Page 42 of A Very Merry Matchup
Ivy is back in my arms. With every swoop she squishescloser, quietly squealing and giggling like several other members of the audience.
I’ve never loved bats more.
“Don’t worry.” I chuckle as the song ends and the audience laughs and applauds Janey and Crystal for making it through the entire song. “I’ve got you.”
“Donotlet go.”
Sounds like a plan to me.
When Dad returns to the stage, the bat must’ve disappeared back to his hiding place. No more swoops. The audience quickly settles while Ivy remains close to my side.
Everything’s as it should be.
And if I need more proof, Dad provides it the next second by adjusting his glasses and saying in his signature deadpan style, “I tried telling him the altar call wasn’t typically until the end of the service.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Happy Ho Ho hold on for one more present
Ivy
We’re soon feasting again back at the house, this time with everyone crammed around the dining room table. Hamish and Pinky Collar are distracted with their own pig ear feast in the living room. A row of candles glows down the center of the dining room table. Christmas music plays from the living room. I recognize some Mannheim Steamroller mixed in with Harry Connick Junior and Nat King Cole.
I can say without a doubt this is a million times better than any Christmas Eve I’ve spent working at a hospital these past eight years.
Nana’s elbow bumps my arm. “Pass me another one ofthe rolls.” She’s seated on my left, Beau on my right. I hand Nana a roll while Beau offers me more ham.
“No thanks.” I’ve already had too many servings of ham. And cheesy potatoes. And green bean casserole. And rolls. And whatever divine salad Beau’s mom made that contains grapes and Butterfinger bars.
I’ve had too much of everything except the conversation bouncing around the table while Beau and I sneak each other amused glances.
“Back then we’d go to the midnight service,” Beau’s dad is saying to Janey’s husband, Walter. “And it was truly a midnight service.”
“You’re thinking of Val’s other grandson,” Beau’s mom is saying to Janey. “He couldn’t make it back this year. Soon as he does though, I’ve got the perfect girl for him.”
“No, honey. No more pickles,” Janey says to Mia. “Is he the one who looks like Bill Pullman?” she asks Cecilia.
“Here, honey,” Nana whispers, and I don’t have to look to know she’s passing contraband pickles to Mia.
Cecilia scoops some cheesy potatoes onto her fork. “Is he the new guy who started coming to our church because he said the music was too loud at his last church?”
“I’m talking about the actor fromWhile You Were Sleeping,” says Janey.
“I proposed to Cecilia before a Christmas Eve service,” says Rob. “Not a midnight one, though.”
“The guy who was in love with his typewriter?” asks Cecilia.
“You’re thinking ofYou’ve Got Mail,” says Walter. “What? A guy can’t know his rom-coms?”
“That’s the one based off that old Jimmy Stewart movie, right?” says Cecilia.
“The first time I watchedIt’s A Wonderful LifeI thought it was the beginning of an oldTwilight Zoneepisode,” says Rob.
“I’m talking about Bill Pullman, not Greg Kinnear,” says Janey. “The one who looks like Val’s grandson.”
“Pretty sure I dated a Bill Pullman once,” says Nana. “Terrible dancer.”
Soon as the dishes are all cleared and everything’s washed and put away, Beau directs us out to the living room. “Before we do games or dessert, I have a special gift everyone needs to open tonight.”
