Skylar laughed at her little sister’s red nose and Gran stood. “I let them use my lipstick.”
“Cute.” Skylar glanced down at Addison. “This is my sister, Ciera.”
Addison studied her for a moment, then she seemed to come to the conclusion that Ciera was safe. She walked over, belly first, and gave her a closer inspection. “Do you like cats?”
Ciera shrugged. “I guess.”
“Do you have a cat?”
Her sister shook her head. “My mom says we have too many kids to have a pet.”
“I don’t have a cat either.”
“Do you have a dog?”
“No.”
“Do you like pizza?”
“Yes.”
Ciera smiled. “My Grandpa Marcelli makes the best pizza. He can make you some.” And just like that they were friends.
Ciera led Addison into the house through the kitchen door to meet the others. Skylar looked back at Gran and smiled.
“Busy?”
“Like a one-legged man in a butt kicking contest.” She smiled. “Christmas is upon us.”
Looping her arm through Skylar’s, she walked her in through the front door. The scent of fresh baked gingerbread mingled with fresh cut evergreens. The railing of the main staircase was wound with thick garland, strung cranberries, and pinecones.
Carols played from the den where wood crackled in the fireplace. She loved that Gran still hung stockings for all seven of her kids. The tree was lit with lights, but the ornaments wouldn’t be hung until the whole family came together on Christmas Eve.
Little voices chattered from the kitchen and Skylar knew exactly what she’d find once she entered. Children crammed around an old farm table loaded with candies and piping bags full of homemade frosting. Gran had been following the same traditions since Skylar, Hannah, and Frankie were babies, and she probably started them with her kids.
Aiden, Bethany, Michael, James, Alexia, and Lennon crowded the long table, dipping sticky fingers into bowls of gumdrops and chocolates. Ciera and Addison sat together, both girls perched with their knees planted on the long bench and their upper bodies hoisted over their elbows as they crowded the table, pushing right into the gingerbread action.
Four years ago, their family had a bit of a baby boom, and Gran had been fully booked as the childcare provider ever since. She ran a tight ship, but there was no escaping the noise, mess, and occasional outburst of tears when someone wasn’t playing fair.
Of all the grandchildren Gran had helped raise, Skylar liked to believe she and Gran shared the strongest bond. She idolized her mother’s mother, and spent more time with her than any of her cousins. They shared similar interests and, like her own mother, had a deep maternal manner. Skylar often stopped by to lend a hand with the kids, because like Gran, she loved watching the little ones learn and grow.
Once the walls of the house were glued with icing, absolute chaos ensued.
“Ciera, give James a chance to stick a piece of candy on the house,” Skylar said, as her little brother tried once again to poke his body between their sister and Addison.
“He can’t do it.”
“So, help him. Be a big sister.”
“Fine.”
Addison watched Ciera assist James, but Ciera wasn’t the most patient with their little brother. A rush of pride filled her when Addison stepped in.
“Like this.” Using her little hand, she closed it over the piping bag and showed James how to squeeze out the frosting. The sugary paste snaked out of the tip and only a small glob connected to the gingerbread, but it was enough. “Now stick the candy there.”
James focused hard on gluing the gumdrop into place and he was so pleased when it stayed put. Addison smiled with him, until James leaned forward and bit his hard work right off the gingerbread wall.
“Why’d you do that?”
“I was hungry.”
Addison smacked her palm to her head and rolled her eyes. Then she gave him another gumdrop, which he eventually ate as well.
Skylar and Gran helped the kids attach candies with globs of frosting, trying hard to keep the mess to a minimum and deal with several meltdowns when an ornamental piece fell in the occasional frosting landslide. After so many years of child-rearing, Gran’s patience always amazed her.
When the gingerbread house was finished it looked like Frosty threw up on it.
“Beautiful!” Gran praised. “Now, go wash your hands, then see if you can find Pop-Pop.”
Addison went with the others, and Skylar and Gran lingered in the kitchen, cleaning up the mess left on the table.
“She seems like a nice little lass.”
“She is.”
“Shy.”
“Not usually. She warms up.” She wiped down the table. “What happens with this, now?”
Gran sighed. “Your grandfather will pick at it and then I’ll throw it out back for the animals. I tell the kids it’s for Santa’s reindeer. You remember.”
She did. Gran always added so much magic to Christmas, which was why the big house was her favorite place to hang each December.