Page 60 of Pumpkin Spice Promises

FAMILY ATTENDANCE REQUIRED. NO EXCUSES. HUNTER IS COMING TOO.

Another followed before we finished reading.

Clover

Mom already said yes.

Dad you better not pretend you didn’t see this.

Dad pulled his phone from his pocket. “I didn’t see anything.”

“She sent it to the family chat.” Jax held up the chat Clover made a few years back, the same chat she used to give orders.

“I muted that,” he said, putting his phone away.

“Of course you did.”

Dad signed. “I have things to do tonight.”

“You’re retired.”

He pointed at me. “Watch yourself.”

Jax’s phone buzzed again and he groaned. Again.

Clover

Rosie said we need garage people for floats/trailers/generators so you both have a job helping now.

Jax stared at the message. “How is she allowed to volunteer our labor?”

“Same way Mom does.” I rolled my eyes thinking about my lack of free time now.

“She’s twenty-five,” Jax pointed out.

“That’s never stopped her before.”

The office door opened and Mom walked into the garage carrying two foil-covered dishes. None of us had heard her pull in. She took one look at the three of us standing together and narrowed her eyes.

“What are you doing?”

Dad answered first. “Working.”

“You’re standing there drinking coffee.”

“I’m supervising the boys.”

“You’re retired Walter.”

The garage went quiet.

Dad looked at me as if the betrayal had become personal.

Mom placed the dishes on the desk. “Clover said you boys needed dinner tonight because we’ll all be at the festival meeting.”

Jax exhaled through his nose. “Mom.”

“No.”