“Here we go.”His mother straightened with a rolling pin in her hand.“I think this is what you’re looking for.”
He looked at the embossed rolling pin with a paisley pattern.He hoped it was what Felicity needed.“Thank you.And could I borrow some cookie sheets?”
“Certainly.I have plenty of those, as you well know.You boys do love your chocolate chip cookies.”She pulled a couple out of a cabinet and placed them on the counter.“What else do you need?”
“For you to keep this to yourself.You can’t go telling Felicity’s mom because it’s supposed to be a surprise.Felicity wants to replace the broken ornaments and give them to her mother as a Christmas present.”
“My lips are sealed.”A hopeful gleam sparkled in her eyes.“I’m so glad you and Felicity have patched things up.Because you were always meant to be cradle to grave.”
“It’s not like that, Mom.”He frowned.
“But—”
“Mom.”There was a firmness in his voice that he didn’t use often with his mother.
She exhaled a dramatic sigh as she rolled her eyes.“Okay.Okay.Forget I said it.”
It was impossible to forget.Because the more time he spent with Felicity, the more he wondered if it were true.Not having time to worry about it, he pushed the thought to the back of his mind.
“Mom, can I ask you for one more favor?”
“Sure.What is it?”
“You might not want to agree so quickly.”
Her brows rose.“Why?”
“Because I need you to watch Sunny later this afternoon.”He wasn’t so sure she’d be onboard with the idea.
She hesitated and looked at the puppy.“I think we can manage.Why?What do you have in mind?”
“It’s a surprise for Felicity…”
So much to do, so little time.
After going to bed and being unable to sleep, Felicity had read Justin’s manuscript.It was good.Really good.
She didn’t have time to linger in bed and think about him, although it was tempting.But there were the costumes to finish, the Kringle’s annual Christmas party was that evening, and Justin had something special planned for them.The fact that he wouldn’t tell her what he had in mind did have her worried.
She started the day by working more on the costumes for the children’s play.They were really starting to come together.She just hoped the children—and especially the parents—liked the alterations she’d made.
It was mid-morning when she received Justin’s phone call.He asked her to come over to his place.Curiosity had her dropping the costumes on her mother’s dining room table and heading out the door.When she reached his apartment, she rapped her knuckles on the door.Immediately, she heard Sunny barking out her greeting.It made Felicity smile.The pup was adorable.She really hoped that Justin decided to keep her.They belonged together.
The door swung open, and Sunny rushed out.The dog jumped up, placing her paws on Felicity’s pant leg.The puppy looked up at her with those big brown eyes that were impossible to say no to.Felicity leaned down and scooped up the puppy.
Justin smiled.“You two look good together.Maybe you should—”
“No.”She knew exactly where he was going with that comment.And she would adopt Sunny in a heartbeat if her circumstances were different.But at the moment, her whole life was in flux.
“Fine.But you two make a good pair.”He stepped back and ushered her inside.“Come on.We have things to do.”
Once inside, she yawned.“What sort of things?”
He frowned “It doesn’t look like you got much sleep.”
“And it’s all your fault.”She sent him a pouty look before following him to the kitchen.
“How’s it my fault?”
