“From the looks of things, it’s been a good day,” Slim said.

“It’s been fun. So did Jenny burn dinner?”

“Not even close,” Erin said.

“Alex said she’s had a few challenges with the new stove.”

“Did he tell you that he has, too?” Erin asked.

Evan laughed. “Somehow he left that part out.”

“I can’t wait to tell her that.”

“You didn’t hear it from me.”

They were welcomed into the boisterous group with hugs and kisses from Big Mac and Linda, and were drawn into a conversation about Adam and Abby’s New Year’s Eve wedding. Plans were being made for impromptu bachelor and bachelorette parties three days before the wedding.

“Gentlemen,” Mac said in a grave tone, “this is our chance for revenge.”

“What’re you spouting off about now, Mac?” Janey asked her brother as she patted the back of baby PJ, who was asleep in her arms.

“The prank,” Mac said. “The time for revenge is upon us. It may not happen this week or even before Evan’s wedding, but you ladies need to be on guard against the power of our revenge.”

“Does he believe half the crap that comes out of his own mouth?” Tiffany asked her sister.

“The sad part is, I think he does,” Maddie replied wearily, drawing laughs from Mac’s family.

“I’m with Mac,” Tiffany’s husband, Blaine, said. “You all need to be punished for leading us to believe you’d hired male strippers for Jenny’s bachelorette party.”

“I agree,” Grant McCarthy said.

“Me, too,” Evan and Adam said together.

“Boys, boys, boys,” Big Mac said to his sons. “The first rule of combat is you don’t tell the enemy you’re coming. Haven’t I taught you anything?”

“My brother is right,” Frank McCarthy said from his perch on the floor in front of a huge Christmas tree. His girlfriend, Betsy, was seated next to him. “Why’re you tipping your hand, Mac?”

“Well,” Mac said, “we do love them most of the time, except when they’re lying to our faces about strippers. We wouldn’t want them to be unprepared for our revenge.”

“I don’t know about the rest of you ladies, but I’m not particularly scared of this so-called revenge,” Laura said.

“Me either,” Janey said as the others nodded in agreement.

“Do your worst,” Grace said, smiling at Evan.

“And don’t you dare do anything to ruin my wedding,” Abby said, “or I will have to kill you.”

“I’d help you,” Maddie said.

Laughing, Mac held up his hands to fend them off. “I hear ya.”

“Nothing is going to ruin our wedding, babe,” Adam assured her. “Not even my brother and his thirst for revenge.”

“Has love made you soft, Adam?” Mac asked. “You don’t think they deserve a taste of their own medicine?”

“No, I definitely think they do, but not at my wedding.”