Kaia stayed with Avery as we passed her Duck Room and I headed for the stairs to the attic at the end of the hall. Kaia called out to me that dinner was ready as soon as we were. I acknowledged and resigned myself to diving into the frenetic fray of family.
#
Dinner was like all other meals here — a buffet-style free-for-all with people rotating into seats at the dining room table or wherever else a plate could be set. The little ones went first, then the adults cycled in as opportunity permitted. I was half-done before the girls got there and by then I was busy talking college life with one of my uncles. Afterward, I got roped into playing a game with the kids followed by a few party games with the adults that went well into the evening.
Kaia and Avery played for a bit but somehow managed to slip out between games. I was a little jealous but was having a good enough time that I stayed, showing the flag for my niche of the generational spectrum. When things finally wound down around ten o’clock, I called it a night and retreated to the New House. Upstairs, I saw Avery’s room dark and Kaia’s with the light on but door closed. I was naturally curious as to what they were up to, but didn’t want to barge in on them. Probably just catching up and talking about college and boys.
I walked quietly past, slowing as I approached. If they were talking, it was in a whisper, which seemed odd. Then I heard some giggling. Whatever. I rolled my eyes and went upstairs to the Observatory.
The room was long, narrow, and smelled of old wood. It had a low ceiling, but not so much that I couldn’t stand upright in most of it. Several single beds lined one wall, all but one destined to be empty this Christmas. Times were changing. How much longer would the families come here for the holiday? Would it last after grandma passed? Given her good health, that might be a long way off.
I grabbed my toothbrush and went back to the second floor to use the bathroom across from the girls’ rooms. I heard another brief outburst of giggling. They had to know I was here now given the squeaking of the stairs. Again, I just sighed and got ready for bed.
I won’t pretend I didn’t take advantage of having a room to myself that night. I needed some relief to fall asleep and fresh visions of Kaia in those tights and sweater was all it took. I know, bad cousin.
#
The girls’ doors were closed and quiet the next morning. I grabbed a shower and still saw no sign either was up. I dragged things out for a bit before finally going over to Old House for breakfast. Unsurprisingly, the young kids were early risers. Thankfully, they’d talked uncle Joe into talking them outside to play in the snow. By laying low while eating my plate of waffles and bacon, I didn’t get recruited to help.
My dad, however, caught me and asked if I could help dig through the Closet for some old yard decorations that hasn’t been used in years. The Closet was like a mini-attic over the breezeway, used more for storage than either of the real attics.