“I think this is ready,” Evangeline called out, sounding excited. “You have a really nice oven.”
That was good to know, since it had cost more than a car. But he was happy that she liked it. At least someone would appreciate it more than he did.
“I’m glad it did the job for you,” he told her, getting up with Leo and carrying him into the kitchen.
“Well, I’ll let you be the judge of that,” she said. “Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll bring you a slice. I can take Leo while you eat, if you want?”
“Nah,” he told her. “We’re just fine.”
She darted out to the living area and grabbed his coffee, bringing it over before serving him a slice of thesweet bread. It smelled even better now that it was out of the oven.
“I hope you like it,” she said, placing a slice on her own plate and sitting across from him.
Leo squeaked at her and thumped one little hand on the table.
“Sorry, Leo, you can’t have any yet. I’ll make some for you when you’re bigger.”
He chuckled at her and Grayson smiled at the baby’s exuberant mood. He was like this when he was well-rested, well-fed, and wearing a dry diaper and warm clothing.
“You’re doing an incredible job,” he told Evangeline. “He’s so happy.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I kind of made a mess of the kitchen, but I can clean up when he takes his nap.”
“You don’t have to cook and clean,” Grayson told her. “Your job is just to look after Leo.”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” she told him. “Unless you don’t want me to?”
The panic in her eyes tugged at his heart.
“Of course it’s great you made us breakfast,” he told her gruffly. “I just don’t want you to feel like you have to run the whole house.”
“I like it,” she said softly.
He glanced up at her, but she was sipping her coffee and looking anywhere but him. Maybe she felt embarrassed at what she’d just said, but he thought it was really nice.
For just a moment, he let himself think about what it would be like for her to always take care of things thisway, share in taking care of Leo’s needs, and fill his house with fragrant food and conversation.
“What does Leo normally do with his day?” she asked.
“Well, he’s having a great day so far,” Grayson told her. “He likes fresh air and new sights, so I like to get him out of the house some. And he always naps better if he’s had an adventure or two.”
“An adventure,” Evangeline repeated thoughtfully.
“I mean, for Leo even a trip to the grocery store is an adventure,” he put in.
“Of course,” she said, smiling. “New faces, bright colors and lights, fresh air.”
“During the weekends there are normally fun things going on in town though,” he told her. “So if you want we can take him to those.”
“What kind of things?” she asked.
“Well, the Hometown Holiday celebration is coming up,” he told her. “They close down the blocks around the village center and all the local shops and charities have booths set up in the street selling homemade treats and gifts to raise funds for good causes. And there are horse-drawn carriage rides and the town tree-lighting too.”
“Leo loved the Christmas tree at Trudy’s place,” she said.
“Maybe we should get one,” he suggested.
“You’ve certainly got the space for it,” Evangeline said, looking around.
