As the day wore on, it was a nonstop marathon of all the Christmas movies digital cable could offer: Rudolph, Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, even Love Actually.
The couples filled their time with games and reading, charades and go fish taking up much of the day until Sadie and Jude decided to make homemade caramel popcorn with what they had in the kitchen.
"Please tell me how it is that you can't manage to grill chicken, but you can make caramel corn from scratch?" Tommy asked, as he and Kwest stared as Jude directed Sadie in the kitchen.
"You guys don't know?" Sadie giggled, an impish grin appearing on her face, Tommy's apron stretched across her belly, "Jude's wonderful with snack food, baking, desserts—anything with sugar or grease, and she's the next Martha Stewart."
With that, she ducked, avoiding the glob of popcorn being thrown at her by her sister, going on to explain, "I didn't mean it in a bad way—just that you only care about certain things," adding under her breath, "The ones that will rot your teeth."
"I heard that," Jude said seriously, "And it's not my fault I'm good with baking. It's fun to do. See if I let you have any caramel corn."
"Well I think it's cute," Tommy said, "very Martha."
"Shut up, Quincy—do I need to tell them about your little rockstar moment with the spatula yesterday?" Jude threatened, "Whoops, already did."
Dumping the dirty pans in the sink for the boys to clean up, Sadie and Jude left the room to watch yet another Christmas movie while they used the extra popcorn to make garlands.
"Is it sad that I'm sort of upset that she knows how to make food?" Tommy asked Kwest once they were alone.
Grabbing a dishrag, and beginning to dry the dishes his friend was washing, Kwest laughed in reply, "Nah man, I'm scared to eat that stuff. I still remember that time she gave us all food poisoning."
Clearing his throat, he watched as his best friend scrubbed at a sugar caked pot, "So what's the deal with you two—you serious?"
"It's Jude—what do you think?" Tommy said, setting the pot down, leaning against the counter, "It's always been serious with her. I can't see myself with anyone else."
"I know what you mean—even when you were with Sadie, I knew I was going to end up with her, T," Kwest said, ducking as Tommy tossed a dish towel at him.
"Such a great friend," He said sarcastically.
"Whatever, you wanted Jude the whole time—Sadie was just a substitute for the real thing."
Smiling sheepishly, Tommy nodded, "Yeah, you're right. But sometimes I just don't know if we're ever going to work out, Jude and I. I mean, like today—all this Christmas stuff," he paused, taking a breath as he flicked a soap bubble from the front of his shirt, "I just don't know that I can deal with this much holiday cheer."
With that, the two walked into the room to join the Harrison sisters, laughing when they realized almost all of the popcorn for the garlands had ended up in the girls mouths instead of on the strings.