“Yes, because I want coffee,” I laughed, pushing him away playfully. “And I’m curious about this mystery present.”
Diego relented with a dramatic sigh. “Fine. Coffee first, then presents.”
We dressed in comfortable clothes, jeans and sweaters appropriate for Christmas morning. I noticed Diego seemed nervous as we headed downstairs, fidgeting with something in his pocket when he thought I wasn’t looking.
The diner was quiet and dark, closed for the holiday, but light spilled from Dolly’s private kitchen at the back. The smell of coffee and cinnamon rolls filled the air, making my stomach growl.
“There you are!” Dolly exclaimed when we walked in. She was already dressed in a festive red sweater with reindeer on it, her gray hair perfectly styled despite the early hour. “Merry Christmas, boys!”
“Merry Christmas, Aunt Dolly,” I said, accepting her bone-crushing hug.
“Coffee’s hot and breakfast is almost ready,” she said, gesturing to diner counter that was already set for three. In the corner the large Christmas tree was twinkling with lights and surrounded by a handful of wrapped packages that hadn’t been there the night before.
“You didn’t have to go to all this trouble,” I said, feeling a pang of guilt that I hadn’t gotten her anything substantial.
“Hush now,” she replied, waving away my concern. “It’s Christmas, and I’ve got my favorite nephew and his handsome boyfriend here. That’s all the gift I need.”
Diego winked at me as if to say, “Told you so,” before accepting his own hug from Dolly.
“Let me help with breakfast,” I offered, but Dolly shooed me toward the stools.
“Sit. Both of you. This is my kitchen, and on Christmas morning, nobody helps but me.”
We did as we were told, settling at the small table while Dolly bustled around, humming Christmas carols under her breath. Diego’s knee pressed against mine under the counter, a small point of contact that somehow felt significant.
“So,” I said quietly, “about this present you supposedly got me. I’m dying of curiosity.”
Diego’s smile widened, but there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes that I hadn’t expected. “All in good time, Freckles. Let’s eat first.”
I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously but didn’t push it. Whatever it was had him on edge, which only made me more curious. I sipped my coffee instead, savoring the rich flavor as Dolly set plates of cinnamon rolls, bacon, and eggs in front of us.
“This looks amazing,” I told her, genuinely impressed by the spread.
“Just a little Christmas breakfast,” she said with a wink. “Nothing fancy.”
We ate amid comfortable conversation, Dolly regaling us with stories of Christmases past and town gossip. The diner might have been closed, but Dolly seemed to know exactly who and what everyone in Sagebrush was doing for the holiday.
“The Bakers are having their big shindig later today,” she informed us between bites. “Logan invited half the town, including you two. I told him you’d probably stop by.”
“That sounds nice,” I said, glancing at Diego who nodded in agreement.
“But first,” Dolly continued, “presents!” She clapped her hands together like an excited child, her eyes twinkling.
Before I could protest again about not having gifts for them, she was ushering us toward the towering tree. The packages beneath itwere wrapped in bright paper with elaborate bows that were clearly handmade.
“Now, I know you didn’t expect to be celebrating Christmas here,” she said, handing me a large, soft package. “But I figured your mama would want you to still have a nice Christmas.”
I felt a lump form in my throat as I accepted the gift. “Thank you,” I managed, overwhelmed by her kindness.
Diego squeezed my shoulder gently, his touch grounding me. I carefully unwrapped the package to find a beautiful handmade quilt inside, with patterns of stars and horseshoes against a backdrop of deep blue.
“Aunt Dolly,” I breathed, running my fingers over the intricate stitching. “This is incredible.”
“Been working on it since you I knew you was comin’,” she admitted with a proud smile. “Figured you might need something to keep you warm during these Texas winters.”
“I love it,” I said, fighting back unexpected tears. The thought of her spending hours making this just for me was almost too much.
Diego received a hand-knitted sweater Dolly said was from Mabel. It was a rich brown that matched his eyes. On top of that, he got a new belt buckle that he immediately attached to his belt with boyish enthusiasm. There were smaller gifts too. Books, candy, and practical items that Dolly knew would be useful for us now that I was staying in Sagebrush for the foreseeable future.
