“No!” I blurted at a near shout. “No, sorry.” I squeezed Claire’s waist. “This will be fine. Fun, even. We can stay up late talking and…whatnot.”
“If you’re sure?” Annie asked near the door.
I smiled overly bright. “Of course.” Landon, Claire, and Noah all nodded vigorously. We looked like a team of bobblehead dolls.
“All right. Well, get settled in, then come to the kitchen for those cookies.” Ken followed Annie out the door, and I slumped onto a lower mattress.
“Smooth,” Claire mocked.
I glared at her. “Not a peep out of you, missy.”
She lowered beside me and kissed my cheek. “I’m glad you’re here.”
I gave her my best side eye. She grinned.
Man, I really needed to work on these intimidating expressions. People should feel threatened, not amused. “Noah’s promised me baby naming rights.”
She whirled around, mouth agape. “Noah!”
“Landon’s a good name. Just sayin’.” Landon unzipped his suitcase and transferred a stack of pants into a dresser drawer.
I should do that too. I eyed the door. But first, a cookie. “I’m getting a sugar boost.” Cookies trumped unpacking any day.
Claire stood. “I’ll go with you.”
We moseyed our way to the kitchen, and I half expected Annie to be there holding the tray with a smile. Maybe that kind of hospitality and friendliness was another pastor’s wife prerequisite. Thankfully, however, the downstairs was empty, although footfalls could be heard above our heads.
I snatched a chocolate chip cookie and shoved it in my mouth. Soft and chewy. My favorite. A second wave of flavor tickled my tastebuds. Chocolate’s favorite companion, peanut butter. So good. “The guys need some of these,” I said around chewing. Who knew what the next five days would hold. We could all use a little sweetening up.
Palming a napkin, I piled on a tower of cookies and returned to the bunk room. I held out the offering. “These are amazing. Try one.”
Noah took two off the top. “Mom does make the best cookies.”
Landon eyed them but didn’t reach for one.
I laughed. “Don’t try and tell me you’re watching your figure.” I picked one up and shoved it closer to him.
His forehead folded as he used his thumb and forefinger to pinch the end. He turned it over, studying it. Was I Eve tempting Adam with the forbidden fruit or something? It was just a cookie.
“Chocolate chip?” he asked.
Last time I checked, that’s what those little brown morsels of goodness were. For crying out loud. So much fuss over a little cookie.
He held it up to his nose and sniffed before popping it into his mouth.
“Good, right?” Noah crunched on his second.
Landon chewed slowly then stopped, his eyes widening. “Is there peanut butter in this?”
Dread leaked into my middle. “Yeah. Why?”
He grabbed a wastebasket and spat, chewed chunks flying into the liner. “I’m allergic to peanuts.”
