It made little sense to pay for a place that was difficult to find when this was sitting empty the majority of the time.
“And you had no problem finding everything in the basement, I see.”
“No. I didn’t bring it all out. Just the things in here.”
Her mother and father used to string lights outside when they were younger, but that was a lot of work for her to do. It was more about seeing the trees and stockings, a few other knickknacks on the fireplace mantel and then calling it a day.
The timer went off and her mother pulled out a sheet of cookies. Only one kind so far so they couldn’t have been here long.
“When did you arrive?”
“We took the ten o’clock ferry over and then I went to the store to get the makings for my cookies and some more food for the week.”
“Sorry. I normally get food on the weekends too.”
There was always something to eat here but not enough for guests.
“Don’t worry about it. We didn’t tell you because we didn’t decide until this morning. I hope it’s not interrupting any of your plans,” her father said.
“No plans other than wrapping gifts and now I can help you bake. How many kinds are you making?”
“Just three,” her mother said. “I’m going to freeze a large platter to bring to Sophia’s on Wednesday for dinner. The entire gang will be there. Penelope, Emily and their families, us, and Kirk are all coming over on Christmas Eve too.”
“It will be great,” she said.
“We haven’t spent Christmas with my sister and her families in a few years,” her father said. “Your mother is itching to see the babies.”
Normally they didn’t bring up baby talk around her. She’d thought she’d be married and have a child by now. Everyone thought it.
“I can’t wait either. I love watching them. Micah is a handful. I think he’s got his mother’s outgoing personality and Griffin’s fearlessness.”
“So I’ve heard,” her mother said.
“I’m going to throw my sheets in the laundry,” she said. “Before I forget. Then I’ll be right back to help with the cookies.”
Alana ran to her room and stripped the bed. She always washed her sheets on Saturday morning, nothing off there, but she hoped her parents couldn’t figure out that she had sex last night.
That was a horrifying thought even though they knew she wasn’t a virgin by any means.
Once she had everything set, she returned to the kitchen and looked at the three recipes her mother had on the counter.
“The sugar cookie dough is chilling, so I only have the chocolate caramel bars left.”
“Yum,” she said. “My favorite. I’ll start getting everything out for you.”
When she heard the TV turn on in the family room a distance away, she decided she could let her mother know first about Brennan.
“I thought about making a big pan of sauce tonight,” her mother said. “I know you love meatballs and then can have a bunch left in the freezer.”
“That would be great.” She waited until her mother looked at her. “Mom. I’m seeing someone.”
“I know, dear,” her mother said, laughing.
“What? How? Did Kelsey tell you? Or Karen?”
Her mother squinted one eye at her. “No. The neighbors saw you at Duke’s last night and then noticed the same SUV in the driveway late last night.”
There were no secrets on this island. “They saw it this morning too and called you, huh? And that is why you came early?”
