Sam laughed at his last text and then showed the exchange to Shelby.

“You know he doesn’t really think your hugs and kisses are gross at all. He adores you.”

“And vice versa.”

“And you wonder why I’d rather be with you guys than home with the Bickersons?”

“You’re always welcome with us. You know that.”

“That’s very sweet of you. So what’re you doing here when you’ve got a murderer to catch?”

“We’ve caught our murderer, but because of some departmental BS we’re not allowed to arrest him until the morning.” She shook her head in dismay. “Don’t ask.”

“Okay, I won’t. But I will ask if you’re okay. It’s been a rough week around here, huh?”

“I’m better than I was. Things were pretty dicey for a while there with Brooke.”

“But she’s...”

“On the mend. Physically. Emotionally? That’s going to take a while.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really, but thanks for asking. I’m kind of talked out on that topic.”

“I’m here if you need an impartial friend.”

“I appreciate that. Since I’ve got this unexpected night off, I’d much rather talk about turkey and stuffing.”

“You’ve got it.”

Fifteen minutes later, Sam and Shelby had a plan for dinner and dessert as well as a shopping list that Shelby would tackle in the morning. “Won’t Nick be impressed by the way I’ve got this all figured out?” Sam asked with a teasing grin.

Shelby rolled her eyes. “If left up to you, your guests would’ve been served pressed turkey from the deli—if they were lucky.”

“I’m offended by that statement.”

“No, you’re not.”

Nick and Scotty came home a few minutes later, and Scotty came dashing into the kitchen. He lit up at the sight of Shelby, one of his favorite people.

“What’re you doing back?” he asked as he hugged Sam and then Shelby.

Shelby wrapped her arms around the boy who was taller than her, but it didn’t take much to be taller than Shelby. Her diminutive stature was one of several reasons Sam called her Tinkerbell. “Home was way more boring than it is here.”

“It’s never boring here,” Scotty said. “Wait till you hear the latest. Tell them, Nick! It’s unbelievable!”

“I told you not to get too excited, buddy. It might not happen.”

“Still... You gotta tell them!”

Sam noticed her usually unflappable husband looked more than a little flapped and maybe a tad bit drunk, which would explain why Terry had driven them. “I take it your meeting at the White House went well?”

Shelby let out a squeak of excitement as she kept an arm looped casually around Scotty’s shoulders. “White House? What’s that all about?”