Victoria glares at her sisters. “Leave him alone.”
“Lyanov doesn’t need you to defend him,” Brennan argues.
“Against you, he does. It isn’t like he can stab you with the carving knife!”
“Victoria,” Aela admonishes as she cuts up the food on a plate for the boy next to her. “There are kids around.”
She pouts but settles as I curl my arm around her shoulders, my shirt sleeve snagging on her hand-painted silk shawl that I bought her for Christmas—the one with ladybugs. “Well, it’s true. Stop bullying my husband.”
I have to smile as she draws Charlie onto her lap and snags a sausage from one of the dishes to feed to him. “Yes, I’m feeling ostracized.”
Aidan Jr. coughs out a laugh. “I’m sure you are.”
Aoife, who I sense is the peacekeeper of the family, offers, “Turkey and ham, Maxim? Or just turkey?”
SIXTY-THREE
OAKWOOD CREW
Callan: Merry Christmas!
Lex: Merry Christmas!
Pecan: I’m so full
Denny: Merry Christmas!
Pecan: I think I ate a whole cow
Zach: Can confirm
Callan: You guys all ate together?
Pecan: Tradition. We hold it at D’s house because she has the biggest dining room
Zach: Plus, Pecan’s Mom can’t cope. She has a meltdown if she has to serve more than three people
Pecan: It’s true. I’m just grateful I don’t have any siblings.
Victoria: Season’s greetings!
Shay: Happy Christmas!
Lex: How old school of you lol
Pecan: I officially ate toomuch
Victoria: Who didn’t? My aunt cooked. She’s SOOOOO good at everything.
Pecan: Is this the aunt who makes the brownies?
Pecan: How do you feel about bringing some back to school with you?
Callan: She delivers. You can order some. They have same-day shipping
Pecan: CALLAN. Stop with the logic!
Callan: Might as well ask me to stop breathing, Pecan
