Fiona turned back to her dad. “That's impossible. You’re too tall. My feet will naturally run into your knees.”
“Especially since he has such knobby ones,” I added.
Eamon popped up on to his elbow. “I feel attacked.”
“You're outnumbered. Two girls, one boy.” Fiona was lightning fast with her answers.
“Even if the numbers were in my favor, I would never pick on someone's knees.”
“Katherine, I think Dad wants you to say you're sorry.”
He slid me one of his cocky half-grins. “An apology would be appreciated, yes.”
“I’m very sorry. It was not my intention to body shame your bony knees.”
“No more goofing around. What are somerealrules?” Fiona asked. “I think that you get to have as much of the bed as you can cover with your body. Like King of the Hill.”
“That sounds cutthroat,” I said. “What happens if I get pushed to the edge and roll out onto the floor?”
“You climb back up on the bed and claim the empty space, of course.”
“My goodness, Katherine,” Eamon said. “That should have been perfectly self-explanatory.”
“It wasn't. It also doesn't sound particularly restful.”
“Oh, it isn’t,” Fiona said. “But this is snuggling, not sleeping. They are two very different things.”
“And what is this?” Eamon threw back the covers and tickled Fiona without mercy.
Her wiry legs and arms flailed as her giggles and yelps filled the room with happy noise. I recoiled to avoid the inventible smack of a wayward hand or elbow.
“Stop, Daddy, stop,” Fiona gasped.
He obliged, but laughter kept tumbling out of her. Eamon had a permanent grin painted on his face.
“Tickling isnotpart of snuggling, Daddy. Someone could get hurt.”
“Got it. I'll refrain from it until I’ve learned all the rules.”
“Who's hungry?” I asked.
“I am,””Fiona answered. “But are we allowed to eat on Thanksgiving morning? Or do we wait until the big meal so we can stuff ourselves?”
“We have to eat now. We're going to need our strength to cook all that food.”
“Will Amy and Luke come to breakfast?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Maybe you should go ask them.”
Fiona scrabbled over the top of me and climbed out of bed.
“Knock quietly,” Eamon said. “And don't open the door if there’s no answer.”
“Really. You act as though I have no manners.” Fiona marched out of the room.
Eamon and I quickly drifted back together.
“How are you feeling this morning?” he asked. “Everything okay after yesterday? I know it was hard on you, but I'm so glad you told me. I don't like having secrets between us.”
