"Just so it isn't pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin salad, pumpkin meat loaf, and pumpkin pie," Kathryn grumbled.

"There isn't a pumpkin on the mountain," Myra said. "Charles learned his lesson last year when we ate pumpkin everything for a week."

"So what are we having?" Nikki asked.

"A bit of a smorgasbord," Charles said. "Weenies, hamburgers, grilled cheese, tomato soup, spaghetti, gingerbread cookies, and my attempt at homemade Twinkies and homemade pizza. Soda pop, hot chocolate, and coffee."

"That works for me," Kathryn said when she got over the shock at hearing the menu. She'd been expecting some colossal gourmet delight, as were the others. She risked a glance at Annie, whose eyes were moist and sparkling.

Jack clapped his hands together in an attempt to cover his disappointment. "Bring it on, Charles."

And Charles brought it on. Huge platters found their way from the kitchen, the aroma of garlic and onion filling the dining room.

Sensing this particular menu was extremely important for some reason, the others chimed in about how the menu contained all their favorites, too. The moment the food was on the table they all dug in as they again reminisced about when they were kids and lived on such delectable fare.

Within seconds, a party atmosphere took over, right down to the food fight that ensued when the last of the dessert was finished. Nikki started it by throwing a gingerbread cookie at Isabelle, who then threw her Twinkie at Jack, who reached over and stuck a piece of pizza crust in Harry's ear as Yoko raced around the dining room untying all the balloons. They all got up and tried to catch as many as they could before the balloons raced for the ceiling. As one they presented all the captured treasures to Alexis, who started to cry.

"I'm crying because I'm so happy," she blubbered. "Only all of you would understand how important that one balloon was to me."

There wasn't a dry eye in the dining room when they all took their seats and waited while Charles cleared the table. "No, no, you are all guests. I'll clean up even though I cooked, then we'll get to the presents. However, it's a onetime deal. As you know my rule is, I cook, you all clean up. Today is special, hence the exception."

Annie poured more coffee as Myra walked out to the kitchen and returned with a tray of clean wine goblets. She set it on the sideboard along with a single bottle of champagne—this time the precious Louis Roederer Cristal 1990.

Then they waited, their hands clasped in their laps for what was to come.