We kept Rob busy ferrying chairs, dishes, glasses, and silverware down from Charlie’s kitchen. He even found a card table upstairs, and a tablecloth large enough to cover both it and the small parson’s table that had served Michael and me as both dining table and desk. At last we were all seated, a little tightly packed, but most of us had at least enough space to set down our glasses, if not our plates. The ducks were perched on the coffee table, where they could see the meal—I hoped they either didn’t notice we were eating turkey or weren’t sentimental about their distant cousins. We’d put food and water down for the dogs, but both preferred to curl up under the table, hoping for handouts. They probably wouldn’t be disappointed.

Michael had brought a lot of candles—the LED faux candles we’d taken to using since the boys began walking and grabbing things—and when we finished scattering them all around the room their flickering and the dancing flames of the fire made our makeshift dining table look pretty nice after all.

“Who wants to say grace?” Michael asked.

“God bless us, every one!” Jamie shouted.

“I think that covers the situation,” Grandfather said. “I’ll take some turkey.”

“Gwandbewwy sauce,” Jamie said, holding out his plate.

Everyone was so busy passing dishes and waving plates that I was the only one who noticed that someone else had knocked on the door. Rather softly. I was closest, so I went over and opened the door.

Mother. Carrying a small dish.

“Hello, dear,” she said.

“Mother,” I said. “What a surprise.”

Behind me all conversation came to a stop.

“Gamma!” Jamie exclaimed.

“Gamma want turkey?” Josh asked.

“Such a nice idea,” Mother said. “Tomorrow’s dinners will be so big and formal. A nice little intimate gathering tonight is just the thing.”

“A lot less intimate than they were planning,” Grandfather said. “With all of us barging in.”

“Monty!” Caroline said, swatting him for real.

“I assume Meg and Michael were keeping their plans close to the vest to avoid having too big a crowd,” Mother said. “And no doubt would have invited all of us had the unfortunate events of the last day or two not distracted them from getting everything ready as they planned.”

Did she really believe that, or was she just giving us a graceful out?

“We should have realized that if we’d reached out, all of you would have been happy to pitch in,” I said loud. “As you have without even being asked. Just one question, Mother: How did you find out where and when we were having this?”

“I have my methods, dear.” She smiled very sweetly, and I knew it was no use. She’d never tell.

“Rob, fetch another chair,” I said.

“Roger,” he said, and raced out.