Page 17 of That Time I Kissed My Brother’s Best Friend
Of course there’s a whole other mold for the girls. Six of us in total. You already know about the triplets. Then there’s Three’s sister, Nella. Originally Penelope. She belongs to Auntie Mae and Uncle Cubby. Ford’s sister is Felicity. We call her Letty. She belongs to Auntie Ann and Uncle Irv.
Would a flow chart be handy?
Just kidding. I don’t have a flow chart. I used up all my poster-making skills yesterday. What Idohave isThe Official List of Carolsour group will be singing tonight. That’s right. I’m standing in the doorway with a clipboard to add songs to the list as everyone arrives. The carolers who are already here are inside sipping hot cocoa even though it’s eighty-five degrees out.
I wipe a bead of sweat from my brow. Why did my mother put me in charge of the music? I can’t even carry a tune to save my life. Hot cocoa and whipped cream is more my jam, but Mom asked Brady to manage the beverages.
Great. Here come the Slaters.
Mr. and Mrs. Slater are both clutching bouquets of mini American flags to stick in people’s yards. This makes more sense than the hot cocoa my mother is serving, seeing as how we’re caroling on the 2ndof July. When I ask the Slaters for their song titles, Betty requests “The First Noel.” Then Dale claims “Jingle Bell Rock.” I tell him he’s quite the rebel.
I just wish I could stop sweating.
Standing behind them is Natalie. She’s dressed like Santa’s helper. Little red dress. Green elf hat. Striped tights and laced-up boots. To complete the ensemble, she’s carrying a pretend bag of gifts. She looks so innocent and cute. Why didn’t I think of wearing something adorable like that? Since I had nothing else Christmas themed, I’m back in the extra-ugly sweater I borrowed from Tess. Emphasis on extra-ugly. And now, extra sweaty.
At the doorway, Natalie tells me she wants to sing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” I tell her I’m not surprised. But Iamsurprised when she pulls a plate of brownies from her bag. The plate is wrapped in cellophane and tied with a big red bow. But still. Brownies? Seriously?
“I hope everyone loves walnuts!” she gushes.Sure. With a side dose of Ex-Lax.She’s lucky no one else knows about her threat from years ago. She never actually gave me any brownies, and I never told a soul. That’s because Natalie’s a year younger than I am, and I didn’t want her to think she had the upper hand. So I just played it cool and vowed never to eat any baked good she made. Ever.
At least tonight’s brownies give me an excuse to leave my post at the front door before Beau steps up to name a song. I rush over to Brady and hand him the clipboard. “Tag, you’re it. I’ve got to put Natalie’s brownies in the kitchen.” I almost shove the plate directly in the trash, but then I decide Natalie probably wouldn’t sabotage everyone just to mess with me. To be sure, though, I’m going to steer clear of her brownies.
Almost as far as I’m steering clear of Beau Slater.
Before our departure, we all assemble outside. It’s after seven o’clock, but it’s also July, so the sun hasn’t set yet. Mom does a head count while I swat at the flies buzzing around us. It almost feels like summer camp until Mom starts handing out the Santa hats and scarves she knitted.
(For the record, she’s almost as bad at knitting scarves as Auntie Ann is at baking fruitcake.)
Aunt Remy, Mac, and the girls are all on board for carols. Big Mama’s still not feeling herself, so she’s staying back to rest. Auntie Mae and Uncle Cubby are at their house too. That’s because their place is our last stop, so they offered to drive everybody home after. By then, we’ll have probably run out of both mini flags and steam.
Our motley crew makes our way to Main Street first, where shops and restaurants are interspersed with private homes. We pass the Tipsy Tavern and Leo’s Hardware. Then Hard Wear, the secondhand clothing store owned by Leo’s wife, Betsy. Next to Betsy’s place is Gracie’s Glass Emporium, featuring both stained and handblown options.
“Kasey!” Mom calls out when we’re approaching the first house. I’m walking near the front of the pack, so she’s really making use of her outside voice. “Do you still haveThe Official List of Carols?”
“You mean since the last time you asked me? Yes, Mom.” I flash her a thumbs up. “I’m still good.”
She grins at me from the rear of our group where she’s strolling next to Mr. and Mrs. Slater. Brady, Beau, and Natalie are behind me. Too close for comfort, if you want my opinion.
“Who’s going first?” Natalie asks. “I’ll volunteer if no one else wants to.”
“Wow, Nat. That’s so nice of you.”Yeah. What’s your agenda?“But we always start with the same song. It’s tradition. Can you do ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’? It’s not Mariah Carey.”
“No problem!” She climbs the porch steps and knocks on Evelyn and Hank Miller’s door. The rest of us stay on the sidewalk, clutching our mini flags and cocoa mugs. Hank Miller opens the door and takes in the scene. Over his shoulder, he shouts for his wife.
“Evelyn! It’s the carolers.”
The fact that Hank is acting like this isn’t odd tells you everything you need to know about Abieville. As soon as Evelyn joins Hank in the doorway, Natalie starts belting out “O Come all Ye Faithful.” Apparently, now that she’s all grown up, Nat Slater is plenty joyful and triumphant. After a few bars, the rest of us join in, achieving questionable pitches, tunes, and volumes.
In the middle of the second verse, Beau moves in close to me. His voice is deep, and he hits most of the correct notes. When he bumps my shoulder, I turn, expecting to frown at him, but I’m struck by the scent of cinnamon and leather and something else that’s purely Beau. Purely delicious.
Nope. Nopity nope.
He bumps me again, which can’t be an accident, so I bump him back. Harder. Then I keep on singing extra terribly, exaggerating every one of my ohs and ahhs on purpose. I’m hoping Beau will think I’m weird and take a few steps back, but instead he winks at me. He actually WINKS!
Before I can begin to process what this means, Brady muscles his way in between us. My brother’s voice is even more off-key than mine, which is pretty hard to accomplish. When the song ends, Hank and Evelyn disappear into their house without clapping.
Natalie turns back to the group. “I didn’t think we werethatbad.”
“Maybe my ‘O Holy Night’ will go over better,” Brady suggests. But then the Millers reappear in the doorway. Evelyn’s carrying a tray of mini cupcakes with either red, white, or blue frosting. Hank’s holding a bunch of 4thof July sparklers and a Bic lighter.
