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“You don’t get to make all the rules,” she grumbled.

“Again, I’m in charge. You’re not. Making the rules is exactly what I get to do.”

“You’re like a dictator. You’re DDD arrogant.”

“Immy, you cannot tell me that you are allowed to use a ladder and put those decorations up by yourself.”

“I really don’t think I like the word ‘allowed.’”

He snorted. “You wouldn’t.”

“Hey!”

“Because you know you’re not allowed to do that. And that you shouldn’t be doing it. And that you’re gonna be in big trouble once the others find out what you were doing.”

Oh shoot.

That was a good point.

Good one, Immy. Did you not think they were going to notice once they got home? And wonder how those decorations got up there?

Everyone except Isaiah was away until tomorrow.

“I can see I have to rethink my plan,” she muttered.

“Might be wise,” he agreed.

Immy snapped her fingers together. “You can do it.”

Unfortunately, Tobias did not look all that enthusiastic at her announcement. “I can?”

“Uh-huh. If you put up the decorations, then I won’t get into trouble for using the step-stool to put them up. Perfect, it’s solved. Now, you’ll have to listen carefully and please try toaccept direction. I know it’s not easy for you to listen to someone else.”

“Is it not?”

“No, it’s clear to me that you like to do just whatever you want. But these decorations go in very specific places.”

“What if I say I’m not going to do it?”

She started to sniffle. “You won’t do it?”

“Uh-uh, don’t think you can get away with that.” He tapped her lower lip that might have snuck out. “Might work on your friends, not me.”

“What?” she asked innocently.

“Pretending to be upset.”

“I’m not pretending.” Maybe just exaggerating a bit, but not pretending.

He simply grunted. “Make you a deal.”

A deal?

“What sort of deal?” she asked suspiciously.

“I’ll help you, if you drop the shield a bit.”

“What shield?” Now she was really confused.