Page 2 of Under the Mistletoe

“Logan.” Mom looked up at him with nothing but love in her eyes and teased, “Not in front of the child.”

“Ah, come on.”

“Later.” Mom eased up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek, then turned her attention to me. “So, what brings you by at this hour?”

“I was hoping to grab one of Dad’s biscuits, but it looks like that isn’t gonna happen.”

“Oh, he can still make you some.” Mom turned to Dad as she asked, “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Dad walked over to the fridge and started gathering the eggs and bacon. “Give me a minute.”

“It’s alright. You don’t gotta...”

“I was gonna make ‘em anyway.”

“How about some coffee?” Mom offered. “I just made a fresh pot.”

“Yeah, coffee would be good.” I sat down at the table as I asked, “You got any of that girlie creamer stuff you and Sis use?”

“Sure do.” Mom stepped over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle. “You want some?”

“Hell, yeah, and some sugar.”

“You got it, sweetheart.”

“Don’t know how you drink that shit,” Dad groaned. “Gives me a belly ache just looking at it.”

“Well, your bitter-assed coffee gives me a belly ache, so...”

“So, what are you boys up to today?” Mom asked, trying to derail another potential quarrel.

“Got a busy one,” Dad answered. “Probably won’t be home until late.”

“That didn’t really answer my question, but okay.”

Dad had been a member of Fury since he was old enough to patch in. Years later, he became the sergeant-at-arms and was now president. He knew the rules better than anyone, and at the top of the list was never discuss club business with anyone—and that included ol’ ladies. It wasn’t always easy, but Mom and Dad had found a way to make it work.

“You and Cass still going into the city?”

“That’s the plan.” Mom brought my coffee over and sat down next to me. “I’m thinking I might put the tree up when we get back.”

“Already?” Dad glanced over his shoulder with a scowl. “We just had Halloween.”

“Oh, please. Halloween was two weeks ago, and you know how long it takes me to get everything out.”

“It wouldn’t take so long if you didn’t have so much of it. You’d think we were outfitting Times Square or something.”

“You are so dramatic.”

“Says the woman that dresses like an elf for an entire week before Christmas.”

“The kids love it, and you do too, you ol’ Grinch.”

“Well, you can ride this ol’ Grinch later tonight and make his heart grow two sizes.”

“Well, great. Now, my appetite is shot to shit,” I groaned. “Thanks a lot.”

“Ah, hell. You’ve heard worse than that when you were still in diapers.”

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