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“Okay, don’t be mad.”
Amy looked up from where she and Mac were playing a riveting game of who could throw the choo-choo train the furthest across the room — a game she was somehow losing to a two-year-old — to find Jake standing in the doorway, arms held out, palms facing her, a sheepish grin on his face.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing!” Jake said. “Nothing bad anyway. Just invited a few people over for a party.”
“How many people is a few and what kind of party?” Amy asked as a toy train went whizzing by her head and crashed into the wall on the opposite side of the room. “Impressive,” she said to Mac.
“Eight,” Jake said. “It’s a Hannukah party for Mac!”
Amy frowned. “What kind of Hannukah party do you have for a toddler?”
“You know. You invite eight people over, and they all give the kid a present. One for each of the eight nights yada yada yada.”
Amy frowned more. “I’m not even Jewish, but I’m pretty sure that’s not a thing.”
Jake waved a hand in the air. “It’s fine,” he said. “It’s about the spirit of the event, not the details.”
“Is it though?” Amy asked.
“Sooo anyway, they are coming over tonight.”
“What?”
Another train whirled past her head and smacked into the wall. Mac screeched as he toddled over to it and scooped it up in his chubby hands. “Momma, me win!” he said, but Amy was barely listening. Her mind was already in a panic as she frantically checked her phone — eleven o’clock, meaning she had maybe seven hours to plan an entire party, put up decorations, make the food and find a Hanukkah themed cake. Not to mention get outfits for everyone because they could not have a Hanukkah themed party without matching outfits.
She leaped to her feet, a list already forming in her mind.
“I need to get to the store,” she told Jake. “You watch Mac. What time did you say they were coming? Please don’t tell me it’s before six.”
She was already searching for her purse, yanking on her shoes.
“It’s not!” Jake said. “I told them six. And you know Rosa is always late. Though Charles will probably be here early.”
“He’s always here,” Amy said. “I can put him to work.”
“And Holtz and Kevin might be a little early too,” Jake said. “Because, you know, they’re Holtz and Kevin.”
Okay, so she had maybe six hours then. Amy bent down to kiss Mac on the top of his giant head, then swung her purse over her shoulder and headed to the door.
“Don’t think this means you’re out of trouble!” she called to Jake as she headed out. “I will deal with you tonight!”
“It will be fine! I believe in you!” she heard Jake yell as the door slammed close. A smile spread across her face as she headed to the car. She had planned on a lazy day with Mac, but instead her moment had arrived — plan the most epic Hanukkah party to ever be held in just six hours.
If anyone could do it, she could. And she would. It was her time to shine.
