Page 94 of Forever Fickle

“Ugh,” his sister groaned. “That stuff can practically cut through paint. I don’t know how he drinks it… or you, for that matter.”

“All the pilots I’ve met drink coffee this strong,” Karen replied easily. “I think it’s an Air Force thing that they have. You get used to it, and it’s not half bad.”

Jana seemed to frown at her words and looked away, surprising Karen, who turned to see Jace practically glaring at his sister. What was going on between them?

“Karen, I’ve got the turkey in the fridge and had it brining all night. We are going to have a huge feast and both of our families are coming over for dinner. Jim’s sister Eugenia and her kids, and my brother, David, along with his wife, kids, and their grandkids. We’ll have a full house and I wanted to warn you as soon as I heard back from them.”

“That many…” Karen said weakly, smiling as she took a sip of coffee, feeling Jace’s arm wrap around her waist as his hand rested on her hip. “It takes me a little bit to learn names and I…”

“No one is expecting you to know them all, honey,” Lindsey laughed. “I just wanted to let you know in case the house is full later and you are surprised if people are still walking in the door. I remember my first Thanksgiving when Jim introduced me to his family. His mother is the oldest of seven children, so I believe there were thirty kids there… right, Jim?”

“Thirty-two,” he corrected, smiling at Lindsey. “My mother only had two children and was the ‘odd one’. I have several cousins, half-cousins, and second cousins. If you meet anyone with the last name of Sorensen in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Connecticut… I’m willing to bet money we are related somehow.”

“Don’t worry,” Jace said knowingly, “It will be easy this evening – just stay with me.”

“Or me…” Jana offered encouragingly. “She’ll be my sister-in-law soon enough, and I hope Karen knows we all will have her back. She’s family now.”

Karen smiled openly, moving to hug Jana. She couldn’t ask for better, especially when those very words reminded her so much of the team back at Flyboys. She hoped that they were having a beautiful holiday too. Perhaps she would text or call them later, if she got a moment.

“We all will make sure you are not feeling overwhelmed,” Lindsey said, quickly hugging both women. “Now, we need to get breakfast going or else I might just fade away from starvation.”

“Mom, do you want to sit down, and I’ll get it,” Jace offered.

Jana spoke up, her voice competitive. “Jace and I can both make breakfast for everyone.”

“Mine would be edible…” Jace taunted his sister.

“Mine would be too…” Jana snapped and then looked at Karen. “How do you even stand him sometimes?”

“I can honestly say that I’m surprised to see the two of you like this,” Karen laughed openly, seeing the competitive nature between the two of them. Obviously, Jana felt like she couldn’t compare to her illustrious brother and felt a twang of jealousy… making her wish that she could tell Jace to back off just a bit. She didn’t dare get in the middle though.

Instead, Karen took a seat to watch the fireworks between brother and sister as they picked at each other… only making them better. The scents she had smelled earlier must have been items for thanksgiving dinner, because it was nothing like what was being created now.

… And the bickering!

The fighting between the siblings was almost non-stop. What they didn’t realize was that the reason behind it was because they were almost alike. Jace and his sister Jana were so similar in personality it was comical.

“You didn’t chop the scallions enough…”

“They are shallots… and you, sir? Are a huge dork.”

“Whip the eggs and shut it.”

“You whip them… since you are already cracked in the head.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“Pass me the bowl and I’ll do it.”

“No… you had your chance.”

“Jana! Pass me the bowl and… what are you doing?”

“Whipping the eggs!”

“But you put milk in them?!”

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