Page 22 of Holiday Hopefuls
“What?”
“There’s gonna be all kinds of mayhem in the Rutherford home this holiday season.”
6
Oliver
“Iwas thinking of taking Cici up to the Aspen Point Lodge in Honeyville again, if you all wanna come.” With each song played, John’s voice gets a little louder. “Figured we’d head up that way a couple days before Christmas, then come home the day after.” John keeps inviting Rindy and Joanna to family things to give Cici a sense of maternal figures, but neither of the women in question ever bother to hide their lack of enthusiasm about the annual trip to the Aspen Point Lodge.
Never mind the fact that it’s one of the top resorts for the country’s one percent. I can’t even begin to imagine what the lives of the lodge’s owners are like.
“It’s just so expensive,” Rindy whines, swirling her third glass of red.
John squints across the rim of his own drink to his older sister. “Did I say you’d be paying?”
Rindy merely pushes out her lower lip in response. Typical.
Joanna gingerly removes the fragile glass from her wife’s hand and replaces it on the table. “I think what my well-meaning partner means is that we’re not totally sure what our holiday plans will be this year,” Joanna rubs her wife’s shoulder, “and we wouldn’t want you to commit financially if we aren’t able to make it.”
Biting my cheek, I manage to hide a grin. “You know Rindy, it wouldn’t kill you to participate in a conventional family holiday. Many people thrive on yearly expectations and traditions.”
“Do you hate me?” she asks, dark eyes narrowed.
I don’t bother stifling the laughter. “No. But I do think it would benefit Cici to have something to look forward to each year.” Another sip of whatever John brought me last slides down my throat.
John shakes his head, pretending to listen to the music while Joanna presses thin lips together in amusement.
“Just because you specialize in families doesn’t make you our therapist. You know that, right?” Rindy snorts.
“I’ll send you my bill.”
“As long as there’s a dozen of those homemade chocolate chip peanut butter cookies included that we all know you make, you can send anything you want right on over.” Jo interrupts, grinning. I’m pretty sure I see drool forming.
Holding up my mostly empty glass, I cheers and grin right back across the table. “Deal.”
“Whatever,” Rindy spits. “If you’re so interested in family traditions, what are your plans for the holidays this year?”
Easy. I shrug. “Mom and Dad’s for Thanksgiving. Then they’re going to visit my grandma in Boston for Christmas, so I’ll probably see what Blythe’s up to.”
“Is she not doing the holiday open house at the studio again this year?”
“I’m not sure,” I admit. Annoyingly, Rindy looks awfully smug at the confession. I let out a sigh before continuing, “Some friends of hers were thinking of taking a tropical vacation. Y’know, to get away from the snow and all that.”
“Sorry man.” John claps me on the back.
“She’s an adult and can do what she wants,” I say, leaning forward onto my elbows that are resting on the table. “Besides, I don’t think she’ll be truly content this time of year until she’s married with a hundred kids, all of them surrounding a huge Christmas tree.”
John and Rindy burst out laughing, having listened to Blythe talk about wanting a big family since we were young.
“Sure, sure,” Joanna nods, “and what about you?”
“Me?”
“You.”
My lips pull down in response. “I guess I don’t understand.”
“Oliver.” Joanna levels me with a stern look. Her green eyes sparkle, giving away the underlying teasing.
