They heard someone coming down the stairs and turned to see Ava followed by Razor.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, rubbing her belly. “I needed a snack.”
Zary squeezed Gunner’s hand and leapt off the sofa. “Look,” she squealed. “Gunner and I are getting married.”
“Oh my gosh. Let me see,” Ava cried, looking at the ring. “It’s so beautiful.”
“We’re getting married on July Fourth,” she said. “It’s my birthday.”
—:—
“Congratulations, man,” said Razor, clapping him on the back. “You did good.”
“Look at her,” he murmured.
Razor smiled. “I am,” he murmured, but Gunner could see he wasn’t looking at Zary; he was looking at Ava. “I never dreamed…” his friend said.
“Me either.” Gunner wiped at the tear forming at the edge of his eye.
“We’re gonna be brothers,” said Razor.
“Huh?”
“Brothers-in-law. Same thing, right?”
“We’ve always been brothers, Raze.”
“I feel the same way.”
“Where’d they go?” he asked, looking for Zary and Ava.
“My guess is kitchen.”
—:—
“I crave pancakes more than anything else. Oh, and bacon. Especially late at night.”
“I don’t know if I crave anything,” Zary told her. “Is that weird?”
“I have no idea, but you probably do without even realizing it.”
“You crave bananas,” said Gunner, walking up and putting his arm around her shoulders.
“That’s true.”
“And pierogies with sauerkraut.”
Zary laughed. “You’re right. Wow.” She turned to Ava. “I could eat pierogies every day.”
“Same with pancakes for me.”
“I thought I heard somebody in my kitchen,” said Madeline, padding out of the bedroom.
“Sorry, Ma, did we wake you?”
“No. We were just talking,” she answered, pointing to Svetlana, who walked out behind her.
“Merry Christmas!” her mother shouted, and everyone laughed.