They all loved how he was eating cookies and growing a belly like Santa's.When the movie was done, Florence said, “It’s time to make 7-layer bars for dessert.”
“I’ll help,” Frank said, before Lacy could offer.
“We’re going to take our gifts up to the guest room we’ll stay at.”Lacy began gathering her gifts.
Rory quickly began cleaning up his gifts and heading upstairs with them.Lacy followed him while Frank spread chocolate chips on the 7-layer bars.
“This is really simple,” Frank said.
“Yeah, it is.I usually make it to sell at the shop, but it’s fun because there are four of us to enjoy it, especially since Lacy and Rory will be staying for another day.Though they can always take some home to share with the other ranch hands.”
She put the baking dish in the oven and started the timer.“Twenty-five minutes to cook.”
“Let’s take our presents up to the room,” Frank said.
Florence glanced at the half-wall on the second floor.She thought Lacy and Rory would have just left their presents in the guest room and come downstairs, but they were still up there.
Having a special Christmas moment?Florence smiled, hauled her gifts upstairs, and carried them down the hall to the master bedroom.
After she put them away, she helped Frank put his things away.Then they went back downstairs to carry all the Christmas treats into the pantry.They could have sampled some of those for dessert, but she really loved 7-layer bars, and it was the only time of the year that she made them.
Once they put away the rest of the Christmas treats, they sat down in the living room, and both looked up at the second story.Then they smiled at each other, kissed, and hugged.
“Youth,” Frank said.
“Yeah, but we’re going to do what they’re most likely doing when we go to bed,” Florence said.“The 7-layer bars had to cool down anyway before we can eat them.”
“While upstairs things are heating up.”Frank put his arm around her shoulders, and they leaned back on the couch and just cuddled.
13
Lacy kissed Rory and smiled at him in bed in the guest room.She caressed his hair.“They’ll be waiting for us.”
“They will be.And they’ll know what we’ve been up to.”
“We’re newly mated.It’s Christmas.”
“Agreed.”
Lacy still felt slightly embarrassed to return to the living room.
They dressed, and Rory embraced her.“You are turning red.”
She laughed.
Then they went downstairs to join Frank and Florence and saw them snuggled together on the couch, sound asleep.
“That’s so sweet,” she whispered to Rory.
Smiling, he agreed.
She snapped a photo of them.“Their first Christmas together.”
He took a picture of Lacy and himself in front of the Christmas tree.“Our first Christmas together.”
Florence stirred, then her eyes shot open.“Oh, my, you caught us asleep.”
Lacy smiled.“You deserved it after all that you did for everyone for Christmas.”
