Everyone pitches in and a magnificent breakfast is on the table just a few minutes later.
Phil says a few words of thanks over it and then everyone is passing dishes and plates around, pouringorange juice into glasses, and talking and laughing as they remember the town celebrations of years past.
“Remember when you made an airplane ornament?” Buck asks Roan. “And Aggie Benworth asked you if it was a duck?”
Roan chuckles.
“There’s an ornament making activity,” their dad explains to me quietly.
“Aduck?” Meg asks.
“I thought it was a very nice plane,” their mom says firmly.
“At least I didn’t knock the tree over,” Roan says to Buck and then winks at Meg.
“You knocked over the tree?” Meg asks, her eyes wide.
“Only one time,” Buck says, shrugging, and earning another giggle from Meg.
“So,” Buck says, turning to Roan. “Are you going to do a song at the Host of Angels tonight?”
Buck mimes playing a guitar and singing to Roan, who rolls his eyes and crams a big bite of cheesy eggs in his mouth.
I still can’t imagine Roan singing, so I figure Buck is teasing him. The two of them are really funny together, and Meg is the perfect audience.
I take a bite of glistening cinnamon roll and moan as the sweet, spicy taste explodes in my mouth.
“They’re the best, right?” Buck says, nodding.
“They really are,” I have to agree. “The spices are incredible. This isn’t just cinnamon, is it?”
“Old family recipe,” Ellie says. “But I’ll share it with you if you want it, Taylor.”
“Oh wow,” I say. “I’d love that. Though I know I can’t make them like this.”
“Sure you can,” Ellie tells me. “You’ll come over one day soon and we’ll make them together. I’ll spill all my secrets.”
She winks at me, and I wonder if she’s just talking about cinnamon buns.
13
ROAN
Ipark the truck on one of the side streets off the far end of Celestial Lane, and Meg is tugging on her seatbelt before I’ve even got the engine off.
“It’ll be a walk from here,” I warn Taylor. “But it’s hard to get in and out from anywhere closer to the action.”
“It’s a gorgeous day,” Taylor says. “Perfect for a little walk.”
I hop out and hurry over to get her door. Last time, I felt a rush just touching Taylor’s hand and today is no different.
Her eyes flash to mine as my fingers close around hers, and her lips part slightly like she feels it too.
I want so badly to kiss her right now. I guess it’s good that Meg is here so I can’t rush things.
I don’t want to let go of Taylor’s hand, but I figure I have to. I give it a little squeeze before I do and shesqueezes back, a tiny smile playing on the edges of her lips.
We head back up to Celestial Lane, and it seems like half the town is walking along with us, snowflakes polka-dotting colorful coats, scarves floating in the wind, and happy voices filling the snowy air.
