is back to take over the world.â
That made her blood bubble. She put her hands on her hips and scowled at him. âYou know I hate it when you call me that. Itâs rude and insulting.â
âAnd true. And I can always tell when itâs starting.â
Sharon narrowed her eyes. âYou have no idea whatâs about to start, mister.â
âAnd just what is that supposed to mean?â he said with a smirk.
âIt means Iâm fixinâ to give you a lesson on Christmas that you wonât soon forget.â
âYouâve been giving me lessons for years,â Pete retorted. âHow about just giving me a break?â
She shrugged and turned her back on him. âIf thatâs what youâd like to call it. Youâre going to find out firsthand just how much I do for you every year because this year youâll be doing it. Iâm on strike.â
âOn strike, huh?â he said.
She waited for him to come put his arms around her, plead with her to come to her senses and be his holiday slave. But instead he began to laugh.
She looked over her shoulder and frowned at him, but it didnât stop him from shouting, âHallelujah,â and raising both hands. âWeâll finally get to enjoy the holidays,â he crowed, and started doing the happy dance.
It made her want to pull a leftover turkey leg out of the refrigerator and smack him with it. But her mama raised her to be a lady, so instead she marched out of the kitchen, her heels tapping an angry staccato as she went.
He thought this was all one big joke, did he? Well, he wouldnât be laughing so hard when the cookie dough hit the fan. And first thing in the morning she was going to make a little olâ call to make sure that was exactly what happened.
Â
The kids were in bed when Laura got home and Glen was camped in front of the TV, lounging on the sofa and laughing right along to the sitcom laugh track. He looked up at her and smiled. âDid they get your yarn unstuck?â She held up several neat rows of knitting and he nodded approvingly. âLookinâ good. So, whoâs getting that for Christmas?â
âMe,â she said.
âYou go for it, babe. You deserve it.â
âBrown noser. Youâre just trying to butter me up for the next invasion.â
He grinned and patted the sofa cushion, inviting her to join him.
She did, saying, âAnd speaking of the holidays, thereâs something you need to know.â
Glenâs attention was already drifting back to his program. âHmmm,â he said absently.
âIâm going on strike.â
âOkay.â
Obviously someone was not listening. Laura picked up the remote from the coffee table and muted the TV. âI said Iâm going on strike.â
âIsnât that a little extreme? I mean, things are always crazy at the Chamber this time of year.â
âIâm not going on strike at the office. Iâm going on strike here at home.â
He shook his head, a quizzical smile on his face. âFor what, more sex? No problem.â
He reached for the remote and she held it away. âNo, for some appreciation. All of us are. If you want to have a million people over for the holidays, youâll have to cook for them.â
Glen sighed. âYouâre not making any sense, babe.â
âOh, Iâm making perfect sense, believe me. Iâm tired of doing everything and being taken for granted, so this year you get to do it, Glen. All of it.â
He stared at her. âIs this some kind of joke?â
A corner of Lauraâs mouth lifted. âYeah, babe, and itâs on you.â
He frowned. âWhat the hell happened down at that yarn shop?â
Laura gave a one-shouldered shrug. âWe got to talking and realized that you guys donât get it.â
Glen made a face. âSounds kind of dumb if you ask me. I mean, whatâs to