Page 5 of Blame It On the Lattes

Three

Sam

“The chicken is delicious,” I said, wiping my mouth with a napkin.

“Thank you,” Cassidy said, smiling.

While we did Sunday dinner at my parent’s house every week, we took turns on who cooked it. That way, it didn’t always fall on the same person to do all of the cooking.

“Do you like the macaroni?” Cassidy asked Kennedy, who had a giant spoonful ready to shove into her mouth.

“It’s cheesy,” she answered with a giant grin.

“That’s because I added extra cheese.” Cassidy smiled and wiggled her eyebrows playfully as Kennedy took a bite.

“You’re going to spoil her,” Avery teased with a smile and shake of her head.

“That’s what aunts are supposed to do.”

“Does that mean Sam’s my uncle?” Kennedy asked around a mouthful of macaroni.

I felt Avery’s eyes on me as she stalled in answering her daughter. We hadn’t talked about any of this, and it wasn’t like I had known Kennedy until yesterday. Her relationship with Cassidy was a lot different due to how much time they’d spent together and how often Cassidy had gone to North Carolina to visit after Kennedy was born.

“You know what I heard?” Cassidy said, clearly changing the subject. “I heard that Santa’s reindeer are coming for the Frosty Fest this year!”

“What’s a flosty flest?” Kennedy asked, still not having finished her bite.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Avery scolded gently, placing her hand on Kennedy’s arm to get her attention. “And please take smaller bites. I don’t want you to choke.”

“But thits so good,” Kennedy objected, continuing to talk with her mouth full.

“It’ll still be just as good with smaller bites.”

“Frosty Fest is an annual event that we do in Sugarplum Falls,” Cassidy answered, looking at Kennedy and avoiding Avery’s gaze that was on her. “There’s always a lot of fun shopping, but the best part is the parade in the morning to kick it off. Santa and Mrs. Claus come, and they bring the reindeer! After the parade, you can go visit the reindeer and feed them carrots!”

Kennedy’s eyes widened as she looked from Cassidy to Avery.

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