those little things friends do

 Cori was troubled. Of course, Caitlin told them the things Wade said about Melvin. Still, he held out wanting to hear Melvin's version. But it felt as if Melvin was on winter vacation.

"Maybe he decided it was best to shut down with COVID so rampant," Megan hugged him from behind and kissed his neck while Cori was finishing up the dishes in the sink. Cori gave in. He wouldn't call Melvin. There were reasons to stay in and Megan was very persuasive. 

"We should make gnomes," she suggested later after lunch. He blinked with a yawn. That was the last thing on his mind, but he would not say no to that. Especially, since she needed to learn to make one from a sock and stocking from Dollar Tree for her holiday craft video she was making for the children she worked with online.

As soon as Tori got home she wanted to make one too. She was in a good mood, but neither he nor Megan questioned her. She'd practically spent the weekend with Dylan. Naturally, she decided to crochet her gnome a hat. 

"I'm so impressed," Megan looked at both of theirs and said she was hopeless with crafts.

"No you're not," Cori and Tori said in unison.  Cori couldn't help but let his brow furrow as he sat at the coffee table wondering if all Megan actually needed was a new glue gun. Of course, Tori stitched hers all by hand. And so quickly.

"Oh, you know those kids love you," Cori reminded her they sent her snail mail and even packages.

"Packages?" Tori smiled. "They send you packages? Do you know how expensive it is these days to mail anything?"

They both looked at her a little strange wondering who she was sending gifts to.

"Oh, it's nothing," she shrugged but then said an old friend from college sent her a goodie box from Shanghai and it would be impossible to mail him anything back.

"You were in Shanghai?" Megan asked. 

Tori shook her head, no. They'd met here in college but he went back home when all the immigration problems started.

"He'll probably come back now," At least Cori thought.

"I don't think so, he's getting married," Tori was straight lipped.

Megan gritted a smile, looking at Cori as if he needed to get them out of this, but of course, he didn't.

"Let's make hot chocolate," Megan got up.

"I know how to make Italian hot chocolate," Tori said.

"Even better," Megan nodded. "I always wanted to try some." She got out her phone.

"What are you doing?" Cori winced as he got up.

"We can't let Dylan miss out," Megan shrugged while Tori went to the kitchen to get out the cocoa and milk.