Chapter 50

Mel shook her head. “Don’t even play that way. If we had the money, I’d hire you myself, let you cook for me every day. This is delish.”

Confused, Jocelyn looked from her mother to her father, then frowned at Abby. “The fish sticks arereally good,” she said, as if she thought it was expected of her. “I like the tater tots, too.”

Cam snorted, trying not to laugh. “Yeah,” he teased, “the tater tots are the bomb.”

Narrowing her eyes, Jocelyn demanded, “How would you know, Uncle Cam? You don’t have any.”

“I tried one in the kitchen,” Cam told her.

That only presented another problem. “One of mine or one of hers?” Jocelyn wanted to know.

Mel interrupted before things went too far. “Girls, eat your food. Hon, well? What do you think?”

This last was directed at her husband, who hadn’t commented yet on Preston’s dinner. He didn’t have to—his salmon was almost entirely eaten, the shrimp and grits were gone, and the salad bowl empty. In another few minutes, he’d be finished.