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Erica’s face split into a huge grin. “You know the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, even with store-bought cookies.”

“Very funny.”

Troy stepped into her office. “I heard you brought cookies. Got one for me?”

Sage closed the lid and offered him a saccharine smile. “Sorry, they’re all gone.” She waited until Troy was out of earshot before she opened the box for her assistant.

“I thought these were the cookies you planned for Ricky to take to Santa,” Erica added, frowning as she helped herself.

Sage expelled a long sigh. “I wish store-bought cookies were that easy. Ricky insists we bake the cookies ourselves.”

Erica grinned as if she found this downright funny. “You don’t bake.”

It wasn’t like this was new information. “You think I don’t know that?”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to bake cookies for Santa. I’ve already ordered a recipe book from Amazon.”

“You don’t need to go to all that trouble.”

“What do you mean?” Sage’s voice rose slightly with hope. She didn’t often wander beyond the frozen food section or the prepared foods. She had no idea there was such a thing as ready-to-bake items.

Erica swallowed a bite of the cookie. “You can buy the dough so all you need to do is slice and bake.”

This sounded like a fabulous idea. “And where exactly do I find this wondrous product?” she asked, her voice eager.

“Any grocery store.” Erica said this as if it was well understood.

This was an answer to a prayer Sage hadn’t even prayed. She’d cancel the Amazon order, purchase the dough, and her problem would be solved.

Impulsively, she hugged her assistant. “I’m putting your name in for a raise.”

Chapter Five

Sage found the packaged cookie dough exactly where Erica directed her. The instructions were simple. All she had to do was slice and bake. Easy-peasy. Oh, what glory. She located the cookie sheets and headed to the checkout stand with a bounce to her step.

When she collected Ricky, she was on an emotional high. Like the day before, Ricky flew out the front door as soon as she’d pulled up and parked in front of Lisa’s house. Once again, he proudly showed her his artwork, a painting of a Christmas tree, which reminded Sage that the folks from the charity group were due soon. The tree was going to be amazing. The gold and silver ornaments she’d found were stunning. Placed on the flocked tree, they would make this tree worthy of a department store window.

“Guess what?” Sage said, as Ricky climbed into the backseat and buckled up. She didn’t wait for him to ask. “Tonight, after dinner, the two of us are baking cookies for Santa.”

“Yahoo.” Ricky was as excited as she was. “We need to take them to him soon, okay?”

“Sure. I’ll check where he’s making appearances this weekend.”

“How many days away is that?”

“Just a few,” she assured him, afraid to tell him it was only Tuesday and he’d need to wait until Saturday.

Once at her condo, Ricky talked to his mother while Sage heated up the leftover Chinese food. She was pleased with herself listening to Ricky excitedly tell his mother they were baking cookies that evening. God bless whoever thought of this baking shortcut.

Ricky barely ate his dinner, and she assumed it was because he was in a rush to bake the cookies.

“Can we get started now?” he asked, after he took his plate to the sink.

“Give me a minute, okay?”

“Okay, but only a minute. Do you have an apron? Mom always wears an apron.”