Free Queenie Baby: Pass the Eggnog by Christina A. Burke

number."
    I shook my head. She was like a kid in a candy store.
    I found four army uniforms in varying sizes and an assortment of peripheral gear. "Looks like The Grands are covered."
    Ashley pulled out a huge black satin dinner jacket.
    "That looks like it'd fit a giant," I said.
    "Good, then there's a chance I can squish Dan into it." Ashley shook her head. I didn't blame her; Dan and Shrek had a lot in common.
    We found some set props among the furniture. Ashley called Kyle and Dan up to lug it all downstairs. "Careful!" Ashley warned as they carried down an old painted folding screen.
    Dan raised his eyebrows at me as he passed.
    "She's your wife," I pointed out.
    He knew better than to comment.
    "Is it happy hour yet?" Kyle asked as he passed.
    "Always!" I said with a laugh. "What'll you have?"
    "A beer and some place quiet?" he replied hopefully.
    "I think I can work that out." Inwardly I wasn't sure I wanted to.
    I followed Ashley and Victoria downstairs. Ashley couldn't stop gushing over the clothes. Victoria promised to help her wash and iron them before dinner. Ashley was on her way to work on The Grand's routine. She needed to catch them before nap time.
    "You and Kyle need to watch your scene and practice before dinner," she ordered.
    I made a face. "It's happy hour."
    "So drink and dance," she said. "It'll be just like any other day for you. You'll need the fans." She tossed me the bright blue feather fans.
    I rolled my eyes. My family was under the delusion that just because I was a working musician I lived a completely bohemian lifestyle, partying all night and sleeping all day. I headed to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of beers. Victoria and Kyle were busy prepping dinner, while Anne and my mom argued good-naturedly over the best way to make sweet potato pie, and my Dad and Dave played Scrabble. I ducked out before I could be roped into anything.
    I found Kyle sitting by the fireplace in the living room. "How'd you manage this?" I asked, indicating the empty living room.
    "I'm pretty sure the ghosts had something to do with it." He grinned. I handed him a beer.
    "So we've been ordered to practice the 'Sisters' routine. You'll be doing it in drag, of course."
    "Nice."
    I cued up the movie, and we watched the actresses perform the number. Then we watched Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby mimic the sisters. Hilarious.
    "I can't believe your sister talked me into this," Kyle remarked as he fluttered a fan in front of his face.
    "Yeah, she has a way about her." I cued the movie again, and we lip synced and mimicked the dance moves.
    Kyle was a good sport about it even if he wasn't the greatest dancer. We twirled and fluttered the fans, bumping into each other more often than not. The song ended, and Kyle spun me around to face him. I looked up at him and smiled.
    Uh-oh. There was that look again.
    And then his lips were on mine, and I didn't object for some strange reason. Maybe I was lonelier than I'd thought. Mark had been out of town for weeks, and before that I'd been on the road. Whatever the reason, Kyle took that as an all systems go. My systems were signaling mission fail.
    "Kyle Michael Johnson!" a voice shrieked. "Get your lips off that woman this instance!"
    Kyle pulled away from me and whipped around in surprise. "Lindsey?"
    Victoria and Jake stood behind the petite brunette, I'm sure wondering for the hundredth time why they ever agreed to host Christmas.
    "Yeah, your wife , remember?" she snapped.
    I glanced over at Kyle's dumb-founded face. "Thought you guys had been separated for a year?"
    "We have."
    Lindsey put her hands on her hips. "Just because we're separated doesn't mean you can make out with the first floozy you run into."
    "Hey!" I protested.
    Kyle stepped forward. "What are you doing here, Lindsey?"
    "Well, when Mabel called and told me you showed up at the post office actin' all friendly with some woman, I came right here. We're not divorced in the eyes of God or the state of Pennsylvania."