Free It’s Christmas Everywhere But Here by Liam Grey Page B

shrugged. “And I found myself applying that philosophy to other areas of my life, and my stress level dropped accordingly.”
    “Are you not enforcing rules with them, Russell?”
    Russ growled out his breath, rubbing at his temple. “No, that’s — you missed the point. There are bedtimes and chores, and they have to get their homework done. What I’m trying to say is….” Russ took a breath and gazed at the ceiling. “At my birthday the cake was a moldy shade of green, and the presents were wrapped in baby-shower paper. I could get frustrated because they were ‘wrong,’ or I can enjoy the fact that my kids are silly and love me. I chose to laugh. And had a double-size piece of cake.”
    “I’m not sure I understand.” Doris watched him, her hands clasped in a dishtowel.
    “I’m—not sure I can explain it any better, Mom.”
    She nodded, her gaze falling to the floor. “You’d better go get gas if you’re going to load the truck tonight.”
    Russ nodded back. “Okay.”
    It took Russ twenty-five minutes to make the round trip into town and fuel up. Surprisingly, he returned to find a pile of suitcases and boxes by the front door. The box Randall was setting down contained Russ’s Christmas presents. “You’re done already?”
    “That’s Navy efficiency for you!”
    Russ groaned and pulled his jacket fully back on. “You two made this an Army/Navy thing, didn’t you?”
    Max stuck his head around the corner from the living room. “Russ, run for it. And take me with you.”
    “Stop whining and grab a box.” Russ grabbed one to demonstrate and pulled the front door back open.
    “I don’t have shoes on.”
    “Prissy bitch.” Russ rolled his eyes at his brother and headed back out into the cold.
    At least with Dave and Randall convinced they each had something to prove, the truck got quickly packed. One suitcase remained inside, along with the kids’ travel bags. Russ ignored the ribbing Dave gave Randall and headed in out of the cold.
    Fresh hot chocolate and a plate of cookies waited in the living room.
    “So,” Max piped up when Randall and Dave were finally in and hanging up their coats, “who won? The squid or the grunt?”
    Russ flopped down on the couch, cookie in hand. “Neither.”
    “What?”
    “Hey, now….”
    Dave and Randall both glared at him.
    “ I won. Because thanks to your silly competition, I barely had to lift a finger loading the truck.” Russ grinned at the pair around his bite of cookie.
    Dave and Randall turned to look at each other.
    “Did your son just call the Army-Navy rivalry ‘silly’?”
    “I think he did. Not sure I want to claim him as my son after that.”
    “I know how you feel.”
    Russ almost flipped them off before he remembered his mother sitting across the way.
    “So, Ems decided we’re going to play Hand and Foot,” Max drawled.
    “Uncle Max is on my team,” Emily declared, already shuffling the combined decks.
    “Yup. So, since we pick teams youngest first, that means it’s David’s turn.” Max’s grin was dangerous. “So you gonna pick your boyfriend or your fellow servicewoman?”
    “Uncle Max,” Emily paused to finish the shuffle, “are you insinuating being a woman is a bad thing?”
    Max froze, staring wide-eyed at his niece.
    Dave coughed to hide a laugh, catching Russ’s eye before looking over at Randall. “Truce?”
    “Temporary.” They shook and took up positions opposite each other.
    Russ shook his head. “Mom, you want to play?”
    “I’ve got the popovers baking. And I can never remember the rules.”
    “Oh, goodie. I get to sit here and heckle.” Russ rubbed his hands together.
    “Or you could make yourself useful and make popcorn.”
    Russ popped up and planted a kiss on Dave’s ear. “Great idea. Emily, don’t kick your dad’s butt until I get back, please.”
    “Then you’d better hurry.” Emily had her concentration face on.
    “We haven’t even dealt yet!”
    “You say that like it