Page 24 of Havoc's Fox
“Not to me!” he whispered harshly.
“Aw, honey, it’s okay. Everybody grows up.”
“Not them,” he said stubbornly.
Chapter 7
As the girls got dressed, Everly pulled a large tin catering pan out of the fridge and unwrapped the foil on one end. She peeked inside and rolled her eyes.
“Looks good?” Bam asked.
“Oh, my gods. Yes.”
He walked over to the kitchen island and looked over her shoulder. “Oh, man. That’s going to be so good.”
“You think I should put the Au Jus over it, or just save it for when it comes out of the oven?”
“It’s already cooked, so I think pour the juice over it and let it all warm together. It’ll keep it moist.”
Everly nodded as she peeled back the rest of the foil, poured the Au Jus over the already sliced brisket, covered it, and put it in the oven to warm.
“Buying that premade is the best thing we did this year. We need to do that every year,” Bam said.
“Agreed. I like all the sides we make, but it’s so much easier than having to smoke a brisket.”
“Should we have gotten two?” Bam asked.
“No, Bane got one, and Kaid’s bringing a ham. We’ll have plenty.”
“What sides?” Bam asked.
“I have the dirty rice going, and I made the cheese sauce for the cauliflower before I started breakfast. All I have to do is wrap the asparagus in bacon and get them seared in a skillet. I’m not sure what everyone is bringing but I’m sure all the usual holiday favorites.”
“Alright. Man, I’m hungry.”
“We just ate!”
“That was three hours ago.”
Everly laughed. “Well, I’m sure everyone will start streaming in any time now. I told them to come whenever they’re ready. You can taste test when they bring in their food.”
Bam smiled and kissed her. “I’m glad we’re doing Christmas here this year. Sometimes I just want to stay home with my people.”
“They’re all your people,” Everly reminded him.
“Yeah, but not like you and the girls. I like when it’s our turn to host Christmas.”
“Me, too.”
Emmalyn walked into the kitchen and sniffed the air. “Ohhh, brisket?”
“Yep,” Bam said. “And cauliflower and dirty rice and bacon and asparagus.”
“Oh, yum! We could just eat here and not have to go anywhere,” Emmalyn said.
“We are.”
“Wait, what?” Emmalyn asked, looking back and forth between her parents.