Fat snowflakes fell around them, covering the yard in a blanket of white. Max had already warmed up the car, with the kids buckled in and playing with their new gadgets. Ginny checked that Zippy was inside before locking up and walking straight into the last person she expected to see.
“Dad?” she asked, stumbling in her snow boots. “What are you doing here?”
Harold steadied his daughter, offering her a sheepish grin. “Well, Ginnybread. Remember Mrs. Sanders’ premonition?”
From down the driveway, Ginny saw Mona trudging up the sidewalk. Even through her scarf and open coat, Ginny could see her sparkling sweater. A pair of jingle bell earrings kept time with each step. Max spotted his in-laws and hopped out of the car. “Harold? Mona?”
“Merry Christmas!” Mona said, waving as she slid on a patch of ice. Max and Harold both rushed to catch her as she glided into one of the shrubs. “Ooh.” She exhaled as she gained her footing.
“I guess Mrs. Sanders was right,” Max mused as he ushered everyone to the car. “We’ve got room for two more, hop in.”
Harold and Mona exchanged a look before stepping inside. The kids waved from the warmth of the SUV, clearly excited to see their grandparents. “Hop in,” Ginny urged, wrapping her arms around her middle.
“Are you sure there’s room?” Mona asked, worrying her bottom lip.
Harold joined in the line of questioning. “I know this was meant to be your holiday with friends.”
“Pfft, like we’re going to leave out you two. Get in. The more the merrier.” Ginny held the door open for Mona, instructing the kids to slide into the back row.
“You’re sure, Ginnybread?” Harold asked, his brow furrowed. “You’ll have enough food and space?”
Max wasn’t having it. “You realize that CeCe and Evan have probably already cooked enough for an army, and we’re hosting at the diner. Which is in a restaurant, which is closed to the public today. There is more than enough of everything to go around.”
That offer was tested ten minutes later as they arrived at the diner. Standing out in the snow, having an animated discussion, was the entire Snyder clan. Alice flapped her arms in the air and shouted, “Will you please get inside? This is ridiculous.”
“I will not be manhandled, young lady,” her mother admonished.
James pinched the bridge of his nose, looking to Anthony for help. Unfortunately, the new state representative was busy negotiating with his father. “Dad, will you please listen to me and Alice? We have room.”
Natalie stalked up the front door and held it open, gesturing wildly. “Can everyone please trust that there’s room? I’m so cold my fingers are frozen.”
Max strode up to the motley crew, pausing to wish the kids a merry Christmas. “Merry Christmas, guys.” He fist-bumped Otis and patted Madeline on the shoulder. Otis went off to discuss Christmas gifts with Henry, leaving his sister to bicker with her grandmother.
Madeline was basically Natalie’s twin, her blonde hair almost as white as the snow and her eyebrow arched halfway up her forehead. Her hip was cocked as she tugged on her grandmother’s sleeve. “Please, can we all go inside?”
Max wanted to help, but also get everyone out of the cold. “What’s going on, Snyders?” turning to James, he added, “and Gibsons.”
James offered a warm smile. “Donna and Steven decided to cut their Mediterranean cruise short to spend the holidays with family.”
“Until we remembered our family had other plans,” Steven helpfully added. The elder former mayor seemed less than thrilled with crashing his children’s Christmas plans.
“We really can just go back to the house and wait until you’re done celebrating.” Donna wrung her hands together, glancing between James and Max. “I think that would be easier.”
Ginny and her family joined the fun, ushering her and Natalie’s kids inside. “I think we can all agree we’ll have plenty of food and space. It’s also Christmas, and no one is going to sit at home alone.”
Natalie hitched a thumb at Ginny. “I’d do as she says. She can get tough when she wants to.”
Everyone shared an awkward laugh as they filed inside the diner. Evan had turned on all the twinkle lights, casting the restaurant in a cozy glow. Tinsel, garlands, and various decorations hung from the ceiling and walls, bordering on tacky yet giving the desired effect. A playlist of classic Christmas songs played through the speakers, adding to the ambiance.
“You see, we were going to go to Cleveland to see my Tommy,” Mona started, sliding into a booth with Donna, Steven, and Harold. “Then this snow kept falling, and now we’re stuck.” She flapped her hands, causing the jingle bell bracelets to clatter.
“Well, at least there’s room for us,” Donna added, anxiously looking over for reassurance as she toyed with her fair more tasteful diamond bracelet. These women were on opposite sides of Buckeye Falls’ fashion spectrum.
Alice overhead and walked over to their table. “If you four don’t calm down and enjoy yourselves, I’m going to tell Anthony. I’m pretty sure he has the authority to throw you in Grinch jail or something.”
Otis overheard and got excited. “Holy crap, is that true, Dad?”
Anthony rolled his eyes. “Thanks for that, Alice. Now my son is going to threaten imprisonment to all his enemies.”
