Page 30 of Courting in Colorado

“Wednesday morning,” Mom said. “We’re staying as long as possible.”

“I’ll be back Tuesday, so I will bring cannoli if it’s at all possible.”

“Thank you!” Brittany said. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the one I got there since I left Massachusetts.”

Chapter Ten

When Joyce arrived on Saturday afternoon, she started talking about which decorations needed to come down and which she wanted to hang. As Alexis suspected, her mother put an end to that. “No, this is my daughter’s home, and she’s happy with the decorations as they are. You can hang what you like in your home.”

Joyce glared at Mom while Mom just stared back at her. Finally, Mom said, “My daughter has worked very hard to make everything into what she considered perfect. Why would you insult her by trying to change things?”

Joyce had stomped off and chosen a room upstairs, leaving Alexis and Kyle downstairs with Brittany.

Brent had really been happy with the TV room, and he simply closed the door, letting everyone know that it was his space for the week.

Alexis was in the kitchen making supper for the crowd there. The next night, they’d just have munchies for their meals, but for that night, Alexis was making a huge pot of chicken and dumplings, something her family had always chosen to have around the holidays.

Kyle had been out giving out paychecks and Christmas bonuses. When he arrived home, he looked around for his mother. “Where’s Mom?”

“She’s mad at my mom and hiding in one of the upstairs rooms.”

Kyle’s lips quirked with amusement. “Why is she mad?”

“Mom told her she couldn’t take down any decorations or put more up.”

Kyle closed his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t understand why she’d want to do that anyway.”

Alexis shrugged. “She wanted things to be perfect for you.”

“But you’ve already made things perfect.”

“That’s what Mom told her, and she did not like it. Oh, well. We’re having chicken and dumplings for supper.”

“Oh, that’s one of my favorites,” he said, leaning down to kiss her quickly. “Are you working alone?”

She nodded. “Mom and Brit went into town to pick up a few last stocking stuffers. They wanted to meet your mom before they got her stocking put together.”

“Stockings for adults?” he asked.

She shrugged. “My family has always done that. It’s fun.”

“Was I supposed to buy things for your stocking?” He felt a moment of absolute panic flood his body.

“Mom’s doing that this year as you get to know what we put in the stockings, so you don’t have to worry this year. Next year, you probably want to call her for ideas.”

“She won’t mind?”

“Not at all.” She dropped the dumplings she’d been cutting with a pizza cutter into the pot of boiling chicken. “It won’t be much longer before supper is ready, but I’ll probably let it cook on low for a couple of hours. Everyone can just serve themselves when they’re ready.”

Joyce came down the stairs and walked straight into the kitchen. “Don’t worry, Kyle. I’ll make our grilled cheese for our Christmas traditions tonight.”

Kyle shook his head. “No thanks, Mom. I’m excited to have chicken and dumplings. You know they’ve always been a favorite meal of mine.”

“But we eat grilled cheese at Christmas time.”

“It’s okay for me to have something else. You can’t force our traditions on a family that has their own.”

Joyce stomped out of the room, clearly angry. Again. “Maybe you were right and we shouldn’t have invited her,” Alexis said softly.

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