NT: The Perfect Christmas 4

The Perfect Christmas</i>
Chapter 4/25: Rice Pudding

Patrick turned off his new Cadillac as he pulled up behind the red Ferrari already parked there. He smiled as he turned off the headlights, shaking his head. He should have known that Riley would be here too. Ben’s second shadow.

His son had invited him to spend the holidays at his new home. At first, Patrick had been going to pass on the offer. He thought that he ought to leave the new couple to spend their first holiday together. Then Abby had mentioned that they would need a babysitter for Riley, and he’d realized she wasn’t entirely joking.

It hadn’t been much of a decision after that. He figured he owed Ben at least that much. His son had found the treasure—and never once rubbed in Patrick’s face that he had been wrong—and settled down just like his father had always wished. The least he could do was baby-sit the master of sarcasm so he could have some time with his wife.

He carefully exited his car and made his way up the icy side-walk and smiled at the lights that lit up the front yard in a bunch of different colors. Looked like Ben and Abby had been busy the last couple of days.

Patrick approached the door, taking note of the giant wreath that was hanging there—decorated with an assortment of frosted pine cones and tiny birds—before knocking smartly.

Abby’s grinning face swiftly appeared, “hi! Right on time. Come in.”

She stepped aside, allowing Patrick to step into the warmth of his house and taking his coat and a scarf from him, putting them in the hall closet.

The house smelt like pot-roast, and from the kitchen he could hear two voices discussing something in hurried whispers. From the bemused on Abby’s face, these voices were nothing to be concerned about, so he entered the kitchen.

Ben and Riley were on the opposite side of the breakfast bar, Riley sitting up on the counter and both of them looking down into a large bowl.

“That’s a bunch of cooked rice, Ben,” the younger man said, using a voice that sounded just like the kind used by elementary school teachers when speaking to an exceptionally slow child.

“Yes, thank you, Riley. I hadn’t noticed,” Ben muttered, stirring the rice slowly.

“And you’re trying to tell me that you are going to make pudding out of it.”

“That’s what I’m telling you.”

“Making rice pudding, I see,” Patrick smiled a little, entering the kitchen with Abigail right behind him. Ben glanced up at him and gave him a half-smile, while Riley gave him a surprised and innocent look as he hopped off the counter.

“Ben’s been telling us all day how much he loves rice pudding as a holiday desert,” Abby explained as she passed him, moving to open the oven and peer at the inside.

“Ha! I could barely get him to eat it as a kid, and now he’s trying to convince you that he always knew he was going to like it.” Patrick shook his head, trying to keep the amusement off of his face. “And of course you two are eating it up,” he pointed at Riley accusingly. “He could tell you the universe revolved around the earth and you’d believe him.”

“Well, ancient peoples did,” Riley muttered, but he didn’t look upset.

“Dad, leave Riley alone. Just because you don’t understand why anyone would volunteer to join the insanity doesn’t mean you have a right to torment him.” Ben glanced up his father briefly, giving him a thirty second warning glare, before reaching for the Cool Whip on the counter. “Besides, it turned out I was right.”

“He didn’t know that at the time,” Patrick advised, looking over his son’s shoulder, ignoring Ben rolling his eyes, and watching him dump the Cool Whip on top of the rice.

“I was right anyway,” came the call from across the kitchen where Riley was peering in the oven with Abby. “Is it supposed to look like that?”

“Yes,” Abby sighed, trying to push him away with her elbow. “That’s exactly what it should be looking like.”

“Just checking,” Riley shrugged as he turned back around, and looked completely confused. “Ben…what are you doing?”

“I’m making the rice pudding.”

“I see no ‘pudding’.” Riley made a face down at the bowl. “I see rice and fluffy sugary milk stuff. There’s no pudding in there. You tricked me.”

“I’ve heard that argument before.” Patrick chuckled, moving over to get comfortable at the table. “Some little nine-year-old boy who was too afraid to try something new.”

“I wasn’t afraid. I just didn’t feel like it, that’s all.” Ben was pouting down at the rice, and Patrick decided his son had spent too much time with his best friend.

“I’m still failing to see the pudding here.” Riley frowned down at the concoction.

“It’s more pudding like if you make it other ways,” Abby grinned over at them as she placed a open can of cherries on the table.

“You’ll love it, Riley, I promise.” Ben sounded less than convincing as he put the pudding in the fridge to wait for after dinner.

“I am not touching that stuff with a ten foot pole. Most unnatural thing I’ve ever heard of, mixing whip cream and rice together.” Riley sat down next to Patrick with a scowl. “This all your fault somehow, I know it. You forced it onto Ben when he was a child, and now he feels he has to do the same to me, since he’s getting to old to have children.”

Ben looked so utterly shocked that his father had to laugh, and ruffled Riley’s hair affectionately. “Now I know why he keeps you around, kid. To keep him on his toes.”

Riley shrugged, picking up his plate to use as a shield if necessary. “I try.”

“You’re going to have to try and escape,” Ben muttered, also sitting down as Abby brought the roast over. “I know where you sleep.”

Patrick chuckled again as the young man assumed his best look of innocence. “You and me are going to have some fun this holiday, kid. I can tell.”

His reward was a shy half smile just before Ben decided it would be a good idea to smear some of the cherries across Riley’s cheek.