for the family to stay when they visit." She turned to Prett. "Have you made much progress? We drove past on the way in, but it doesn't look much different."

"We've been focused on the interior. Hope to tackle the exterior by March. Then it's all yours."

"Well, that is a surprise."

"Time to put our house on the market, then," George said.

"Could we take a look?" Lindy asked. "I want to see how Val's vision for the bathrooms panned out."

"Oh, they're beautiful!" Jane exclaimed. Everyone turned to look at her. Oh, why can't I ever keep my mouth shut...

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please help me improve my writing by pointing out problems. And if you like what you read, please click the Vote button below. And comment! I love comments! 😊 

Fun Fact:  Thankfully my immediate family doesn't have a "Gavin and Celia" in it. I based them on a crazy couple I saw on an episode of "Kitchen Nightmares." 😄😁

But every family has a few nutters. Maybe we should have a family reunion to find out. One like the reunion my grandparents attended in 1911:

Be sure to vote and comment! ⤵