Page 57 of A Cowboy's Twinkling Lights Lasso
“I can’t believe it’s the last day.” Faye unfolds a napkin and sets it on her lap. “This weekend has been delightfully entertaining.”
“You’re welcome.” Theo slides a spatula into the pancakes and lifts a heap onto his plate. “I thrive on a great performance.”
Dani snorts. “After Thorn and Flora’s performance the last two days, I hope you’re ready to settle for second.”
“You ladies set a high bar.” Theo kisses the back of Faye’s hand. “Hopefully, I shine bright enough to win your heart.”
Faye blushes. “You’ve shone plenty bright.”
“Gag.” Daniel sits beside Wilma.
Thorn’s hand finds mine under the table, and he squeezes. I smile at him, enjoying the family banter and him here with me.
“I think y’all did a wonderful job.” My aunt Rita unscrews a flask and pours a splash of some alcohol into her coffee mug. “Let’s be thankful it’s not a baking contest, and your grandmother isn’t around to make her famous Jell-O salad.”
A collective exchange of horrified sounds erupts around the table, at least from my family.
“What?” Thorn asks, scooping a spoonful of fruit onto his plate, which I’ve now lost my appetite for.
“It was the first and last time we had your grandmother’s Jell-O salad.” Peggy-Ann shakes a can of whipped cream and sprays a mountain on her flapjacks.
“It went wrong so fast.” Aunt Rita shudders. “In so many different ways.”
“Some of us are still out of the loop.” Thorn tosses a handful of blueberries in his mouth.
I bite my tongue, knowing he’s gonna lose his appetite for fruit after this story.
“It was so gross,” my sister squeals, stomping. “I’m still not over it.”
“I’m not over it.” I shake my head.
“Details,” Thorn demands, and my family roars into laughter that just a look from each other contributes to another bout of hysteria.
Tears stream down my face. “She accidentally used—tuna.” My words crack, and everyone bursts.
My aunt Peggy-Ann dabs under her eyes with a napkin, trying to manage control. “We were all sittin’ around the table”—she starts off good—“and she proudly presents her Jell-O fruit salad excited to share her new holiday creation.”
“It was a creation, all right,” my uncle murmurs, adding, “It looked so delicious until I took that first bite.
Dani gasps. “I remember the big spoonful, Uncle Elmer. As soon as it hit your mouth, your eyes widen like a possum in headlights.”
I point at my sister. “Yes! And he chewed slowly, like maybe it would magically turn into something delicious.”
“Then he gagged.” My Aunt Peggy-Ann is unrestrained. “I thought he was going to spit it out!”
“Then Grandad took a bite!” Dani roars.
“The look on his face when he asked what was in it was priceless.” I can barely get the words out through my heaving gasps.
“And when Grandma said Jell-O and fruit, and he said it tasted fishy—” Dani can’t catch her breath through her uncontrollable laughter. “And—and—and—”
“This is one helluva a story,” Theo says dryly.
“—mama blamed his old man taste buds,” Rita finishes. “Papa winked, his voice low and teasing. And he looked at her dead and said, tuna can be an acquired taste, much like some... other things.”
Faye gasps. “Keep it clean, children.”
Aunt Peggy-Ann sighs. “That was our dirty folks.”
