“You’re gonna let us help you in the kitchen?” Willow asks, her brows touching her hairline.
Mom takes a sip of her coffee. “Only if you want to.”
“We’d love to,” I say, exchanging bewildered glances with Ben and Lucy.
“Yeah,” Ben agrees. “What are we making?”
Mom shrugs. “Anything you want.”
Noah gets a wild gleam in his eyes. “Chocolate chip pancakes!”
“Yeah?” Mom asks, matching his energy.
“With whipped cream?” Aunt Rose adds.
Noah nods emphatically.
“What about you, Em?” Mom squats down to her level. “Anything you want.”
Emily tilts her head, her teeth clamped on her bottom lip. “Pizza rolls!”
Mom chuckles. “Okay, then. Pizza rolls and chocolate chip pancakes, it is. Any other requests?”
“Froot Loops!” Emily yells.
“I believe I have some of those from the last time you stayed the night.” Mom crosses the room to the pantry and reaches for the cereal box. “What else?”
Aunt Rose leans against the counter. “You know, I’d love a mimosa.”
“Ice cream sundaes,” Lucy says, and the kids cheer, bouncing up and down.
Willow wrinkles her nose. “For breakfast?”
“Why not?” Lucy asks. “It’s Christmas.”
Ben makes his way to the fridge. “How about I fry up some bacon and eggs? Maybe some hash browns?”
My stomach growls. I haven’t felt like eating much the last couple of days, but this all sounds surprisingly good.
“I could make some biscuits and gravy,” I offer. “Mom’s recipe.”
Ellie speaks up softly. “Maybe some Pop-Tarts?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Mom says, clapping her hands. “That’s the spirit. What about you, Willow?”
She taps her finger to her chin. “What about some breakfast quesadillas?”
Her suggestion is met with enthusiasm from the entire group.
“Perfect,” Mom says, a playful glint in her eyes. “Now, who wants to open presents before we eat?”
Noah and Emily’s hands shoot up, and Lucy squeals.
“Me!” the three of them say together, and I raise an eyebrow at my sister.
“Really?” I ask with a laugh.
Lucy grins. “What? A thirty-year-old can’t be excited about presents?”
