Page 88 of Christmas Mittens Murder

“I’ll get it out of him.” She cast a glance at the stairs. “We have a sweet little routine we do when one of them—usually Arthur—has an experience that’s hard to talk about.”

“I knew you’d have ways,” I said.

Allie drained her tea and sighed. “Cece, despite my flexible schedule, it’s hard doing this working mom thing. I mean, look at this house. Do you happen to see folded laundry, clean floors, and Christmas decorations? Yeah, me neither. Fuller is traveling more these days with his consulting business. How in heck am I supposed to cope?”

I covered her hand with mine. “Have you considered a nanny?”

“I don’t want anyone else raising my kids.”

“I hear you. How about this? The boys are big enough to fold and put away all the laundry. And it’s good for them to have chores. They can each clean a bathroom once a week, too.”

She tilted her head, regarding me. “We always had our chore chart, didn’t we? Maybe I fell into the trap of thinking I had to do it all, at least when Full is away.”

“You don’t have to.” I drank down my tea.

“Getting back to Quan, was he going around questioning other people at the fair?”

“He totally was. In fact, he asked me where you were, and how to reach you. I said you were running an open house. I did not mention when you’d be free.” I grinned. “You’re welcome.”

She slapped her forehead. “Right. I got a call and a text from him as the first prospective buyers came in. I forgot all about it.”

“Might be good to get back to him when you get a chance.”

“I will.” As she picked up her phone, the kitchen door opened. “Baby!” Allie jumped up, the phone forgotten on the table.

Fuller, a wide smile splitting his handsome face, set down his suitcase and computer bag. “Hey, Cece.”

“Welcome home, Fuller.” I returned his smile. Allie’s husband was a full-size version of Franklin, with slightly darker skin and curlier hair, plus glasses and a web of laugh lines.

He opened his arms wide, and Allie nearly leapt into them. They shared a long kiss and a longer embrace.

Allie ignored her now-ringing phone. “Do you want me to call the boys?” she asked him.

“I’ll go find them in a minute. Right now a beer would be optimal, plus a quick catch-up with you and Cece.”

“Coming right up.” Allie couldn’t stop smiling as she grabbed three beers from the fridge.

I stood to get glasses but accepted a hug from Fuller on the way.

“So you got an earlier flight?” Allie asked as she poured.

“I did. What I had to do on site was finished, and it’s Christmastime. I wanted to be here.” He squeezed her hand after she sat. “Cheers, ladies.” He lifted his glass and we all followed suit.

“I took the kids to the holiday craft fair today,” I said. “By the end, Arthur was worried we hadn’t visited Santa. Franklin said you’d promised to take them after you got home.”

“I did, and I will.” He took a long drag of the beer. “Aah. Perfect. Now, wife, dearest, I might have a surprise in the trunk of my car. Want to see?”

“You bet.” Allie stood.

“You, too, Cece,” Fuller beckoned.

Outside, a long green pointy thing wrapped in white netting stuck out of the end of his car.

“Did you bring home a Christmas tree, you beautiful man?” Allie asked.

He nodded, beaming.

I slipped away, carrying my beer up to my room, leaving them to their joy at being together. My twin being happy meant the world to me. My own marriage had not been a happy one, but it was long over. I wasn’t too old to find love again. Perhaps I would one day.