Page 39 of Merry with Me

“I’ll see you all later.”

“Wait!” Aunt Stella comes rushing in and hands me a bag.

“What’s this?”

“Pumpkin pie!” Aunt Crosby calls back.

“A whole pie?”

“Yes!” Aunt Alyssa replies from her spot in the kitchen next to the rest of my aunts.

“And this.” Aunt Courtney grabs another bag off the counter and brings it to me.

“What is this?” I ask her.

“I’m not sure. Jade packed it for you,” she says, referring to Uncle Orrin’s wife.

“I can’t eat all of this. I’m one person.” The bag has some weight to it.

“That just means you and Isla don’t have to cook for a couple of nights,” Aunt Palmer chimes in.

“Here, take this too,” Aunt Jordyn says, handing me another small bag.

“What’s in this one?”

“Rolls. We made way too many rolls.”

“Are you trying to fatten me up?” I tease.

“Nope, we just don’t want this to go to waste,” Aunt Scarlett calls out.

“There are a lot of you. Why are you sending me with so much?”

“Trust me,” Mom says. “We’re all going to be taking bags like this home. You know we cook for a massive army when we only have a small one.” Her smile lights up her face.

“Fine, but sheesh, ladies. Maybe we need to dial it back a little next year.”

“Never!” Uncle Maverick calls back, and everyone erupts in laughter.

“I’ll see you crazies later. Love you all!” I holler over my shoulder before taking my loaded bags of leftovers out to my car. When I get in my car, my phone alerts me to a message, so I check it before I leave.

Isla: Staying at my parents’ tonight. I’m in a turkey coma. I’m too lazy to drive.

I take a picture, even though it’s dark, of the bags of leftovers in the passenger seat and send it off to her.

Me: Well, there will be plenty more waiting for you when you get home.

Isla: Do they think we’re starving? They do know we both have good jobs, right?

Me: Yep. Apparently, everyone is getting bags of leftovers to take with them. They went even more overboard than usual.

Isla: I love your family, but how will we eat all of that? I don’t think I’ll need to eat again for at least a week.

Me: LOL

Isla: See you tomorrow.

Me: See you tomorrow. Happy Turkey Day.