“Baby steps, right?” I said as I gently placed a hand on her arm.
Brinly nodded and smiled. “Can’t change the world overnight.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Max came up beside me and kissed me on the cheek. “I’m hearing a few rumbles about leaving,” he whispered, and I knew exactly why he brought it up.
I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and yelled, “Before anybody leaves, we gotta get a group photo!”
Barely anyone looked up.
“Don’t be a bunch of grinches,” I said, and then clapped my hands together. “In front of the tree, please!” Begrudgingly, they listened and packed in front of my giant, lopsided fake tree with too much tinsel and a star at the top that was sliding to the right. I didn’t believe in cutting trees for Christmas, but even I had to admit the real ones looked better. This was just flat out wonky.
Before I snapped a picture, Priscilla yelled, “Wait!” And then switched from standing on Daggett’s left to his right. “If you’re gonna take a picture of me in this ugly outfit, then at least get me at my good angle.”
Funny how this black attire she had on was an ugly outfit, when in reality, it looked no different from everything else she ever wore.
I lifted my phone up and pointed it at them. “Okay, everyone say ‘Grandma got run over by a reindeer’!”
The group collectively groaned.
“What?” I asked, dumbfounded.
“Dear, I’m not fond of this song,” Grandma began. “It’s racist.”
“Does someone want to tell her what that word means, or should I?” Brinly asked with a raised finger.
“Can we please do it my way?” I asked.
Daggett cleared his throat. “Just an outside opinion, but having us say that will force our mouths into weird positions and you’ll never get the picture you want.”
Max grumbled loudly beside me. “For fuck’s sake, smile and shut up.”
“Smile and shut up!” I echoed and snapped the photo.
The flash scared Biggie Smalls who, unbeknownst to me, was hiding inside the Christmas tree. He leaped out of it in a hurry and ran across Priscilla’s shoulders, and she yelped. “Goddamnit! Cora, do something about your rodent!”
“He’s just spooked!” I told her.
“He’s gonna be dead in a minute. I told you that cat has it out for me, I swear to God!”
I laughed her hissy fit off and reviewed the photo I took. The picture turned out horrible: Grandma was staring at the ceiling, Lincoln and Daggett were glancing over at each other, Brinly posed like she was in a photoshoot, and one of Priscilla’s eyes was flipped to the back of her head like she was possessed. It was a mess, but so were we. It worked.
There was only one thing missing.
When I knew everyone was busy chatting in front of the tree, I snuck off into my bedroom as quietly as I could so no one would notice me. Out of the top drawer of my dresser, I retrieved a scrap piece of paper with a phone number written on it. It was a number so secret I didn’t feel safe even putting it into my contacts list. I whipped out my cell and immediately dialed. After just a few seconds, she picked up.
“I was wondering when you’d call,” she said.
“Merry Christmas, Melanie.”
“Merry Christmas, cous.”
I smiled. “Just so you know, you’re missing out on a big feast.”
“Did you cook it?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’m good. There’s only so much vegetarian soup I can choke down.”
I rolled my eyes. “You sound like Grandma.”
There was a long pause. “I hope you guys are doing okay.”
“We’d be more than okay if you were here.”
“You know that’s never gonna happen.”
“What if we just say your death was a mistake?”
“Cora.”
“You could always fake your death years down the line when you’re not aging.”
“Cora, I’ve accepted it. Move on.”
I was being an ass, because the more I talked about it, the more doubt and regret I could plant in her head when she had already made up her mind. Melanie was stronger than I ever could be. I’d never be able to walk away from my entire family like that.
“So, where are you guys this week?” I asked.
“Someplace warm. I made the guy at the front desk give us the fanciest, most expensive room in the entire hotel. Didn’t cost me a cent.”
Of course she hypnotized him. “Just don’t get carried away,” I warned her. “Remember, with great power comes great…”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it, Spiderman.”
“Uncle Ben. That was an Uncle Ben line.”
“You don’t have to correct me every time, nerd. I got the reference. That’s what matters.” I gave her props for that. Human Melanie never understood any comic book movie reference I threw at her. Pretty sure she thought anyone who read or watched those was some kind of psycho.
On the other end, I heard Melanie whispering to someone. “Is that Dana?” I asked.
“Hi, Cora!” Dana greeted.
“Have you finally come to your senses and ditched my cousin?”
“I have enhanced hearing, you know,” Melanie said, and I laughed.
“When are you going to invite me out there?”
“When you’re not busy,” Melanie answered. “Maybe after the holidays.”
“Busy? Do you even know me? I have no life.”
“Something tells me that’s about to change.”
“You a psychic now?”
Melanie snorted. “Do me a favor. When Max does it, just say yes. Don’t be a dork.”
She couldn’t see me, but I made a strange face, anyway. “When he does what?” I asked.
Melanie giggled. “I gotta let you go, cousin.”
“Wait!”
I didn’t want to end the phone call; I didn’t want to not hear her voice for another several months and
