The Christmas Sisters Read Online Free

know why you're so shocked.” Nic put one hand on her daughter's back. “Your bedroom back home isn't much neater.”
    “Well, at least my room isn't on fire!” She pointed to the frying pan.
    “Yes, sadly, this is what it's come to at our house.” Nic laced her arms over her chest. “Our expectation of neatness has now reached the if-it's-not-on-fire-then-it's-fine level.”
    “Why don't you get yourself in that kitchen and ask Aunt Collier if there is something you can do to help out?” Petie sent Willa scooting off with a playful swat to the behind.
    The aroma of coffee, roasting turkey, and yams slowly bubbling in brown sugar with marshmallows browning on top tickled Nic's nose. She sensed her emotions mingling, moving through her consciousness in much the same way. Her desire to stay strong and independent, her need to do right by her child, and her longing to please her family all churned together just below the surface of her tenuous composure.
    “Look who's here,” Jessica chimed out as Willa cautiously picked her way around the room.
    Nic started to go on in herself, but in one step, Petie blocked the doorway.
    “Promise me you won't be too hard on her. It is Thanksgiving, the start of our special time of year.”
    Nic tensed.
    Mama welcomed Willa's arrival on the scene with a big fuss over the mums, comparing her to a holiday parade float.
    Willa twirled around, showing off for her doting aunt and grandmother.
    Nic searched her sister's eyes for any sign that she'd understand what Nic was about to propose to the clan.
    “This was such a small thing. Let's not ruin the day over it.”
    Especially when there are so many bigger things to ruin the day with.
    “She was only being a kid.” Petie gathered the dark waves of hair falling over Nic's shoulder in one hand. “She didn't do it on purpose.”
    “I know, but I—” Nic felt practically yanked out of her shoes when her sister tightened her grip.
    A cheer rose from the den followed by the slapping of hands. Park and Scott hooted. Wally coughed.
    Nic tried to pull away from her sister.
    “Kids do dumb things.” In one fluid gesture, Petie whipped the paper flower from behind Nic's ear and wound it around to secure a ponytail nice and neat. She stood back and gave a smile of uninvited approval. “You of all people know that.”
    “What's that supposed to mean?”
    Petie ignored her, just went on fluffing the flower and talking. “You're doing the best you can, and no one blames you for a little mishap now and again.”
    From love to guilt to shame, her big sister had pushed all the right buttons. Nic gritted her teeth.
    Halftime music blared from the den.
    Scott's big feet thundered down the hallway headed straight for the kitchen. Park's play-by-play to a grumbling Wally followed right behind.
    Beyond the doorway, Mama tied an apron around her Willa's slender waist.
    Jessica stuck a paper cutout of a pilgrim boy and an Indian girl into the flowers on Willa's headband, creating a crown effect.
    Collier handed the child a wooden spoon to wield like a scepter.
    Instead of being held responsible for her actions, they'd turned Willa into the princess of the party. Well meaning or not, it entirely undermined everything Nic was trying so hard to accomplish with her child. This was exactly the reason she had to do what she had to do.
    Petie smiled a bit too brightly. “When we all get down to the house in a couple weeks, I'll make a special point to work with Willa on what goes down the—”
    Nic couldn't take it. Not another minute of it. “ Petie , I'm not going to the house this year.”
    The room fell silent. Even Scott thudded to a halt a few feet behind her. She felt every eye focused on her in utter amazement, horror, and disbelief.
    Well, in for a penny, in for a pound.
    Nic threw back her shoulders. She pulled the mum from the ponytail, letting her hair fall in whatever mess it may, and raised her chin. “And I guess you might as well