Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham Page A

should have been in helping,” she said.
    â€œOh, your dad and I have this down pat—we’re all fine here. You can do the cleanup if you wish, dear,” her mother said.
    â€œThat will be perfect,” her father said. “Your mom and I like to snuggle and watch that new game show that comes on at eight.”
    Keith, across the table from her, made a face. “They’retoo cute, aren’t they?” he asked. “So, what are we going to do tonight?” he asked.
    â€œI was thinking that there are a zillion more DVDs that Jake really needs to see,” Melody said.
    â€œI was thinking that we should take him clubbing,” Keith said.
    â€œThere will be a designated driver,” her father said sternly.
    â€œSee, there’s one of the great aspects of living in New York City,” Melody said. “Your entire group can pass out and you’re okay because you take taxis everywhere.”
    â€œMelody,” her mother said worriedly.
    â€œMom, I’m just saying in the city we don’t think about designated drivers. I don’t actually go out and pass out. Of course we’ll be responsible,” Melody said.
    â€œWherever did we get such a sarcastic child?” Mona said, shaking her head.
    â€œHey—Keith’s the one who spends his life torturously teasing everyone,” Melody protested.
    â€œTorturously teasing?” Keith said. “There’s a mouthful.”
    â€œWe do have a guest,” George said. “Let’s all behave.”
    Mona turned to Jake. “I’ll bet you know wonderful little tidbits about the Founding Fathers from your job at the tour company. Have you any great stories that the general public may not know?” she asked.
    He finished chewing—meat loaf—and mulled over the question for a moment. “What I don’t think people realize today, perhaps, is what a losing proposition going to war against Britain really was. Every single man who signed the Declaration of Independence was, in essence, signing his own death certificate. The United States was a group of separate colonies, all with different problems,and different beliefs. Even—among the Thirteen Colonies, there were terrible arguments about how a new government should be formed. All these men who were the Founding Fathers were individuals. They all had their strange habits, some drove the others crazy—they were people. Somehow they got it together to form a nation.”
    Great, he just managed to sound better every time he opened his mouth.
    â€œYou must be a wonderful guide!” Mona said enthusiastically.
    â€œYou speak as if you’ve seen the past and the present,” George told him. “My God, what a wonderful way you have of putting everything into perspective. We spend so much time these days just bitching and moaning!”
    â€œDad, we’re supposed to bitch and moan. It’s our God-given right,” Keith said.
    â€œIf we don’t bitch and moan, how do we change things?” Melody asked. She turned to Jake. “Isn’t that half the point of the Constitution, too? It was written to be amended. Dad, if people didn’t bitch and moan, women wouldn’t have the vote. Slavery would still exist. We have to speak up to change things, right?”
    â€œAbsolutely,” Jake said. “Hopefully, though,” he said sorrowfully, “most changes will not require a civil war. But then, I suppose that was inevitable. I mean, even when they were writing the Constitution, it was an issue. Many people wanted antislavery laws written in, but many of the men going to war were slave owners. Some made a point of saying that upon their deaths their slaves were to be given their freedom, but then again, I tookumbrage with that myself! I mean, if that’s your belief, make it a point during your own lifetime.”
    Keith flashed his sister a smile. There was an indignation in