Page 37 of Everything Has Changed
“Boo,” I drag out dramatically as we all gather dishes and carry the iPad into the dining room.
I situate my sister at the head of the table so she has a full view of everyone. “I’ll be home sooner than you know.”
“Yeah,” Jackson scoffs. “For Christmas, then you’re traipsing off back to the big city before the wrapping paper remnants are even picked up on trash day.”
“Hey, Row. Can you flick your dad for me?”
Rowan quickly takes the opportunity to pick on her dad as her tiny finger flicks against his bicep.
Jackson just stares at her. Her finger barely makes his shirt move, like a gnat trying to take on a giant, but she still raises her arms in triumph.
“Stop using your niece, Kennedy,” Ophelia laughs.
“That’s right,” Jackson nods in agreement.
“If you want to flick your brother, get down here and do it yourself.” Ophelia points her lasagna-filled fork toward the camera.
“Honestly,” my sister starts. “If I wasn’t on this deadline, I would consider it.” She pierces the salad in front of her with vigor, so the question I’m about to ask seems to be answered already.
“How is the new book coming?” I prompt, passing the basket of bread across the table to Jackson. He places a slice on Rowan’s plate before grabbing the remaining half for himself. He hands the basket to Ophelia, who just grins at her grandson and shakes her head.
Kennedy raises an eyebrow in my direction. “You would know if you called me back.”
I visibly cringe, pushing my food around my plate to stall. “I know. I’m sorry. There’s a lot going on here.”
She sighs, and I know I’m forgiven. Actually, I know she didn’t really mean it. Just sisterly ribbing that only we are allowed to do to each other. “I get it. It’s not on you, anyway. I just can’t get these characters to act right. I’ve started the story at least five times and like clockwork, every time I hit that second act, it all fizzles out. Threads start to unravel. The chemistry is…” She blows out a raspberry in lieu of searching for the right words.
Rowan giggles at her aunt’s dramatics.
A thought pops into my head. “Why don’t you fly down for the festival? They are doing a charity masquerade this year. We could go together. It would be so much fun.”
Kennedy’s nose scrunches. “I don’t know…”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea, girls!” Ophelia’s hands clap excitedly.
“Now you’ve got her started, Gwen,” Kennedy mutters, but our grandmother doesn’t hear her as she laments over the idea of having her kids back in one place again.
“Think about it. You get away from the city. It’s the fall festival! You haven’t been back in years for it. And,” I drag out the word with a big smile, “I get to plan the events this year.”
“Wait until you hear what she came up with,” Jackson grumbles.
“Oh, this must be interesting if you’ve got him grumbling about it. I think his scowl got even deeper.”
Rowan takes a bite of food, dancing a little jig in her seat as she swallows. “That’s just Daddy’s face.”
We all burst out cackling at his daughter’s blunt facts. Even the grumbler cracks a smile at her words. His whole demeanor softens when it comes to his little girl.
“And thankfully that’s not a trait you picked up from me,” he rubs the top of her head, and she swats him away as he ruffles her curls. “Go ahead and tell her what torture you want to put me through this year.”
I shrug, taking a bite of food to hide my grin at my brother’s obvious discomfort. “The usual. Silent auction, the dunk tank, kissing booth, maybe a date auction to really round out the festivities.”
Kennedy chokes on her food as laughter bubbles out of her, wiping tears around her eyes as she clears her airway to continue laughing.
“Please tell me you signed him up, Gwen. I’ve got some blackmail saved for a rainy day if you need it.”
“You betcha.”
Jackson curses under his breath.
