“I’ll do that,” Nina says, jumping out of her seat.
“I’m going to go check on Cody,” I tell the room.
“Oh nice, just when we need the help,” Tara chastises.
“I’d just get in the way.” I hold my hands up innocently.
I slip out of the kitchen, the sounds of laughter chasing me down the small hallway. I knock politely on Rosie’s office door and poke my head in. Cody is hunched over on Rosie’s brand new, custom chair, with headphones perched over his ears. He doesn’t even look up until I nudge the headphones away from his ear, and I laugh when he jumps a mile.
“Oh, hey,” he says, cheeks pinkening.
“You like the setup here?” I ask, taking a seat on the armchair.
“Yeah, it’s cool.” Cody says, turning back to the screen. “Rosie’s got so many games. I saw how many levels she hit on Sixth Temple, it’s insane.”
“She’s got a lot of skills, that one,” I smile. “You should play a game together whilst you’re here. I know she’d love it.”
Cody shrugs awkwardly. “Maybe.”
“Come on, I came in to get you. We’re having dinner soon.”
“Uh, okay. Let me just finish this one game.”
I chuckle. “I’ve spent enough time watching Rosie to know that you’ve just finished one, so don’t try and pull a fast one on me.”
He shoots me a guilty look, and I tug the chair away from the desk. “Come on, bub.”
He gently places the headphones back on the rest and follows me. “That chair’s hella comfortable. Can you get me one?”
I laugh. “We’ll see what Santa can do.”
36
ROSIE
My cheeks hurtfrom smiling and my back hurts from the somersaults that Smudge has been doing. I like to think she’s as excited as I am, that she can feel the love bursting from every inch of the big house.
My tour was more eloquent than Jackson’s first one. He said it wasn’t fair because he didn’t have enough stuff to show off, but I’m still counting it as a win.
Cody loves my office so I’ve backed up all my saved games and allowed him free reign over the console. He’s only had to be dragged out of there a few times in the days since they arrived, and Jackson and I have been taking turns playing with him.
Cody even said off-hand yesterday that he preferred when I played with him and Jackson’s has complained about it nonstop since.
Now, it’s Christmas Eve, and I’m peeling potatoes at the kitchen table as Gloria commandeers my kitchen.
“Are you sure I can’t help with the—” I ask, attempting to get out of my seat.
Gloria brandishes her knife in my direction, and I settleback in. “For the last time, honey, you need to rest your feet, not worry about cooking for half a dozen people. Just cook my grandchild, that’s your one job today.”
I laugh. “But Ilikecooking.”
“I’m sure you like sitting down too. Are you sure you don’t need a blanket over there?”
I bite back my smile. It is kind of nice to be fussed over, even if I have assured her that a blanket will hinder my potato peeling abilities. “I’m all good, honestly. Let me know when you want me to move onto the carrots.”
Gloria puts the turkey into the oven and starts clearing up. I shift in my seat, and she holds up a hand without looking at me. “Rosie, I like you a lot, but I swear if you try and get out of that seat one more time I will tie you to it.” She shoots me a wink as she opens the dishwasher. “Besides, this is Jackson’s job. Jackson! Get in here and clean your kitchen.”
He appears out of the office. “I’ve already lost five-one to my nephew and now I’m being made to do chores. What happened to the Christmas spirit?”
