Free Their Merry Little Christmas (Love Square) by Jessica Ingro Page B

their cheeks before setting them down and letting them maul Kara.
    “Hi, baby brother!” Emma greets us warmly as we step into the kitchen. “You must be Kara’s parents. I’m Jacob’s sister, Emma. And these rugrats are Candace and Grace.”
    “Pleased to meet you, Emma. You have a lovely home,” Bill says shaking her hand.
    “And your daughters are beautiful. Thank you so much for letting us spend the holiday with you,” Maggie adds as she hugs Emma.
    “Thank you. It’s my pleasure to have you here. Please come in and I’ll show everyone to their rooms,” Emma replies, then proceeds to quickly and efficiently lead us to our designated rooms.
    Kara ’s parents are staying in the guest room while Kara and I are staying on the new pullout couch in John’s basement man cave. Thankfully, Kara and I won’t have to squeeze into Grace’s bed this time around, and we’ll have the added benefit of some privacy. Hint, hint.
    “Where’s John?” I ask as we all gather in the living room with eggnog, while the movie Elf plays on the television.
    “He’s working late, trying to finish a few things up before his long weekend. He’ll be home before the girls go to bed,” Emma replies with a frown on her face. I make a mental note to talk to her about that later. I know John works crazy hours, and I wonder if it is starting to weigh on my sister. Sometimes I wish I lived closer so that she had more help when he was out of town or working late. It can’t be easy not having family close by when you have kids. When Kara and I have children, I want that type of support system for us.
    “What did you ask Santa for?” Kara asks the girls some time later.
    “I want Santa to bring me Monster High dolls, Barbie’s, jewelry like you Aunt Kara, a new American Girl doll and makeup. Oh and an iPad,” Grace spouts off her list in a fast ramble.
    “You’re too young for makeup,” Emma lectures Grace from the kitchen, proving she can hear just about anything regardless of her location.
    “I want an iPad, jewelry, a new iPod because Grace broke mine…”
    “I did not!” Grace argues animatedly with Candace.
    “You did too!” Candace yells back.
    “Did not!”
    “Did too! Mom!” I feel like I’m watching a tennis tournament as our heads go back and forth between the two girls arguing.
    “Girls! That’s enough! We have company.” Emma stands in the doorway with her hands on her hips. One look at her and the girls immediately stop fighting.
    “I want a puppy too.” Candace goes back to naming the things she wants for Christmas.
    “Oh yeah! I want a puppy too! Uncle Jacob you should see the puppies! They are so cute!” Grace jumps up and down.
    Thank God I got them those dogs. Yet again I ’ll have the best present this year.
    “Puppies, huh? Don’t you think you’re a little too young for one?” I tease them, knowing I’m about to get them yelled at again.
    “We are not too young!” Candace stomps her feet and crosses her arms.
    “Yeah! I’m eight years old!” Grace snaps at me.
    “Nope, I think you are still too young. Sorry girls. I’m going to have to call Santa and tell him he most definitely should not bring you a puppy.” I sit back in my chair and cross my legs, resting my ankle on my knee, feeling pretty smug with myself.
    “Noooooo!” Candace calls out at the same time Grace starts crying.
    I lose my smugness when a hand slaps me on the back of the head.
    “Hey,” I say and turn in my chair to see a very pissed off Emma standing behind me. If looks could kill, I’d surely be dead right now.
    “Sorry,” I grumble and rub my smarting head.
    Kara shakes her head mockingly at me and gives m e a “What were you thinking?” look.
    “Hey, Bill. What do you say we head downstairs and see if we can catch a game of some sort?” I say, wanting to step out of the lion’s den.
    “Lead the way,” he replies with a big smile and follows me down to the basement.
     
    ***
     
    There