AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The hiss of the spray falters. She shakes the can. Another sputtering hiss. Empty. She glances around. “If the sofa’s clean, where’s the blanket? And why is the washing machine…”
Dad looks like he’s about to vomit. “This isn’t right. That’s my blanket. Take it home with you. Burn it. I’m never—”
“Dad, stop.” Cindy pops up from the couch, pointing to the dandelion tattoo. “The saying you gave me, ‘The flower is no less beautiful if the seed is planted by the wind’,I’m finally starting to get it. You helped me see that being flexible can show me opportunities I would have missed.”
“That’s not…” Dad coughs and sputters before finishing his statement. “I meant for it to help with…smaller things.”
“She’s right, dear. This is a huge step, and imagine how supported she’ll be by her three brothers.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“I’m hearing a lot of couples, or whatever you call group things, are working out these days. Even with stepsiblings. It’s kind of cozy,” Mom says.
Dad’s having trouble with flexibility now. “But you’re my little girl, and they’re…”
Mom gets control. “Ground rules will help. Your father and I need our space. The only sex happening under this roof will be between him and me.”
Ballz busts out laughing. “I think we’re all damaged now, Mom.”
“Good, then you understand my point. When you’re under this roof, you’re our children.” She spins on her heels, throws the spray can out, and opens the pantry.
“I can live with that,” I say, and everyone except Dad nods in agreement.
Mom steps out of the pantry, her arms full of baking supplies. “In lieu of air freshener, and in light of us all being together, let’s go ahead with our Christmas sugarplum tradition.”
Saying no to Mom isn’t an option. My much-needed celebration with Cindy for announcing our relationship will have to wait. Blue balls commence.
“I’d love that,” Cindy says with a huge smile. Then quietly, only to my brothers and me, she says, “I love you, all of you.”
Damn her. I might drown in the backlog of cum my balls are prepping for her. It’s too much. I grab her hand as she passes, and I try to sneak her away.
A firm hand lands on my shoulder. Dad strength. Dammit, how can he seem so old and be so strong? Worry races through me like I’m a teenager again, sneaking off to have sex, only this time it’s more awkward than I ever imagined.
“If you want me to personally castrate you, keep right on going. Otherwise, get back in the kitchen and obey your mother.”
Ballz and Adrian lose it. The whole room fills with laughter. I let Dad take Cindy’s hand from me, and I sulk to the kitchen behind them. Mom smacks my shoulder with a wooden spoon, which decidedly stings, then we fall into our holiday tradition.
We all know our way around the kitchen, gathering the rest of the ingredients, getting the bowls and measuring scoops out.
It’s a genuinely happy family moment. Most importantly to me, Cindy is happy as she meticulously measures each item. That’s always been her role.
Conversation, laughter, memories, and before long, the scent of sweet sugarplums fills the air.
As usual, Adrian is the one to violate the sanctity of good, clean fun. He has two rolled sugarplums in his hand, and extends them to Balthazar. “Want to lick my balls?”
Everyone goes silent. I keep an eye on Dad because I think he’s going to pass out. The timer dings and Mom silences it with one hand while she grabs a wooden spoon with the other.
Adrian pulls his arm back slowly, as if that will keep her from noticing.
She swats him on the shoulder then smiles. “You boys and your dirty jokes. At least you’re not pretending that they’re poop balls this year.”
Epilogue
Cindy
“Idon’tthinkit’sgoing to fit,” Aurora says, trying to fasten the tiny buttons that run up the back of my wedding dress.
“It has to.”
