Page 2 of Christmas In Love

Oh yeah—the almost-engagement four years ago next week. That was it.

He scowled at himself, then pulled a U-turn. It was time to stop avoiding his family.

Plus, he had presents for his nieces and nephews. That ought to throw the scrutiny off him for at least an evening.

Five minutes later, he pulled up to his parents’ modest brick home. He didn’t bother grabbing his bags or the presents, getting them later would make a good excuse to escape any potential digging into his personal life.

His two knocks went unanswered long enough that Cade’s hands started to turn red. He tried the doorbell. Still, nothing.

With a glance to be sure it was his sister’s minivan in the driveway, he let himself in.

Warmth and the smell of roast were the first things he noticed. Frantic yelling and rapid footsteps were the second.

One of his brothers-in-law came into view, running across the living room and disappearing down a hall. His dad came rushing from the same hall, then grabbed a stack of towels from a pair of hands—the owner of which was blocked from his view by a ficus. Two of his nephews nearly trampled Cade’s feet before he finally caught one—Devon—around the waist.

“Hey, buddy!”

“Uncle Cade!” The four-year-old stopped squirming long enough to peer into Cade’s face. “Did you see the swimming pool?” His little face split into a grin.

“Isn’t it a little cold for swimming?”

“Yeah, but this one’s inside, so it’s okay! I’ll show you!” He twisted out of Cade’s arms, grabbed his hand, and pulled him down the hall. Cade blinked, trying to take in the house as he was dragged along. One of his nieces was watching a show on the couch, a half-eaten dinner was set out on the table, and a giant Christmas tree was tucked into a corner by a large picture window.

“Cade!”

His head snapped forward at his mother’s voice. “Hey, Mom. What’s going on? Is it just me or has the family reached a new level of crazy? Don’t tell me someone left Dad in charge of the brownies.”

She didn’t even bat an eye at the joke. “It’s the basement, Cade, a pipe burst! It must have happened over an hour ago because the whole downstairs is flooded! At least two inches everywhere!” Her hands flailed, and graying hairs that had escaped her bun bounced against her cheeks.

Cade felt his jaw go slack, and he pulled back on Devon’s hand. The four-year-old put up a good fight to keep dragging him down the hall. “What do you need help with? Has someone turned off the water? Have you vacuumed any of it up? What are you…? Here, let me take those.”

Mom gratefully handed over the stack of towels. She brushed her hair back from her face. “Vacuum?”

“Yeah,” he said. Devon, apparently bored now they weren’t going to see the swimming pool, ran off. “Do you have a wet-dry vac? Or maybe one of your neighbors does?” Cade glanced at the stack of towels in his arms. “Doesn’t sound like these are going to cut it.”

She sighed, shaking her head. “You’re right, I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ll call Carol; her husband seems to have everything in that extra garage of theirs.” She stepped around Cade and moved down the hall, leaving him standing there with a stack of towels and nowhere to put them. He turned to follow.

“Cade-y!” Abigail’s sing-songy voice reached him seconds before her arms wrapped around him, causing his leaning tower of towels to pitch dangerously.

“Hi, Abby. Do you mind… err…” He struggled to keep the towels upright, but she didn’t let go, and three fell off the stack.

He tried to wiggle free from his older sister, but she hugged tighter—sometimes her hugs turned dangerous due to lack of oxygen. Cade was always happy to see her husband still up and breathing at each family event.

“Who let Cade help? He always ends up making more of a mess than he cleans up.” Brooke’s voice cut in as Cade finally disentangled himself from Abby.

He shifted the towels to squint at his younger sister, who was grinning mercilessly. “Excuse me, I recall being much neater than a certain sister of mine.”

“Don’t insult Abby in front of her.” Brooke’s voice dropped to a whisper, “She’s sensitive.”

Abby faked a whimper. These women were growing more immature with every passing year. Maybe their progeny were rubbing off on them.

Devon ran past, his shirt over his head.

Cade hoped some attributes didn’t rub off anytime soon.

The little guy disappeared around a corner, and Brooke turned to Abby while Cade scooped up the towels. “Mom said Carol is going to lend us a wet-dry vacuum, to vacuum up the water.” With one sister on each side now, they had him surrounded, penned into the hallway.

It was only slightly terrifying.

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