I had yet to see Jasper, other than a glimpse here or there as he left or came. I was keeping my distance. He knew where I was, and he hadn’t made the effort to come see me.
So what? Life went on, just like it did before I knew the man. My heart could stay locked up and never show its face again.
Huffing at my thoughts, I took a deep breath. Jasper wasn’t allowed to be in them when I was making cookies.
Off to the side, the oatmeal and raisin ones were almost done cooling. Why Dawn requested those, I’ll never know. Oatmeal ones were good. But raisins did not belong in cookies. Ever. The textures did not go together.
At least the sugar cookies were easy. The decoration and frosting would take a bit longer, and that part I wasn’t the greatest at but I kept it simple.
I had the frosting already out, waiting to be used for the star shaped cookies.
I was ignoring the other shapes pretty well. The animal shaped cutters that I had come across one morning a few weeks ago on the porch stared at me. They had been sitting on the porch, like someone knew what days I had therapy.
I was tempted to use them, because if there were kids at the event, then they’d love some animal shapes. But I wasn’t going to use them.
Those could just stay there and…just stay there and look pretty.
Re-rolling the dough again, I mentally calculated how many more star shapes I could get out of it.
Just because Dawn pressed the issue that I didn’t have to go out of my way to make too many, I still was. I had to.
I couldn’t just sit in this house day in and day out, doing nothing. There had to be more to life, to my life, than trying to figure out what to do with said life.
Making cookies and other treats was something I was great at. Since Jasper had mentioned the idea that I could sell some at events a few years ago, it’s been at the back of my mind since then. I just hadn’t had the energy or opportunity to make enough.
Now, I did. I had a full week of crappy weather that kept me inside. The first day after Dawn told me about the event, I offered and began figuring out a plan. The second day, she bought everything I needed after work. And now, I was baking too much. But at least whatever was left could be frozen and reheated whenever I wanted one.
Except for the oatmeal cookies. And the banana bread that was also cooling off to the side. That bread was all mine and Dawns. I wasn’t sharing my newest obsession with treats.
At least Dawn couldn’t say I wasn’t eating. Bananas were healthy, and only if they were in the bread I made.
“Whatcha making?”
Instantly, my heart squeezed in a vice grip before it sped away, almost out of my chest. The rolling pin cluttered to the counterwith a clang that could be heard through my headphones.
Crap.
My fearful look turned to a glare as I pulled my headphones off my ears, placing them around my neck.
“Whatcha making?” Noah repeated, putting his elbows on the counter and taking in the mess.
I couldn’t get my words to work as my heart still thumped in my chest.
Breathing in deep, I bent over to place my hands on my knees.
Why the heck didn’t he just freaking knock? No one ever came by, and those that did knew the back door was unlocked, but they’d still knock. Or flash the lights to get my attention. Not freaking touch me on my arm.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.” Noah’s voice turned soft, and when I glanced up, he seemed to understand what he did. “Sorry, Kods.”
“Don’t do it again.” I glared, standing back up and pausing my music before setting the headphones on a different counter. “Why are you here?” I didn’t mean to be rude, but my tone was.
“You weren’t answering your texts. And I did knock, but no one answered. Jasper said you were home and that I could come inthrough the back door if you didn’t answer. So that’s what I did.”
That did not answer my question. But what else did I expect with him?
“Ooh. Animals!” Noah spotted the cutters I was doing a fairly good job at ignoring. “I want a doggy one.”
“Stars or circles only. They’re for Dawn. Not you.”
